Andrew Simpson Centres
Andrew Simpson Centres is a UK not-for-profit operating four sailing and watersports training centres (Portland, Portsmouth, Reading, Birmingham) that delivers RYA-accredited courses, holiday clubs, and corporate events, serving individuals, families, schools, and disadvantaged youth through its parent Andrew Simpson Foundation.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersPortland, Dorset, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Andrew Simpson Centres does
Andrew Simpson Centres is a UK not-for-profit sailing and watersports education organisation operating four physical training centres: Birmingham (inland reservoir), Reading (inland lake), Portland (coastal, at the 2012 Olympic venue Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy), and Portsmouth (coastal, Langstone Harbour). The company is the trading subsidiary of the Andrew Simpson Foundation (registered charity No: 1153060), operating under the legal entity Andrew Simpson Watersports Centres Limited (Company No: 08989055). Founded in 2013 as a legacy to Olympic gold medalist Andrew Simpson MBE, the organisation runs RYA-accredited instructional programmes across sailing, windsurfing, foiling, wingfoiling, paddlesports, and powerboating, supplemented by taster sessions, holiday clubs, weekly clubs, instructor training, kids' birthday parties, corporate team-building days, and school/youth group programmes. Charitable initiatives (Discover Sailing, Aiming High for SEND, Young Leaders, SailFit) are funded via the Andrew Simpson Foundation to subsidise access for disadvantaged young people.
The core technology is RYA-standardised curriculum and accreditation delivered through qualified, DBS-checked instructors across multiple disciplines. Digital infrastructure is limited to a course-finder website with booking and payment processing, email newsletter capture, social media channels, and standard calendar integrations; there is no mobile app, API, or disclosed AI capability. Sub-brands ASC Performance Academy (competitive class-specific and foiling pathways) and Andrew Simpson Yachting (yacht and motorboat training) extend the product surface into higher-end performance and cruising segments.
Revenue is generated primarily through course and activity fees (one-time payments ranging from £25 tasters to £450 week-long adult courses), recurring weekly club subscriptions (£15-£40 per session), corporate bespoke events (£1,000 per group of up to 12), birthday party packages (£20-£35 per child), and merchandise sales with profits donated to the Foundation. Go-to-market is community-led and direct-to-consumer, combining word-of-mouth, school and youth-group partnerships, local council HAF programme contracts, and event-driven engagement (Bart's Bash, open days, regattas, Ocean Race Europe activations). The customer base spans individuals and families, schools and youth groups, corporate clients, adult groups (stag/hen), and subsidised disadvantaged youth, with no single segment dominating.
Andrew Simpson Centres firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Andrew Simpson Centres
- Legal name
- Andrew Simpson Watersports Centres Limited
- Website
- https://andrewsimpsoncentres.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Andrew Simpson Centres is a UK not-for-profit operating four sailing and watersports training centres (Portland, Portsmouth, Reading, Birmingham) that delivers RYA-accredited courses, holiday clubs, and corporate events, serving individuals, families, schools, and disadvantaged youth through its parent Andrew Simpson Foundation.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Andrew Simpson Centres industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sailing and Watersports Education
- NAICS
- Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sailing Experiences (Lessons, Regattas, Day Sails) (THAJAJAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Water & Marine Guiding Services (Kayak, Canoe, Raft, SUP, Sailing) (THAAALAB), Surf, Kitesurf & Wind Sports Adventures (THAJABAK), Whitewater & Paddle Sports Centers (Rafting, Kayak, SUP, Canoe) (THAAAKAF)
Keywords
Where Andrew Simpson Centres is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Portland, Dorset
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
Andrew Simpson Centres business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Course and Activity Fees: Revenue from paid sailing, windsurfing, paddlesports, and foiling courses for youth and adults. Fees range from £25-450 per course depending on duration and type.
