The Leisure Experts

What The Leisure Experts does

The Leisure Experts is a privately held leisure and aquatics consultancy and education business founded in 2021 and headquartered in Dublin, with additional offices in Newry (Northern Ireland) and London, serving the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, and the UK. Co-founded by Bethan Laker and Joni Harding, both with deep sector backgrounds — Laker across UK operators including Nuffield Health, Everyone Active, and Serco Leisure, and Harding with Swim Ireland, Sport Ireland, and Ireland Active — the company operates a multi-service model spanning five lines: (1) Swim Academies delivered through partner venues in Dublin, Armagh, Newcastle, and Warrenpoint via the CoursePro HomePortal; (2) TLE Learn, a qualification and CPD platform including the proprietary TLEQ Level 2 Swimming Teacher qualification (VTCT/ITEC endorsed and CIMSPA-aligned) and RLSS-aligned lifeguard, rescue, and first-aid certifications delivered through the TLE Learn Lab e-learning platform plus face-to-face practicals; (3) leisure consultancy sold consultatively to operators on retainer or day-rate terms; (4) bespoke swimming pool design and build consulting; and (5) tiered memberships (Connect, Connect Plus, Connect & Protect with insurance) plus insurance products in partnership with BGi.uk.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid of one-time course fees (£9–£805), recurring swim-lesson subscriptions across multiple academy sites, professional-services consultancy engagements, subscription memberships, and insurance commissions. The annual TLE Conference functions as both a brand-building event and a GTM channel, anchored by Principal Partner SPACE&PLACE for 2026 alongside a partner ecosystem of RLSS UK & Ireland, Gladstone Software, Lynxight, CoursePro, and BGi.uk. The company holds CIMSPA Training Provider Partner status, Ofqual-regulated qualifications, and consecutive AIBF Business All-Star accreditation (2024, 2025), but is small in scale (1–10 employees), bootstrapped with no external funding disclosed, and operates from three jurisdictions with course delivery concentrated in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Name

The Leisure Experts

Legal name

The Leisure Experts

Website

https://theleisureexperts.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Leisure Experts is a Dublin-founded (2021) leisure and aquatics consultancy delivering swim academies, accredited professional qualifications and CPD, leisure business consultancy, pool design services, and a tiered membership and insurance programme for operators, aquatic professionals, and families across Ireland and the UK.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Leisure Industry Consultancy and Aquatic Training

NAICS

Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDALAIAF

Aquatics Programs (Pools, Swim Lessons, Lifeguarding)

Education/Student Services & Campus Operations/Athletics, Recreation & Fitness

SECONDARYTHAAABAL

Water Safety, Lifeguarding & Training Services (Staffing, Certification)

Travel & Hospitality/Adventure, Amusement Parks & Ecotourism/Water Parks

Keywords

• Swim academy services
• Aquatic industry training
• Leisure consultancy services
• Swimming pool design
• Professional swim qualifications

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Professional Qualifications & CPD Courses: Revenue from delivering accredited swimming teacher, lifeguard, and first aid qualifications plus continuous professional development courses. Courses are priced individually ranging from £9 CPD sessions to £705+ for full qualifications. Both online/virtual and face-to-face delivery formats available.
2. Swim Academy Lessons: Recurring revenue from swimming lesson programmes across multiple academy locations. Parents pay for ongoing swimming lessons, with online booking and payment through the HomePortal system.
3. Consultancy Services: Business consulting services for swimming pool operators including programme optimization, business reviews, training, and digital transformation. Billed via monthly retainer or day/half-day consultancy rates.
4. Swimming Pool Design & Build Consulting: Consultative services for bespoke swimming pool projects including design consultation, project management, and support through planning applications.
5. Membership Subscriptions: TLE Connect (free), Connect Plus (paid subscription), and Connect & Protect (professional insurance membership) tiers providing community access, resources, and insurance coverage for aquatic professionals.
6. Insurance Products: TLE Connect & Protect insurance products offered in partnership with BGi.uk, providing professional liability coverage for swimming teachers, educators, and aquatic professionals across Ireland and the UK.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Leisure Experts provides learn-to-swim programmes (Swim Academy) for families and individuals, industry-recognised swimming and lifeguard qualifications plus CPD courses (TLE Learn / TLEQ), business growth and operational consultancy for swimming pool and leisure facility operators, bespoke swimming pool design and build consultancy, and tiered membership programmes (TLE Connect, Connect Plus, Connect & Protect with insurance). They also host the annual TLE Conference, a sector event bringing together leisure leaders, aquatic specialists and facility operators.

