Rebecca Cox, MD, Institute of Swimming

New data from a survey conducted by the Institute of Swimming has found swimming teaching is an exceptionally fulfilling career, delivering high levels of job satisfaction.

A remarkable 99 per cent of swimming teachers report their job makes them happy, with 90 per cent making friends with colleagues and 81 per cent reporting their job helped with their overall wellbeing.

We’re so pleased their roles bring them genuine joy and these findings tell us that swimming teaching might be among the happiest jobs in England.

Job satisfaction is across the board, reported consistently by teachers all over the UK and spanning every age group, from 16 to retirement and beyond and equally among men and women.

A remarkable 99 per cent of swimming teachers surveyed report that their job makes them happy

The survey also discovered that a sense of wellbeing is particularly high among younger age groups, with 87 per cent of 16- to 18-year-olds and 90 per cent of 19- to 25-year-olds reporting teaching has helped with their overall wellbeing, including their self-esteem, mental health and confidence, highlighting the role of swimming teaching as an ideal first-career opportunity.

Being a swimming teacher as a young person also provides transferable skills that are vital for future success. According to the survey, 87 per cent of 16- to 18-year-olds and 82 per cent of 19- to 25-year-olds felt teaching swimming had helped them feel more confident when applying for other jobs or further education.

For younger generations who lack work experience or self-confidence, becoming a swimming teacher is a stepping stone that prepares them for future career paths.

Institute of Swimming’s training, such as our new SEQ Level 2 in Teaching Swimming qualification – which launched in January 2026 – has been designed to ensure the path into this happy career is as accessible and inclusive as possible, ensuring the talent pipeline remains strong and consistent for the sector (www.HCMmag.com/SEQlevel2).

Training takes 50 hours to complete and translates directly into job readiness and rapid employment; 98 per cent of respondents surveyed said they were ready to immediately start teaching upon qualifying and 76 per cent said they found work immediately after completing their qualifications.

Swimming teacher, Laura Whyte, who was diagnosed with incurable blood cancer in 2025, says: “When I’m at the pool, I forget everything. Being a swimming teacher makes me so happy. I’d do it for free!

I want my students to remember I taught them to become their best selves

“I want my students to remember I taught them to become their best selves. To flourish despite fear. To live fully, just as I do with my diagnosis.

“Life isn’t meant to be survived. It’s meant to be lived. I’ve worked in lots of different sectors, I’ve earned a lot of money and had status, but I can see now that none of that actually matters. My role of teaching children and adults to swim with confidence means infinitely more. Swimming has given me both purpose and community.

More: www.hcmmag.com/laurawhyte

Kathryn Mudge, service manager, Sheffield City Council

I read your feature in HCM about Swim England’s Swimming Pool Support Fund audits with interest (www.hcmmag.com/ecoswim).

Funds were awarded to our three community-led swimming facilities as part of this initiative and since undertaking the audit with Right Directions in July 2024, they’ve made a massively positive shift in their environmental approach.

Improvements across the city

Zest Healthy Living Centre created a new environmental improvement plan and waste management policy and trained its staff, boosting its score 35 per cent to 88 per cent. 

Zest Healthy Living Centre was 136 out of 222 leisure centres after the first assessment. It’s now ranked 18, climbing 118 places.

For King Edwards Swimming Pool Trust’s small team, actions included formally documenting policies and procedures with set review dates, improving communication to customers through designating an Environmental Champion and additional staff training.

Working through the action plan resulted in a 34 per cent improvement in its review to 74 per cent, taking the trust from 184 out of 222 to 94 – a climb of 90 places.

The 4SLC Trust management team took over operations of Stocksbridge Community Leisure Centre 12 years ago, following a community-led campaign to save it after it was closed in May 2013.

Sheffield’s community pools have made a massively positive shift in their environmental approach

The team raised the centre’s initial score from 56 per cent to 70 per cent by improving communication with customers, providing environmental ‘commitment and purpose’ statements, and trustees reviewing environmental practices at monthly meetings.

The centre is also working with Leisure Loop to recycle broken or damaged equipment and improved waste management means it’s achieved 100 per cent non land fill.

Longer-term impact

As the scores demonstrate, the review process highlighted areas for improvement and creating short-, medium- and long-term actions to help us achieve them. 

All three facilities have challenges due to their age, but despite this, the Swimming Pool Support Fund projects have provided immediate savings, while the process will have a positive long-term environmental impact.

• In Sheffield we have a mixed operator model, with pools connecting via the Sheffield Swimming Development Group, formed in 2024 to support collaborative working across the city.

Zest Healthy Living Centre climbed 118 places in the ranking / Zest Healthy Living Centre