Meet Our North West Midlands & South Cheshire Team
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Kim Pinnington - Franchise Owner
Kim is the team's boss having taken over the South Cheshire franchise from the previous owner in late 2017. Kim is a qualified accountant but always wanted to run her own business so after 11 years of working at a well known bank decided to take the plunge and take on the franchise when the opportunity arose - she has never looked back since!
Never one to sit still, she took on her second franchise area covering Walsall in 2019. Kim has been super successful in running the combined franchise, she was named Puddle Ducks Franchisee of the Year 2020 and was a finalist in both the British Franchise Awards and Empowering Women into Franchising Awards in 2020 also.
Kim is mum to Megan & Harry (named before the Royals!) and lives just outside of our area near Chester with husband Steve and the family pets... Hattie the cat, Blizzard the gecko and newest edition Taco the tortoise!
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Sarah - Office Manager
Sarah has been part of our office team for a number of years and has a wealth of Puddle Ducks knowledge. Not only does she know what our customers expect from Puddle Ducks but she has most, if not all, of the answers to queries from customers and staff! Sarah keeps us all in order and is our Agony Aunt! Sarah is friendly, kind and when she is not on the phone or answering emails she makes a good brew too. Outside of work you will find her having fun with her family and leading her own Brownies group.
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Alex - Customer Care Assistant
Alex joined our office team a few years ago and after some time decided to begin her teacher training journey also to become a Baby and Pre-School. When Alex is not helping you with queries she is looking after her young son. The office team all enjoy a biscuit or two, especially Alex!
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Jess - Senior Teacher for Baby Pre-school and Swim Academy Teacher in Stoke area
When Jess was seven years old she was incredibly nervous in water but with perseverance she learned to swim and has never looked back reaching competition level for COSACSS and during her time at the University of East Anglia. Jess now enjoys getting the chance to nurture a lifelong love for swimming the same as hers. In 2013 Jess had her daughter and at 5 weeks old Matilda was in our Floaties class! This is when Jess decided that she would love to be a teacher for Puddle Ducks and we are glad she did! Jess spends most of her free time (is there such a thing with children?) looking after her 2 little ones. A board game geek? Yes, Jess is!
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Kirsty - Senior Teacher for Baby Pre-school and Swim Academy in Stoke on Trent and Newport area
Kirsty has always had a love for swimming and always wanted to work with children helping them to learn and grow. Being a customer with her eldest son since he was 5 weeks old she saw a job advert and jumped at the opportunity to put 2 passions together. She hasn’t looked back since.
Kirsty loves to see children grow in confidence and achieve all milestones, even the mini ones which are most definitely still worth celebrating. She loves getting to know the children and their grown ups and is a very open book about being a mum to 2 boys.
In her spare time when not running around after the boys, she enjoys a good coffee, cake and natter.
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Gemma - Senior Teacher for Baby Pre-school and Swim Academy Teacher in Shropshire area
Gemma is our chatterbox! Gemma has spent many years swimming with her 2 children so it was only natural for her to join us as a teacher. Gemma is a bubbly, fun person who loves teaching children, seeing them progress and grow into wonderful swimmers! Not only does she teach but Gemma will often be seen at one of our events. Gemma is very active and goes walking, cycling and visiting new places with her family.
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Zara - Senior Teacher for Baby & Pre-school and Swim Academy in West Midlands area
In 2015 Zara started her journey with Puddle Ducks; first as an Aquanatal customer and then taking her daughter for lessons. She absolutely loved the classes and thought what a wonderful job it would be. Two years later, she relocated to Shropshire and decided to leave her career as a Secondary School teacher and train to become a swimming teacher. Zara first trained in Swim Academy and this was closely followed by Baby and Pre School. In 2019, she became a Senior Teacher for our neighbouring Worcestershire franchise and in 2022 gained the STA Level 3 Diploma in Baby and Pre-School and became a HQ Accreditor. Zara joined the North West Midlands franchise in 2022 and is now also a SA Trainer and Franchise Accreditor. Zara has also gained her STA Level 2 Award in Disability Swimming qualification and her STA Level 2 Certificate in Teaching Swimming.
Zara loves that our classes allow children to learn vital lifesaving and water safety skills
alongside the opportunity to play and explore at their own pace. Seeing the smiles and progress in the pool brings her such joy and she feels privileged to be part of each child’s journey.
Away from the pool, Zara spends time with her two children, friends and family and enjoy relaxing with crochet and dancing around with her hula hoop!
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Jenny - Swim Academy Teacher in Shropshire
Jenny was previously a primary school teaching assistant and really enjoyed working with children finding it so rewarding to see the difference she could make to their progress. She has also always enjoyed swimming and after helping with the school's swimming lessons, and absolutely loving the experience of helping children gain confidence in the water, she decided to combine the two!
