press release: Swimming Teachers' Association (STA)
Safety Training Awards achieves CIMSPA's highest 'Enhancing' quality mark
Safety Training Awards, the awarding organisation of the Swimming Teachers’ Association (STA) and a CIMSPA Awarding Organisation Partner, has achieved CIMSPA’s ‘Enhancing’ quality mark - the highest level of quality assurance awarded by the professional development body for the UK’s sport and physical activity sector.
This top 3* recognition demonstrates the organisation’s commitment to delivering high-quality, professionally recognised qualifications that support the development of a skilled and competent workforce. As well as gaining Enhancing overall, CIMSPA confirmed Safety Training Awards are the first Awarding Organisation to achieve Enhancing status against every audit criteria.
CIMSPA plays a central role in supporting the sport and physical activity workforce, ensuring members receive the education, training and professional development required to build sustainable and rewarding careers. As part of this, CIMSPA works closely with its education partners to ensure that endorsed qualifications and services meet robust professional standards and codes of conduct.
Safety Training Awards’ achievement of ‘Enhancing’ status confirms that it consistently delivers a high-quality experience for learners, centres and employers, with best practice demonstrated across its operations, processes and qualification delivery.
Kayle Brightwell, director of education at STA, said: “Achieving CIMSPA’s ‘Enhancing’ status is an important recognition for Safety Training Awards and reflects the continued commitment of our team and training partners to delivering high-quality, professionally recognised qualifications.
This provides independent assurance that our qualifications not only meet sector expectations, but support learners, employers and training centres with the knowledge, skills and confidence required to operate safely and effectively within aquatics and leisure.
We remain focused on maintaining these standards, ensuring our qualifications continue to evolve in line with industry needs and support a competent, confident and professional workforce.”
Zoe Cooper, commercial director
Kayle Brightwell, director of education
Brett Preston, director of digital services
Stuart Tanfield, finance director
Its qualifications and memberships support individual swimming teachers, schools and organisations delivering aquatic programmes.
There will be a continued focus on expanding CPD provision with specialist partners, enhancing digital learning and improving accessibility to training.
STA will also progress charity initiatives to support recruitment within the aquatic workforce, including bursary programmes and outreach activity, while strengthening its work in inclusion, disability swimming and community engagement.
– Andrew Clark, national sport & aquatics manager, GLL
– Stuart Dickinson, quality development and apprenticeship manager, Virgin Active
– Kelly Gaffney, head of people and culture, swim@
