The Institute of Swimming and Active Together, join to help support the countywide shortages of swimming teachers

The new Swimming Teacher Recruitment Academy aims to source and train 46 new swimming teachers, to ensure leisure operators across Leicestershire have a sufficient workforce to meet the increased demand for swimming lessons.

The recruitment academy will give local community-based people the opportunity to begin a new career and complete the necessary qualifications at a fraction of the usual cost. Aspiring swimming teachers will have a direct pathway from training to beginning their career in aquatics by being matched with one of the local leisure operators taking part in this initiative; Active Leicester, Everyone Active, Places Leisure or Start2Swim swim schools.

The Swimming Teacher Recruitment Academy gives people the chance to become a swimming teacher for only £79 and takes them through the Swim England Level 1 Swimming Assistant (Teaching) Course and Level 2 Teaching Swimming Qualification.

The Recruitment Academy is a one-stop shop for employers to source and recruit swimming teachers of the future. The trainee teachers will work with local leisure operators to gain practical experience and valuable advice from mentors, ensuring they have the necessary experience for the role. The Institute of Swimming with the support of Active Together, will manage the search and recruitment of trainee teachers, aiming to source a diverse community-based workforce, who are passionate about teaching local people this lifesaving skill.

The role of a swimming teacher can be a varied role, with scope for continual professional development to diversify the role further. A swimming teacher may support children's learn to swim, school swimming, adult lessons, baby & toddler, SEN, coaching and so much more, offering a variety of days and hours, giving the flexibility to shape the role to suit. A career in aquatics can open pathways into the wider leisure sector, swimming teaching hours may be complemented with a swimming coordinator role, aquafit instructor, coaching, tutoring or opportunity to branch into other leisure roles such as lifeguard, fitness instructor or personal trainer.

A recent report from Swim England discovered around 600,000 people in the United Kingdom are currently missing out on swimming lessons, with a national shortage of 8,000 swimming teachers. Leisure operators often have long waiting lists for lessons and a key factor to these failings is the nationwide shortage of qualified swimming teachers.

Ali Clements, Economy & Sport Growth Manager – Active Together said:

"Swimming Teaching is a really rewarding role and the Recruitment Academy provides the structured pathway to upskill individuals to gain their Level 1 and 2 Teaching qualifications, gain experience on the job, and move directly into paid work. This programme supports local employers, people keen to develop a career in swimming, plus meets the needs of so many children, young people and adults keen to learn to swim. We're really pleased that the Recruitment Academy is running in our area, this is a really exciting time."

Grace Mallon, Swim England Engagement Manager said:

"it is great to see key operators for learn to swim across Leicester and Leicestershire come together to take part in this collaborative recruitment academy. By working together and with the support of Active Together, we are providing opportunities for local community people to gain employment as a swimming teacher, whilst also ensuring that operators can continue to meet the huge demand for swimming lessons across the county."

Vicki Watson recently trained to become a swimming teacher with the recruitment academy after working as a nurse for 18 years. She found that by retraining to become a swimming teacher she is able to share her love for swimming with others and directly teach children and adults a life skill that will bring them enjoyment for years to come. Read more about Vicki's story

Apply for the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Recruitment Academy.