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Every Monday, we ask small businesses important questions. Here, we speak to Ian Parfitt, owner of his Swim Whisperer in Lossiemouth-based Moray.
He said he wants private swimming schools to be zero-rated for VAT or exempt from taxes entirely, putting them on par with the public sector.
How and why did you start your business?
He qualified as a swim instructor in the early 1990s and began working in the Welsh leisure industry. Shortly after moving to Moray, she realized she really needed one-on-one private lessons for adults and decided to set up her own swimming school.
Rumors of adult lessons soon spread, but requests flooded in to start offering lessons for children as well.
So now my wife Mandy and I run two swim businesses. Mandian swimming school for children.
How did you get to where you are now?
I had a strong desire to get more adults and teens to start swimming. For adults, there is a stigma attached to not being able to swim or being a poor swimmer.
However, I do know that there is a very high proportion of adults in the UK who cannot swim or cannot swim well.
Many guests feel uncomfortable in group settings, so it is important to provide a private facility where they feel comfortable in a relaxed environment.
who helped you?
In addition to being a swimming teacher, Mandy has made significant contributions to starting and running businesses. We called a friend to help us create the website.
A good accountant is important, and I have a lot of help from Cathel Fraser, a longtime partner at Elgin.
The Federation of Small Businesses is always ready to provide advice on current legislation. I downloaded some of the legal document templates. These have helped me save money and time.
What’s the best advice ever?
Growing up, my dad always told me to focus on what I was passionate about. When you are good at it, people will want to pay you for your work. That advice has led me to where I am today.
what is your biggest mistake?
I wish I had taken my father’s advice sooner. Unfortunately, I worked for a long time in a company that I had absolutely no passion for. Luckily, that all changed.
What is your greatest achievement?
I must say that I have two sons. My greatest achievement in business is that Moray’s Swim Whisperer is now considered the leading adult and her teenage swim professional in the area. I am very proud to have taught hundreds, if not thousands, of adults and teenagers to swim.
How are you managing rapidly rising costs? How can the government help?
Very difficult. The Association of Swimming Teachers is campaigning for the (UK) government to have her pay zero or no VAT on private swimming schools. This is already being done in the public sector.
To increase the amount of lessons and students we can teach, we need a more level playing field that allows businesses like mine to compete fairly with the public sector.
what do you still want to achieve?
I would like to encourage more adults and young people to take swimming lessons.
Teenagers have difficulty learning to swim. At Swim Whisperer In Moray, I work with her one-on-one or one-on-two, so the focus is on the customer, not the big group.
If we can bring in more teenagers and build their confidence in the water, it will be a huge achievement.
what do you do to relax?
Stay completely away from chlorine. At home I relax with my wife watching Netflix and practicing yoga. In his spare time, he enjoys taking walks in the beautiful Moray countryside and also plays drums.
What are you currently reading, listening to, or obsessed with on TV?
I’m not good at reading, but I love music. I just finished watching Detectorists, a beautifully written and directed comedy by Mackenzie Crook.
what do you waste your money on?
In the current cost of living crisis, we can’t afford to waste money. But I have a real problem with my obsession with Doc Martens boots and Fred Perry shirts.
What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
After checking email and social media, I take Louis for a morning walk. He’s my gorgeous chocolate his chihuahua. This will allow you to think about the rest of the day.
What do you drive and dream of driving?
I’m driving a 2022 Toyota Yaris Cross. I’m not much into cars, but one day, if business is going well, I might actually get my wife what she’s been wanting all along. 1960’s-70’s duck egg blue Morris Minor van.
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[Swim ‘whisperer’ Ian Parfitt plunged into business after move north]
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