What has been the most valuable aspect of your Chamber membership?
The Chamber is very supportive of all businesses, regardless of size. Being a small business that is just getting started, it is important to be able to connect with like-minded individuals and get the support needed to be successful. The most valuable aspect so far has been the Chamber’s Research team. One of my biggest challenges is finding indoor heated swimming pools that would be suitable for teaching swim lessons. It is very helpful to have assistance from a team that has access to thousands of members in Middle Tennessee.
Who is the British Swim School of Nashville, and what should we know about you?
British Swim School of Nashville is on a mission to reduce drowning statistics in Middle Tennessee by ensuring every person, regardless of age or ability, has the opportunity to become a safe and happy swimmer. Drowning is the leading cause of death in children under the age of 5 and is fast becoming a leading cause of death in teens. Drowning prevention starts with learning the survival skills needed to survive a water accident, and finding “survival first” swim lessons in Middle Tennessee can be a challenge.
To ensure we are able to reach as many students as possible, British Swim School forms partnerships with businesses throughout Middle Tennessee that have indoor-heated swimming pools. This helps control costs, provides an additional revenue stream and PR opportunities for the pool owner, and most importantly, means everyone in the community has access to lessons at an affordable price, not just those in more populous or affluent areas. We partner with hotels, fitness centers, retirement communities, therapy centers, apartment and condominium associations, and pretty much any facility that has an indoor heated pool. As of December 2023, British Swim School currently partners with almost 400 pool owners across the US and Canada.
Our program was developed more than 40 years ago and is continuously refined. Rooted in early childhood development principles, our program has become the premiere learn-to-swim program in the US and Canada. We believe in a safe, gentle approach that allows children to learn at their own pace. Our swim instructors are fully trained in the program, and there is always at least one certified lifeguard on duty during lessons. We maintain comprehensive liability insurance coverage on all of our partner pool locations that supersedes the facility owner’s policy and eliminates any risk to the partner operation.
What is unique about your business that makes you stand out?
We teach survival skills before stroke techniques, so every swimmer is prepared to survive an accidental fall into the water. Water survival is a unique skill set, and knowing how to survive means less worry for parents. Students receive five clearly defined goals for each program level, and they advance individually and at their own pace. By monitoring these goals, our instructors know exactly what skill to work on with each swimmer. Our curriculum-based program allows swimmers to follow the lesson structure they’ve become accustomed to as they advance. Constantly achieving new goals keeps students motivated and leads to faster progress.
British Swim School instructors are highly trained in how to teach swimmers of all ages. They know how to make learning fun and comfortable. Personalized learning shows faster results, which is why most of our lessons have a maximum student-to-instructor ratio of 4:1. This allows the instructor to spend one-on-one time to meet the different needs of each student. Our program is available year-round because learning water survival skills and proper swimming techniques takes time. New students can start at any time and finish at their own pace.
We partner with the Hope Floats Foundation, which provides scholarships for swimming lessons for children living in poverty. Scholarships and tuition assistance are provided to children who might not otherwise be able to afford swim lessons.
What’s the biggest goal for your business in 2024?
Our biggest goal for 2024 is to find at least four additional pool partners in the Greater Nashville area. We currently have two very supportive partners and would like to expand to other areas in and around Nashville so we can provide swim lessons to more students in the community.
What’s your best piece of advice for other business owners?
My best piece of advice for other business owners is to focus on providing an outstanding customer experience and treat your employees well.
What differentiates your business from the competition?
Our program was developed over 40 years ago and is based on early childhood development principles. Our safe, gentle approach to water acclimation and survival allows students to overcome their fear of the water and learn at their own pace. We are the fastest-growing learn-to-swim program in the US and Canada.
