Read for Free: 2025 State of the UK Swim Industry Report

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INNOVATION IS KEY TO SOLVING SWIMMING TEACHER SHORTAGES

The ongoing shortage of swimming teachers in the UK has become a critical issue, impacting operators, swim schools and local communities. Such is the scale of the challenge, that some operators have been forced to abandon waiting lists all together. The lack of available swimming teachers means they simply can’t meet demand. With recent figures showing that child drownings have doubled* in England over the past four years there’s an urgent need to find a solution. The industry must look to digital innovations to help address this shortage so that more children can learn to swim. Securing qualified swimming teacher cover, especially at short notice, is one of the most common challenges faced by operators. Traditionally, arranging cover is a manual, time-consuming and inefficient process, and a significant drain on both resources and finances. CoverMe’s research shows that swim school managers typically spend between four to eight hours per week arranging cover, which equates to approximately £5,200 in staff costs per site annually. The costs for multi-site operators can run into hundreds of thousands of pounds. This is where digital innovation can provide a much-needed solution. Platforms like CoverMe are proving that technology can play a critical role in transforming the way swim schools manage staffing. By connecting operators with qualified, available swimming teachers in real time, CoverMe reduces the administrative burden and drastically cuts the time it takes to find cover. Indeed, the platform’s smart matching and real-time availability features have helped swim schools achieve a consistent 97% lesson coverage rate, reducing cancellations and maintaining vital revenue streams. The State of the UK Fitness Industry Report 2024 highlighted that 88% of swim school operators are struggling to recruit swimming teachers. By intelligently matching teachers based on qualifications, availability and location, CoverMe is helping to bridge this gap making it easier for swim schools to fill roles and grow their learn to swim programmes. The platform has also partnered with STA to reinforce quality and safeguard standards, ensuring all teachers hold appropriate qualifications with a recognised Awarding Organisation and have personal insurance. At a time of increasing data breaches, CoverMe is working with operators to offer a secure, GDPR-compliant alternative to communication tools like WhatsApp, so that swim schools can coordinate staffing securely while protecting personal data. The UK swimming industry needs to call time on the staffing crisis. By embracing digital innovation, it has a real opportunity to address recruitment and cover challenges and develop sustainable learn to swim programmes ensuring that more children have the chance to learn this essential life skill.

The lack of available swimming teachers means they simply can’t meet demand. LOU CROSSLAND Chief Commercial Officer, CoverMe