This year, the theme for International Womens Day is ‘Accelerate Action’ which focuses on the importance of taking swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality. It calls for increased momentum and urgency in addressing the systemic barriers and biases that women face, both in personal and professional spheres. So this year, we’re celebrating our longest running franchise owners!
Meet Tamsin
Water Babies Bucks & Bedforshire Franchisee
Being a Water Babies franchisee has been a challenge in so many ways – who would have known that starting and running your own business contains so many facets and you learn so much about yourself, particularly your own strengths and weaknesses. In 20 years I have taught thousands of children, trained many staff including myself, learnt how to promote and adapt to different environments and challenges, and seen my own children grow and develop into the amazing people they are; I hope I have given them a good moral grounding and a positive work ethic particularly my daughter who is a strong, empowered woman – just like her Mum!
Meet Ali
Water Babies Liverpool Franchisee
I taught by very first Water Babies lesson in October 2005 having taken by son to Water Babies and I have never looked back. I feel very privileged to be part of something so special & rewarding where I have literally taught thousands of babies to swim and being so integral to so many families lives. Having my first child made me rethink what I wanted to do – I wanted a role where I could ‘give something back’ and do something I was passionate about.
It can feel daunting setting up a business especially when you have a few wobbles along the way, but they only make you stronger & more determined. Having your own business is so rewarding on so many levels & it gives you great flexibility as a mum and inspires your children too. It does takes time to grow any business, so you must be patient, believe in & stay true to yourself, and go with your gut instinct. Just ensure you have down time as a family & switch off as the list ‘to do’ never ever gets fully ticked off & it is so tempting just to keep working all the time especially when you enjoy it as much as I do!
Meet Kim
Water Babies Norfolk Franchisee
I have been a Water Babies franchisee for 20 years this year. Starting out in 2005 after moving 200 miles from Yorkshire to Norfolk with my husband and toddler. It was a bold move for a new family, and we were relatively quite young at only 26 and the youngest people in the company.
Coming from a swimming background and being the first Water Babies teacher meant that the aquatic side of things were all well-known and completely comfortable for me. What was new was running a business, leading a team and all that encompasses.
We have been truly blessed over the years to have an equally passionate and enthusiastic team of predominantly women working with us at Water Babies Norfolk. Each supporting one another and always striving to do the best for our little swimmers. When women work together, we truly do amazing things! Women supporting women, raising each other up and catching each other in the trickier moments of work and life. I’m will be forever grateful and continue to love what we do together more than ever all these years on.
My advice to anyone looking to go into business or franchising would be to never compromise on the people you surround yourself with. Find people who share your passion and vision. Allow room for everyone to have a voice, share in the decision making and to be an integral and valued part of driving the business forward.
Meet Jacqui
Water Babies Wales South West Franchisee
Aletia and I were both career woman when we had our little ones. Aletia was an ergonomist and I was operations manager. Whilst on maternity leave we joined water babies together. It was apparent from the beginning that returning to our old jobs would be very difficult with having a work life balance. So we decided to ask about joining water babies after 3 lessons. We have never looked back.
I cannot believe we have been teaching little ones to swim for 20 years. We work well as a team and have different roles in the business. It been an amazing journey, working with your best friend every day and managing a successful business.
Meet Aletia
Water Babies Wales South West Franchisee
Happy 20th Anniversary to Water Babies South Wales and to my business partner and life long friend Jacqui Grant! I don’t think either of us knew what we were signing up for but it’s been a blast. Our lives intertwined with our children growing up together along the way.
So many shared milestones. We’ve navigated the good times and the rough times on the good ship Water Babies and have been blessed with a great crew to help us steer. Thank you to everyone who has been part of our journey so far… xxx
