Leisure operator Everyone Active is playing its part in tackling the national swim teacher shortage by rolling out an apprenticeship scheme across 42 of its centres.
The initiative follows a successful pilot scheme last year, which was developed by Everyone Active in partnership with the Institute of Swimming (IOS) to give individuals a head start in the industry.
There is a national shortage of qualified swim teachers and standard apprenticeship schemes do not cater for this area.
Everyone Active is now extending the scheme across their council partner areas to provide an opportunity for young talent looking to join the industry through a teaching route.
Harvey Gosling, group training manager at Everyone Active commented: “The scheme was developed in order to nurture young talent and improve the skills deficit. We have been extremely pleased with the pilot and the high standard of our apprentices. There is clearly talent out there but there has been a barrier to entry in the past.”
The apprenticeship programme was initially piloted at Everyone Active centres run on behalf of Bristol City Council and Plymouth City Council.
Apprentices who completed the 12-month programme qualified as Level 2 swimming teachers, with opportunities to continue working within Everyone Active. Harvey continues: “High quality teaching staff is paramount for our own swim scheme so working with IOS to offer this programme in a further 42 centres will ensure more highly capable and well trained individuals will gain access to the industry.”
