Charitable social enterprise leisure operator GLL is set to expand its long-standing partnership with the Swimming Teachers’ Association (STA) by delivering STA’s industry-leading Pool Plant Operations qualifications in-house through its Approved Training Centre (ATC) from the beginning of 2026 – marking the next phase of the organisations’ strategic training partnership.

This new partnership agreement will further strengthen GLL’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety, water quality and operational excellence across its 149 UK-wide pool facilities, which support more than 20 million pool visits and 230,000 weekly lesson participants.

Recognised against CIMSPA’s employer-led professional standard, STA’s Pool Plant Operations qualification is the highest level of training available for managing swimming pools, spas and interactive water features.

Created by STA’s specialist pool plant experts and regulated by Ofqual, the programme is aligned with PWTAG guidance, British and European Standards, HSG 179 and HSE requirements, covering the safe maintenance and management of swimming pools, spas and interactive water features.

Bringing this qualification in-house will allow GLL to maintain consistent training standards across its national portfolio, support talent progression and ensure its teams are equipped with the most up-to-date operational knowledge. Having full control over delivery also means GLL can plan training around operational needs while ensuring the highest levels of quality and compliance.

As part of this expansion, STA will train the first group of GLL Pool Plant Tutors in the new year, enabling GLL to go on to plan and deliver pool plant courses internally. This approach will provide flexibility, cost-efficiency and direct control over quality and scheduling, while opening up structured development pathways for team members across the country and the opportunity to train and recruit externally.

Since 2017, the partnership has already supported GLL in training thousands of swimming teachers through STA’s Award, Certificate and Baby and Pre-School qualifications, demonstrating the success of the ATC model and providing a strong foundation for this next phase in pool plant delivery.

Lee Franklin, National Facilities Manager at GLL, the UK’s largest charitable social enterprise leisure operator, said: “Delivering high-quality, consistent and compliant training across our facilities is essential to maintaining safe and well-managed swimming environments for our customers. Extending our STA ATC status to include pool plant enhances our operational standards and supports long-term workforce development.”

“STA has been a trusted aquatics partner since 2017 and, by training our first group of Pool Plant Tutors, we can scale technical skills across the country. This investment supports our teams, builds internal expertise and ensures the highest standards of water quality and facility management for the millions of swimmers who visit our pools each year.”

Dave Candler, CEO of STA, a national governing body for swimming and lifesaving, said: “GLL continues to set a strong benchmark for workforce development and operational standards in aquatics. Extending their ATC to include STA’s pool plant qualifications reflects their ongoing commitment to quality, safety and professional excellence.”

“We are proud to support GLL with tutor development and to build on our shared mission to raise standards, future-proof skills and ensure the long-term sustainability of the UK’s aquatics sector.”

This expansion further reinforces GLL’s commitment to excellence in public aquatic provision and STA’s role as a leading national awarding organisation for regulated pool plant training. STA’s Pool Plant Operations qualification forms part of its regulated, and CIMSPA-endorsed, aquatics training portfolio, alongside swimming teaching, lifesaving, first aid and health and safety qualifications.