Water Babies to build its own swim centres

Water Babies, specialists in baby and toddler swimming, plans to open four new swim centres in Europe and Asia this year. The franchise, is changing it’s business model from one that relies on hiring pool space, to one that builds its own centres.

This will happen first in Shenzhen and Zhuhai, China, then in Stirling, Scotland and finally in the German city of Munster.

Water Babies teaches babies from birth how to swim in warm water in around 560 centres, mainly across the UK.

Difficulty in acquiring space

The business usually operates from leisure centres and gym facilities, however the company is increasingly finding it difficult to find facilities of high enough quality for their classes.

Chris Broadbent from Water Babies explains why. “We insist on using pools that are 30 degrees or 32 degrees for babies that are under 12 weeks.” This means the company is often only able to operate out of privately-owned pools.

A transformed future for Water Babies

The company’s long-term vision is to have a network of Water Babies Centres from which it operates.

“In building our own centres, we can have definite guaranteed access to the right quality of pool for the long-term sustainability of our business, and the best tailor-made environment possible for our clients,” says Broadbent. 

The construction will be completed with Italian pool building firm Myrtha Pools.