When she's not teaching, she enjoys walking her dog, going to the gym and catching up with friends and family, whilst eating her way through slices of cake and chocolate biscuits! She is the real life cookie monster!
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Hayley - Swim Academy teacher in West Midlands
Hayley is a primary school teacher and is passionate about physical activity and sport for children. She enjoys swimming and attends Puddle Ducks swimming lessons with her daughter. She really enjoys the ethos surrounding Puddle Ducks and is enthused to support children to learn to swim in Swim Academy. Recently becoming part time in her teaching career, Hayley wanted to pursue her passion to train as a swimming instructor. She has also gained her STA Level 2 in Disability Swimming qualification!
In her free time, Hayley enjoys leading an active lifestyle with her husband, daughter and dog!
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Louise - Baby & Pre-School Teacher in Walsall
Louise was originally a customer with us and loved it so much she decided to join us as a teacher!
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Melanie - Senior Teacher for Baby & Pre-school in Winsford
13 years ago Mel moved in next door to a Puddle Ducks teacher who persuaded her to become a teacher too and she absolutely loves it! Her three daughters all swam at Puddle Ducks - two of whom have gone on to join swimming clubs and one who now works at one of our neighbouring franchises. Mel loves open water swimming and primarily works for the Mid Cheshire franchise but helps out our team also by teaching our lessons at Hebden Green pool in Winsford.
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Susie - Poolside Assistant in South Cheshire
Susie is a familiar face to many at our Hebden Green and Wrinehill Mill venues in South Cheshire. Her favourite programme is Floaties and she loves seeing how the babies change and learn so quickly in their lessons. She joined our Puddle Ducks team after having her son and attending lessons; it felt like the right time to start something new after a career break to be a full time mum.
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Heather - Baby & Pre-school and Swim Academy Teacher in Shropshire
Heather has had a number of jobs over the years, most recently (and ongoing) fitness instructor and run leader for a local running club. A neighbour recommended that Heather applied for a job with Puddle Ducks and she is so glad she did as she thinks it's the best job ever!
When she's not in the pool, you'll find her at Parkrun on a Saturday morning (usually joined by her eldest son Archie), around the streets of Telford with her running club, or going for big family walks with the dog, youngest son Freddie and husband Bruce.
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Annie - Baby & Pre School and Swim Academy Teacher in Stoke
Annie is very kind hearted and passionate about teaching little ones to swim. They love getting to know their swimmers and watch them grow in confidence. Teaching has also allowed them to learn more about themselves and they are keen to develop their knowledge to support their swimmers further. Annie has also gained their STA Level 2 in Disability Swimming qualification! Away from the pool Annie loves reading, crochet and going on hikes with their dog
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Neil - Swim Academy teacher in Walsall
As a retired police officer, Neil wanted to do something completely different with a view of still helping others. He has always enjoyed swimming, so saw teaching our Swim Academy programme as a perfect fit. In his spare time, Neil is active taking part in parkruns with his son.
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Ela - Swim Academy Teacher in Stoke
Ella is an ex competitive swimmer and enjoys seeing the love of the sport passed onto future swimmers. Ela is currently studying forensic science at university and when she isn't at uni or in the pool loves crocheting.
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Isabelle - Swim Academy Teacher in Walsall
Isabelle has been swimming from a young age and became a volunteer with her swimming club which inspired her to train to become a teacher. She enjoys teaching our Swim Academy programme and loves the fun, individual environment they provide for children to learn.
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Katie - Baby and Pre School Teacher and Poolside Assistant in Walsall
Katie joined us as a poolside assistant in Walsall. After a short time observing from the side, she decided to use all the knowledge she had gained and train to become one of our Baby and Pre School teachers. She enjoys seeing the confidence grow in the children she teaches and takes great pride at seeing them achieve their swimming milestones in her lessons
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Leonie - Swim Academy Teacher in Stoke
Leonie enjoys teaching our Swim Academy classes as she loves the impact she is making on others' lives. As a people person, she sees the best in people and likes to ensure others around her are comfortable and happy. In her spare time, Leonie enjoys baking and spending time with her friends and family
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Evie - Swim Academy Teacher and Poolside Assistant in Walsall
Evie started as a poolside assistant at our Aldridge and Queen Mary's pools. When the opportunity arose to train as a teacher, she jumped at the chance and now teaches our Swim Academy programme
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Liberty - Poolside Assistant in Shropshire
Liberty is one of our newest team members and loves her job, as she has always enjoyed swimming! Her favourite thing is seeing the swimmers learn and get more confident in the water each week. Away from the pool, Liberty enjoys spending time with her friends, family and pets!
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Ella - Poolside Assistant in Shropshire