- Weekly Club Memberships: Regular participation sailing, windsurfing, and paddlesports clubs charging recurring session fees (typically £15-40 per session)
- Corporate Team Building: Bespoke corporate days and team building events at £1000 for groups up to 12 people
- Birthday Parties and Group Bookings: Kids party packages (£20-35 per child) and adult group bookings for stag/hen parties (£45 per person)
- Charitable Subsidies and Donations: Andrew Simpson Foundation provides subsidised courses for young people, with profits from merchandise donated to the foundation
- Merchandise Sales: Shop selling merchandise with all profits donated to the Andrew Simpson Foundation
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Youth Sailing Weeks (Ages 8-16) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Adult Sailing Courses (Ages 16+) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Adult Windsurfing Courses |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Foiling Courses |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Weekly Clubs |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Holiday Clubs (Ages 5-16) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Corporate Team Building |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Kids Birthday Parties |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Stag and Hen Parties |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Instructor Training Courses |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Schools and Youth Groups |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Paddlesports |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels7 records
Andrew Simpson Centres product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Andrew Simpson Centres delivers RYA-accredited sailing, windsurfing, paddlesports, foiling, winging and powerboating instruction across four UK centres (Birmingham, Reading, Portland, Portsmouth). Offerings span youth and adult course pathways, taster sessions, holiday and weekly clubs, instructor training, kids' birthday parties, corporate team-building days, and school/youth group programmes. Charitable initiatives (Discover Sailing, Aiming High, Young Leaders, SailFit) are funded by the Andrew Simpson Foundation to subsidise access for disadvantaged young people.
Product overview
Andrew Simpson Centres is a not-for-profit sailing and watersports education organization operating four UK centres (Portland, Portsmouth, Reading, Birmingham). The portfolio consists of RYA-accredited core instructional programmes across sailing, windsurfing, paddlesports, foiling, winging, and powerboating, supplemented by taster sessions, holiday clubs, weekly clubs, instructor training, and special events. The product line includes age-segmented youth and adult course pathways, kids' birthday party packages, corporate team building days, and school/youth group programmes. Charitable initiatives including Discover Sailing, Aiming High (SEND-focused), Young Leaders, and SailFit are funded through the Andrew Simpson Foundation to subsidise access for disadvantaged young people. Sub-brands include the ASC Performance Academy for competitive sailors and Andrew Simpson Yachting for yacht-specific training.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ASC Performance Academy: High quality training for sailors in class specific programmes and foiling pathway, helping sailors transition into competitive youth and junior sailing.
- Andrew Simpson Yachting
Products and services
- Sailing Courses
Quantifiable outcome
- 88% of community club participants felt part of the sailing and watersports community
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Andrew Simpson Centres
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Andrew Simpson Centres technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature4 records
Andrew Simpson Centres partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.
- Henri-LloydcoreThree-year Official Clothing Partner agreement. Henri-Lloyd provides technical marine apparel for all shore and water-based team at The Foundation and its centres. Reinforces Henri-Lloyd's commitment to grassroots sailing and instructor support.
- Planet PurbeckminorCollaboration on Wild Blue Events series - free coastal events for families exploring marine environment, wildlife and coastal science through interactive activities.
- Surfers Against SewageminorSustainability Series at ASC Portland - educational sessions on pollution and environmental awareness for schools and youth groups.
- Jon Egging TrustcoreWatersports activities for young people through leadership programmes. Group of 15 young people from Wey Valley Academy participated in sailing and shore-based activities.
- Chesil Sailing TrustcoreSubsidising RYA Assistant Instructor courses at ASC Portland alongside Andrew Simpson Foundation.
- WASZP UKminorASC Performance Academy partnered with WASZP UK to deliver WASZP taster sessions.
- Team Maliziaminor'My Ocean Challenge' Kids Event collaboration at ASC Portsmouth.
- Ocean Race EuropeminorOcean Race Portsmouth - Ocean Live Park free activities partnership. ASC Portsmouth provided watersports activities during the event.
- 180 FitnessminorSponsor of 180 Fitness Autumn Regatta at ASC Portland. Family-run gym set up in memory of a close friend.
- Local Councils (HAF Programme)coreHoliday Activities and Food (HAF) programme delivery on behalf of local councils, providing free/subsidised watersports for children receiving free school meals. Supported by footballer Marcus Rashford's campaign.
- Bart's BashflagshipAnnual flagship fundraising race held across all centres and globally. 12th edition in 2024/2025. Thousands of water lovers participate worldwide.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Andrew Simpson Centres competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Center Parcs UK: Large UK operator of forest villages offering family activity breaks including watersports, adventure sports, and kids' clubs. Tangentially comparable in delivering paid family activity experiences and outdoor adventure courses, though much broader scope.
