Parkwood Leisure, one of the UK’s leading leisure management companies, is set to make a splash at the 47 pools in its care thanks to a ground-breaking agreement with the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA).
The three-year Partnership Provider Programme (PPP) - the first of its kind to be signed by the ASA - will support the on-going development and growth of Parkwood Leisure’s aquatics programmes as well as providing local employment opportunities through the creation of 300 apprenticeship places.
Commenting on the agreement, Andrew Marshall, managing director of Parkwood Leisure, said: “Having already operated together very successfully for a number of years, this new partnership takes our work with the ASA to another level, enabling us to further enhance the quality of our provision and increase participation across all abilities and age ranges.”
More than 30,000 children and adults currently take part in Parkwood Leisure’s Aquazone swimming lessons programme, which is delivered at every pool operated by the company, including four 50-metre international pools at Bristol, Portsmouth, Cardiff and High Wycombe – the largest number of 50-metre pools managed by a UK leisure operator.
The new partnership provides Parkwood Leisure with exclusive access to a range of resources, including a dedicated aquatics officer who will help develop Aquazone, as well as the company’s recreational swimming membership programme, Swim 23.
Quality will also be enhanced through access to the latest ASA teaching methods and materials such as bespoke Level 1 and Level 2 training. Linking with the successful Parkwood Employment Academy, these courses will develop the skills of the company’s existing instructors as well as those progressing through the Institute of Swimming (IoS) apprenticeship scheme.
Mr Marshall added: “Our aim is to get more people swimming and thanks to the extra opportunities created by our work with the ASA, we’re confident we’ll see people improve their swimming skills and progress to our recreational programme or even swim competitively.”
ASA chief executive David Sparkes added: “We are delighted to be partnering with Parkwood Leisure to help deliver on a common goal of enhancing their provision and increasing the number of people swimming more often. Through the Partnership Provider Programme, we are committed to ensuring that Parkwood Leisure has all of the elements necessary to sustain their aquatic programme and business needs, through the full range of ASA and IoS products, services and programmes.”