Member Article

Angela’s Swim School Takes Part In Landmark ITN Productions & British Franchise Association Collaboration

Angela’s Swim School, a swimming classes franchise business, is featured in the recently-launched latest collaboration between the British Franchise Association (bfa) & ITN Productions, a news and current affairs style programme titled Franchising the Next Generation.

Presented by national newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky OBE, ‘Franchising the Next Generation’ reveals the positive impact franchising has on individuals, business, society and the economy.

Angela’s Swim School was founded by former Olympic and Commonwealth Games swimmer Angela Wilson, who first represented Great Britain at the age of 15, and was involved in the Barcelona Olympic Games in 1992. Fulfilling this dream spurned her to take her passion for swimming further, creating Angela’s Swim School in 2002, and franchising the business in 2014. Drowning is the third most common cause of death for young children, and Angela’s Swim School gets children to learn to swim in a fun environment.

Her knowledge of swimming has led her to be on two All Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) that support swimming, and she is also the Women & Enterprise APPG, championing increasing opportunities for women in business. Added to this, she has been a Lady Taverner the last eight years, raising around £4,000 for the Lord’s Taverner’s Charity, which helps disadvantaged and disabled children have access to sport.

Angela’s Swim School is one of four franchise systems covered as a separate news item in Franchising the Next Generation.

Wilson was ecstatic to be able to participate in an important series that highlights franchising in the UK landscape and shows an industry that continues to evolve and consistently adapts to meet the needs of society:

She says: “Franchising has helped my business achieve quick growth by taking on passionate partners who share in my vision to bring quality swimming education across the UK. I am proud to be a part of a series that will help franchising attain the recognition that it deserves. For me, the motivation for starting Angela’s Swim School was to make swimming fun and accessible to children.”

Pip Wilkins, QFP, Chief Executive of the bfa, said: “The industry continues to present strong growth. However, the association wants to ensure that this is sustainable through education and support of ethical franchising. The news item with Angela’s Swim School has a next generation theme with prospect franchisees, and shows how the industry adapts to societal needs.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Patrick Hulbert .