Product overview

The Leisure Experts operates as a multi-service leisure industry organization offering a unified portfolio of products across education, consultancy, and facility services. The core offerings include: (1) Swim Academy - a learn-to-swim programme powered by a 7-level progression pathway delivered at partner locations across Ireland and Northern Ireland, supported by an online Home Portal for progress tracking; (2) TLE Learn - a qualification and CPD platform offering industry-recognized credentials (TLEQ Level 2 Swimming Teacher, NPLQ, NRASTC, SPERA, EFAW, RLSS Trainer Assessor) delivered through the TLE Learn Lab e-learning platform with online, virtual and face-to-face components; (3) Leisure Consultancy - business growth, strategy and operational support services; (4) Swimming Pool Design and Build - bespoke semi-permanent pool consultation and construction; (5) Membership Tiers - Connect (free), Connect Plus, and Connect & Protect (with insurance) for families, professionals and operators. The company also hosts an annual TLE Conference for industry networking and development. The architecture is service-oriented rather than a single software platform, with products delivered through in-person training, online learning management, and consultancy engagements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TLEQ: Qualifications brand responsible for developing, accrediting, and issuing qualifications to learners in Great Britain, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland.
• TLE Learn
• TLE Swim Academy
• TLE Connect

Products and services

• Swim Academy Learn-to-swim programme for all ages and abilities, from beginner to advanced, delivered at multiple partner locations across Ireland and Northern Ireland through a 7-level progression pathway covering water confidence, essential swimming skills, water safety and stroke technique refinement.
• TLEQ Level 2 Swimming Teacher Qualification Proprietary Level 2 swimming teacher qualification endorsed by VTCT and ITEC, providing internationally recognised certification; covers planning, delivery and evaluation of swimming lessons for all ages and abilities; includes one year's Aquatic Professional Connect & Protect membership upon completion.
• National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) Gold-standard RLSS pool lifeguard certification covering pool rescue techniques, lifeguarding theory, first aid, CPR and emergency response; valid for 2 years; widely recognised across the UK and Ireland.
• National Rescue Award for Swimming Teachers and Coaches (NRASTC) RLSS qualification for swimming teachers and coaches covering hazard recognition, emergency action planning, water rescue techniques and basic life support including CPR and AED use; valid for 2 years.
• Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) One-day workplace first aid qualification awarded by RLSS UK, regulated by Ofqual, Qualifications Wales and CCEA; covers emergency first aid skills, CPR, casualty management and workplace first aid requirements; valid for 3 years.
• Swimming Pool Emergency Rescue Award (SPERA) RLSS qualification for poolside staff, hotel and spa employees and leisure facility workers covering safe water rescues and basic life support until professional help arrives; valid for 2 years.
• RLSS Trainer Assessor Qualification Professional qualification for individuals to train and assess others in RLSS qualifications, including a 3-day TA Core qualification plus specialist pathways for NPLQ, NRASTC, NVBLQ and Open Water Lifeguard.
• Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Courses Extensive CPD course catalogue for swimming teachers and aquatic professionals covering teaching methods, stroke technique, behaviour management, SEND inclusion, early years instruction and aquatic fitness; available as virtual classroom and face-to-face formats; individual sessions priced from £9/€10 with full-day CPDs from £129/€149.
• AQUAPILATES Certification Course AQUAPILATES Certification Course combining traditional Pilates principles with aquatic environment for posture, mobility, balance, flexibility and core control; international programme now delivered across 19 countries; launched in Ireland in June 2025 at Armagh and Dublin.
• Leisure Consultancy Business growth and operational consultancy for swimming pools and leisure facility operators covering business strategy, programme development, workforce training, digital transformation, mentoring and recruitment support; billed via monthly retainer or day/half-day rates.
• Desktop Business Review Desktop Business Review service that analyses swimming lesson software and programme performance to help swim schools identify inefficiencies and unlock capacity using existing data.
• Swimming Pool Design and Build Bespoke swimming pool consultation and semi-permanent pool design and construction services, spanning semi-inground pools, above-ground pools, container pools and modular pools; includes project management, planning applications and support services.
• TLE Connect Membership Free community membership providing access to community support, professional recognition, learning tools and development opportunities for aquatic professionals and families.
• TLE Connect Plus Membership Enhanced paid membership tier providing ongoing support, resources and growth opportunities for families, Aquatic Professionals, Aquatic Providers and Operators.
• TLE Connect & Protect Membership Professional and business membership including tailored insurance coverage in partnership with BGi.uk, expert support and resources; provides a non-claims-made insurance policy with breaks-in-insurance support for aquatic professionals across Ireland and the UK.
• TLE Family Membership Family-focused membership providing VIP access and support for families engaged in swimming lessons, with resources to support children's swimming journey.
• Aquatic Professional Membership Membership connecting aquatic professionals with peer networks, professional development opportunities and insurance options, including a Connect & Protect insurance add-on.
• Aquatic Providers & Operators Membership Membership for facility owners, managers, franchisees and programme leads providing access to expert guidance, industry insights and operator networks.
