A FAMILY run swimming school is looking to expand its operations nationally as the business celebrates its 30th anniversary.

Based in Selby, the Carol Saunders Swim School started life with just six students when Carol Saunders approached her local swimming pool at Sherburn High School to hire it out to teach lessons.

Today the business runs classes in 11 venues nationwide, providing more than 2,000 students with lessons every year.

Alongside celebrating its anniversary, the business is hoping to celebrate award success after entering the Small Business of the Year and the News Business of the Year categories.

The Swim School, which employs a team of 30, is run by two generations of the Saunders family, with the third generation taking part in lessons regularly.

Naiomi, Carol’s daughter and Business Development director, has introduced a new website and integrated CMS software to cope with the high levels of demand from customers.

The past year has seen great success for the business as it has not only opened its new Hull, Upper Wharfedale and Stamford Bridge venues but has also launched its franchising opportunities. Individuals can now run their own Carol Saunders Swim School in their own local territory and will receive exclusive rights to that area allowing them to succeed with an already well-established business model.

Currently the team is working on its marketing strategy to engage and secure new franchisees with the first launched this summer in Nottingham.