Press Release

The Nation’s Premier ‘Learn to Swim’ Provider Awards New Location in Philadelphia

{Philadelphia, PA} – (May 21, 2023) – British Swim School, the nation’s leading “learn to swim” franchise company, continues its rapid expansion across North America with the opening of three new locations in Philadelphia.

The first location is within the ACF Fitness Center, with classes available on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The second location can be found in the LAF in Bala Cynwyd and offers classes on Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The newest location is inside the prestigious Friends Select School, which will open its doors on May 8th.

The mother/son team of Kim and Brett Hutchins are the owners and operators of the newest British Swim School locations. Kim has plenty of experience in the franchising world, having owned two popular Kumon Math & Reading tutoring franchises for twenty years prior to joining the British Swim School team. Her son, Brett, is new to franchise ownership but has always had the goal of being a successful entrepreneur. After moving on from her other business ventures, Kim determined that British Swim School would be an exciting opportunity.

“You can tell [British Swim School] is a premium product,” Kim insisted. “Their method of teaching swimming is exceptional. I was drawn to the franchise after talking to other British Swim School owners around the country. It sounded like I could continue making a difference in children's lives.”

For more than 40 years, British Swim School has been dedicated to teaching water survival skills by teaching infants, children, and adults of all ages the skills needed for water acclimation, water survival, and stroke development. Its mission — ensuring that every person, regardless of age or ability, has the opportunity to become a safe and happy swimmer.

Across the nation, eleven people die every day from unintentional drownings, with nearly 4,000 deaths occurring each year. Research shows that participation in formal swim programs, such as those offered by British Swim School, can reduce the risk of drowning by 88% among children who are most at risk for deaths caused by drowning. However, the risk of drowning isn’t limited to children: a Red Cross survey found that more than half of all Americans (54%) either can’t swim or don’t have the basic swimming skills needed to save themselves in the event of a water emergency.

As for Brett, he was inspired to swim by his uncle, one of the first African American lifeguards in Philadelphia. Brett’s uncle encouraged him to become involved in swimming any chance he got. “I’m very excited and eager to get started with this new experience,” he said. “Every child should know how to swim. We’re so invested in this that we have hired my childhood swim instructor to become      aquatics director.”

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to add Kim and Brett Hutchins to our franchisee family,” said Ashley Gundlach, British Swim School President. “They are joining a strong system with other locations in the area, and will be another fantastic option for the premier swim lesson experience British Swim School is known for.”

About British Swim School 

British Swim School, the nation’s most established swim school franchise, with over 40 years in business, believes that every individual, regardless of age or ability, should have the opportunity to become a safe and happy swimmer. Offering lessons for babies, children, and adults, the brand is dedicated to its mantra, “Survival of the Littlest,” focusing first on the survival skills needed to survive a water accident, then moving on to stroke development and more advanced skills. Not only does British Swim Schools give peace of mind to countless families who seek the essential life skill the brand offers their children but the purpose-driven franchise also offers an exceptional opportunity for entrepreneurs who seek a fulfilling business venture with a sound foundation, low investment, and an easily scalable model. Part of the Buzz Franchise Brands family, British Swim School currently operates over 300 schools across the United States and Canada.