Direct peers
- Plas Menai National Outdoor Centre: Welsh Government-owned outdoor activity centre on the Menai Strait delivering RYA sailing, windsurfing, powerboating, and kayaking courses plus school and youth group programmes. Comparable multi-sport watersports instruction centre with public-sector ownership and school/youth outreach.
- Rockley Adventure Centres: UK-based not-for-profit watersports and sailing centre operator running residential and day courses at multiple UK locations (Poole, Torbay, Plas Menai). Closest direct competitor in offering RYA-accredited sailing, windsurfing, paddlesports, and youth holiday programmes at comparable price points.
- New Forest Water Park: Commercial watersports centre in the New Forest offering RYA sailing, kayaking, stand up paddleboarding and adventure activities for individuals, families, and groups. Comparable in offering taster sessions, kids' parties, and corporate events in Southern England.
- UKSA (UK Sailing Association): UK charity operating a major watersports training centre in Cowes, Isle of Wight, delivering RYA-accredited sailing, powerboating, and watersports instruction with a charitable mission to transform young people's lives. Comparable not-for-profit model, RYA courses, and youth development focus.
- Lagoon Watersports: Commercial watersports centre in Hove/Lancing offering RYA sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, and paddleboarding courses alongside parties and taster sessions. Direct competitor in the South East watersports instruction market targeting similar individuals and families.
Others
- Royal Yachting Association (RYA): National governing body for sailing and boating in the UK that accredits ASC and other training centres and sets the curriculum standards. Not a competitor but the regulatory and accreditation umbrella whose standards ASC's products conform to.
Regional players
- Watersports Centre Queen Mary Sailing Club: London-based RYA-affiliated sailing and watersports training club offering dinghy sailing, windsurfing, and paddlesports courses to youth and adults. Comparable RYA instruction model but London-focused catchment rather than national.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks4 records
Customer concentration
Andrew Simpson Centres social profiles
Digital presenceAndrew Simpson Centres compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Andrew Simpson Centres financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Andrew Simpson Centres leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Andrew Simpson Centres subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Andrew Simpson Centres funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Andrew Simpson Centres M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Andrew Simpson Centres
What does Andrew Simpson Centres do?
Andrew Simpson Centres delivers RYA-accredited sailing, windsurfing, paddlesports, foiling, winging and powerboating instruction across four UK centres (Birmingham, Reading, Portland, Portsmouth). Offerings span youth and adult course pathways, taster sessions, holiday and weekly clubs, instructor training, kids' birthday parties, corporate team-building days, and school/youth group programmes. Charitable initiatives (Discover Sailing, Aiming High, Young Leaders, SailFit) are funded by the Andrew Simpson Foundation to subsidise access for disadvantaged young people.
Is Andrew Simpson Centres a public or private company?
Andrew Simpson Centres is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Andrew Simpson Centres founded?
Andrew Simpson Centres was founded in 2013. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Andrew Simpson Centres based?
Andrew Simpson Centres is headquartered in Portland, Dorset, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Andrew Simpson Centres make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Course and Activity Fees are the primary driver. The others are weekly Club Memberships, corporate Team Building, birthday Parties and Group Bookings, charitable Subsidies and Donations and merchandise Sales.
Who are Andrew Simpson Centres's main competitors?
Center Parcs UK is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Plas Menai National Outdoor Centre, Rockley Adventure Centres, New Forest Water Park, UKSA (UK Sailing Association) and Lagoon Watersports. Royal Yachting Association (RYA) is listed as an others. Watersports Centre Queen Mary Sailing Club is listed as a regional player.
Does Andrew Simpson Centres have an API?
No public API is recorded for Andrew Simpson Centres.
What industry is Andrew Simpson Centres in?
Andrew Simpson Centres's product category is Sailing and Watersports Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJAJAG, Sailing Experiences (Lessons, Regattas, Day Sails), with a secondary code of THAAALAB, Water & Marine Guiding Services (Kayak, Canoe, Raft, SUP, Sailing). Its NAICS code is 61162 and its SIC code is 8200.