When Phil Groom sought to expand his PaddlePod swimming school and leisure hub endeavour, he turned to the Scaleup North East programme, which matches owners’ growth ambitions with the knowledge, expertise and insight of entrepreneurial partners.
In this interview with our sister website North East Times, he tells editor Steven Hugill about the impact of the RTC North-delivered venture on his business, which, having gone from hiring pools to having a cluster of purpose-built venues, is ready to further extend its market presence.
As we find out from Phil, his journey from a local swimming instructor to successful entrepreneur began with a simple question from a parent, sparking the creation of SwimNE in 2006. Now a thriving business that serves thousands of swimmers each week, Phil’s willingness to diversify, leaning on the expert counsel of RTC North’s Tony Brooks, has seen him offer cafés, play areas, and sensory rooms, to go alongside his swimming pools and lessons. His innovative approach is also set to grow, with a day care nursery planned at PaddlePod’s Camperdown site, as Phil looks forward to inspiring the next generation of swimmers in the North East.
Read the full story here: https://netimesmagazine.co.uk/magazine/making-a-splash/
