TWO business women are celebrating the 10th anniversary of swim school Water Babies in South East Wales and South Herefordshire.

Jacqui Grant from Newport and Aletia Griffiths from Cardiff, are delighted to celebrate 10 years since setting up their business Water Babies Wales South East and South Herefordshire.

Water Babies is the largest specialist baby and toddler swim school in the world, offering highly specialised lessons to little ones as young as just a few days old.

In 2005 they decided to take the plunge and set up the school in Wales South East and South Herefordshire after taking their own children to Water Babies classes in Bristol.

Ten years on, Jacqui and Aletia employ 14 staff who teach 950 babies and toddlers to swim every week and have taught an incredible 8,027 children to swim in the last decade.

Water Babies as a whole teaches around 42,000 babies and toddlers to swim every week across a network of award-winning franchises in the UK, Ireland, The Netherlands, New Zealand and Canada. Many franchisees were directly inspired to set up a Water Babies business by Jacqui and Aletia, having attended their classes. Ms Grant said: “Running our business has been a wonderful and rewarding experience.

“Over the past 10 years we’ve hugely increased the number of babies we teach on a weekly basis, along with the number of pool locations and swimming teachers.

“We’re so proud not only to pass on such a vital and amazing skill to little ones, but also to employ so many fantastic people and help them to enjoy a great work-life balance.”

MsGriffiths added: “Swimming with your baby is a great way to relax and have fun together away from the stress of everyday life.

“The whole team understands how important this special time together is, which is why we always focus on pupils’ strengths and successes, so the lessons are really positive.”

Jacqui, Aletia and their dedicated team run lessons in a variety of locations including Hereford, Monmouth, Newport, Ystrad Mynach, Cardiff and Bridgend. For more information please call 01633 278 504 or visit waterbabies.co.uk