Laura Sevenus Swimming Tuition - London

In London, August 2009, after my extensive travels of the UK and Europe, I found myself a managing role at Laura Sevenus Swimming Tuition, London's most expensive (£!) and prestigious swim school in Chiswick (West London).

I found this brief blurb on the business website that sums up LSST's history:

"Laura Sevenus Swimming Tuition (LSST Ltd) is a family-run business operated by Laura Sevenus and her daughter Kirsten.

Laura Sevenus was a South African national competitive swimmer in the 60's. She was one of five South Africans chosen to tour with the American Water Follies as a synchronized swimmer, thus changing her amateur status.

In 1964, her professional career began when she assisted the South African team coach training beginners, and later established her first private swim school. Her understanding of parent's and children's needs led to the creation of a purpose-designed facility for teaching swimming in Cape Town, this is where she developed what is now the Laura Sevenus Swimming Method®.

She has contributed her evolving insight and expertise to various working groups in South Africa, Sweden, Germany and the UK and has been instrumental in defining swim teaching standards in South Africa. She is also a certified aquarobics instructor and Watsu® practitioner."

I was put in charge of managing the higher level students and training the teachers, as well as swim teaching myself, which has been very rewarding, challenging and I have gained a lot of experience and knowledge of small business (Even thought the swim school has over 1200 students).

Laura and Kirsten are probably the nicest people I have ever had to work for and it will be sad to leave such a pleasurable working environment, apart from to many hours in the water and the fact that I want to enhance my career opportunities.

In my short time at LSST I have made an incredible impact on the way the business procedures and conducted and also on the teaching methods used, I am well liked by the staff and the number of students that I teach.