INDUSTRY VIEWS
A YEAR OF PROGRESS, PURPOSE, AND PLAY
This past year has been particularly rewarding, both personally and professionally. With my son turning one, I’ve made it a priority to introduce him to swimming not just to build water confidence, but to ensure he enjoys it. As a swim teacher with over 20 years of experience, I’ve always relished the challenge of making lessons engaging, purposeful, and fun. Now, as a parent, that passion has taken on new meaning. Throughout my career, I’ve been committed to more than just teaching strokes. I’ve worked to shape how we approach swimming from lesson content and programming to facility management and retail offerings. Whether in the pool or behind the scenes, it’s about delivering a high-quality, impactful experience. In the past 12 months alone, I’ve dedicated over 200 hours to swim training and development both teaching and participating. That’s hundreds of hours spent not only refining teaching technique but actively investing in the next generation of confident swimmers. And yet, despite this dedication across the sector, we face a growing challenge: since 2022, the number of pools in the UK has declined year on year, often in the very communities most affected by health inequality. The closure of these vital facilities represents more than lost access to sport, it’s a setback in the effort to reduce drowning risk, improve public health, and support lifelong wellbeing. Over the past year, I’ve also taken note of the continued growth in Open Water Swimming. With this growth comes a need for greater focus on safety. We must move away from the outdated belief that a 25m certificate equals water competence. True swimming ability means being confident and capable in varied environments and this should be a priority in how we teach and assess young swimmers. Beyond safety, strong swimming skills open doors to exciting aquatic activities: diving, water polo, inflatable sessions, scuba diving, and more. To enjoy these fully and safely, swimmers need a solid foundation. It’s up to us as an industry to provide it. On a lighter note, my son now takes great pride in carrying his swimming gear in his KitBrix Dobi Dry Bag, featuring the Leisure DB logo. For those who’ve attended a recent Leisure DB event, you’ll know just how impactful this kind of branded, functional gear can be as it promotes both identity and everyday use. It’s also a great branding opportunity for leisure centres to connect with young swimmers and their families. Looking ahead, I’m proud to announce that the FreeFlow Swim Conference returns this September for its second year, hosted by Leisure DB. With other major events like the STA Conference, SPATEX, Swim England Summit, RLSS Conference, and Elevate also on the calendar, there’s a wealth of opportunities for learning, collaboration, and innovation in our sector. A heartfelt thank you to our incredible partners and the operators who continue to support our work. Together, we’re helping to shape a stronger, safer, and more inspiring future for swimming.
It’s up to us as an industry to build the foundation that helps every swimmer enjoy the water safely and confidently.
TEACHING SWIMMING, SAVING LIVES As a national governing body for swimming and an educational charity, STA is dedicated to the teaching of swimming and water safety through the delivery of accredited swimming teaching and lifesaving qualifications for the leisure industry.
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DAN HARRISON Sales & Partnership Manager, Leisure DB
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STA (Swimming Teachers Association)
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STATE OF THE UK FITNESS INDUSTRY REPORT 2023
STATE OF THE UK FITNESS INDUSTRY REPORT 2023
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STATE OF THE UK SWIMMING INDUSTRY REPORT 2025
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