• TLE Conference Annual industry conference bringing together leisure leaders, aquatic specialists, facility operators and innovators; features international speakers, strategic partner showcases, networking and educational sessions for swim teachers, lifeguards, managers and senior leaders.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40,000+ lifeguards qualify annually through RLSS programmes; 75,000+ NPLQ-qualified lifeguards currently active in UK and Ireland
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• SPACE&PLACEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrincipal Partner for TLE Conference 2026. SPACE&PLACE are internationally recognised leaders in the design of sport, leisure and wellbeing facilities, helping organisations create environments that strengthen communities and enhance life experiences.
• Gladstone SoftwarestrategicTechnology or IntegrationStrategic Partner for TLE Conference 2026. Gladstone Software has been supporting the leisure management sector for decades, providing management systems used by operators across the UK and Ireland.
• RLSS UK & Ireland (Royal Life Saving Society)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic Partner for TLE Conference 2026. RLSS UK & Ireland has played a vital role in promoting water safety and lifeguard training for generations, with their NPLQ being the gold standard in poolside safety.
• LynxightstrategicTechnology or IntegrationStrategic Partner for TLE Conference 2026. Lynxight are pioneers in AI-powered aquatic safety technology, helping swimming pools and aquatic centres better understand what is happening in the water in real time.
• CourseProstrategicTechnology or IntegrationStrategic Partner for TLE Conference 2026. CoursePro provides specialist course and booking management software for swim schools and aquatic programmes.
• BGi.ukcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic Partner and insurance partner. BGI.uk works closely with leisure operators and facility managers across the UK and Ireland, and partnered with TLE to deliver Connect & Protect insurance products.
• Skillnet IrelandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDisplayed as partner logo on website footer. Skillnet Ireland supports business growth through talent development programmes.
• CIMPSAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDisplayed as partner logo. CIMSPA (Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity) is the professional body for sport and physical activity. TLE is a CIMSPA Training Provider Partner.
• Mariano Solier / AQUAPILATESstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerTLE brought the internationally recognised AQUAPILATES Certification Course to Ireland, developed by Mariano Solier. This marks the 19th country for the programme, combining Pilates principles with aquatic environments.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Active IQ: UK awarding organisation specialising in fitness, leisure and active leisure qualifications, including teacher and instructor certifications. Directly comparable to TLE's qualification and CPD business model, with similar CIMSPA-aligned offerings.
• STA (Swimming Teachers' Association): UK-based awarding body and membership organisation for swim teachers, offering swimming teacher and aquatic qualifications plus CPD. Directly comparable to TLE's TLE Learn / TLEQ qualification line, competing for the same learner cohort and CPD revenue.
• Swim England: England's national governing body for swimming, operating learn-to-swim frameworks, teacher qualifications and aquatic development. Comparable to TLE on the qualification and learn-to-swim pathway side of the business across the UK market.
• RLSS UK (Royal Life Saving Society): UK and Ireland's leading lifeguard and water safety awarding organisation, issuing the NPLQ and other rescue qualifications that TLE delivers through TLE Learn. Also a named TLE Conference strategic partner; the two organisations sit on the same side of the value chain but compete for visibility in the aquatics training market.
• Water Babies: The UK's largest dedicated baby and toddler swimming lesson franchise, operating across multiple locations with a structured progression pathway. Directly comparable to TLE Swim Academy in terms of learn-to-swim programme design, parent-facing booking technology, and franchise/partner venue model.
• Swim Ireland: National governing body for swimming in Ireland, providing teacher education, aquatic pathway development and CPD. Directly comparable to TLE in Ireland, particularly for swim teacher training and learn-to-swim programme standards; Joni Harding has prior working ties to Swim Ireland.

Broad incumbents

• Everyone Active: One of the largest leisure operators in the UK, managing public leisure facilities including pools and swim schools. A named TLE consultancy client, but also a broader incumbent whose in-house training and swim programme operations compete with TLE's consultancy and qualification value proposition.
• David Lloyd Leisure: Premium UK and European health, racquet and wellness club operator with extensive indoor and outdoor pool facilities and swimming programmes. Russell Cavanagh previously held senior management at David Lloyd; comparable as a large incumbent whose in-pool operations and member base overlap with TLE's addressable market.
• Better (GLL): UK's largest charitable social enterprise leisure operator, running hundreds of facilities with extensive swim school and aquatic programmes. Comparable to TLE at the operator level for swim programme design, lifeguard staffing, and membership models, though at vastly greater scale.
• Places Leisure: UK leisure operator managing public leisure facilities on behalf of local authorities, including swimming pools and aquatic programmes. Comparable to TLE as a target customer for consultancy services and as an operator competing for the same consumer swim lesson wallet.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/theleisureexperts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-leisure-experts
• Instagraminstagram.com/theleisureexperts

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Leisure Experts