The baby and toddler swim school Water Babies has been acquired by U.S. investors Elmsley Capital and Westerly Group for an undisclosed sum. Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Devon, UK, Water Babies operates a franchise network across countries including the UK, Ireland, Canada, Germany, and the US, teaching over 80,000 babies annually. The new owners plan to expand the brand further in the United States, where the swim market is significantly larger than in the UK.
Paul Thompson, the founder, will remain as a non-executive board director. The acquisition aligns with the investors’ focus on long-term growth and educational businesses, emphasizing international expansion, particularly in the U.S. market