An East Devon business specialising in swimming classes for toddlers is ramping up its plans for international expansion after success in a regional competition.
Water Babies has been crowned as one of three winners from the South West and Wales in the HSBC Global Connections initiative.
After picking up the award in a ceremony at St George's Hall in Bristol, the company will go on to compete in the national final along with 12 other businesses from across the UK.
Honiton-based Water Babies is a franchise business providing baby and toddler swimming classes. Its youngest client has been just two days old.![]()
Water Babies' core additional service is high resolution digital underwater photography. The business takes more than 100,000 photographs annually, plus a range of other retail products. It teaches approximately 40,000 clients a week – making it the world's largest business of its kind through a network of 53 franchisees operating in 547 pools.
Water Babies were unveiled as joint winners of the SME category for companies with a turnover of up to £30 million.
The HSBC Global Connections initiative aims to encourage UK businesses to venture beyond their home territories and take their products and services into the growth markets of the future.
To help facilitate that growth, the winning businesses recently joined other regional finalists from across the UK on an HSBC International Exchange visit to Turkey, where they gained an insight into the opportunities to trade with that market and develop links with local businesses.
In addition, the winning businesses can gain access to lending facilities up to £6m, linked to a financial reward of up to £120,000, doubled for the national winners.
Paul Thompson, executive chairman and co-founder of Water Babies, said: "We're made up – this is absolutely fantastic. The financial reward will propel our international development.
"The process of the Global Connections competition has made us realise we can grow faster and bigger than we thought was possible."
Gary Burton, regional director for HSBC Commercial Banking, South West and Wales, said: "We had to choose from six inspirational SME finalists who held us captivated. The judging continued all the way until just before the award ceremony started. All the businesses have incredibly strong product or service innovation, and have seen incredible growth through recession. And each has a massive passion for their customers, and for empowering and developing their people."
Water Babies' core additional service is high resolution digital underwater photography. The business takes more than 100,000 photographs annually, plus a range of other retail products. It teaches approximately 40,000 clients a week – making it the world's largest business of its kind through a network of 53 franchisees operating in 547 pools.
Water Babies were unveiled as joint winners of the SME category for companies with a turnover of up to £30 million.
The HSBC Global Connections initiative aims to encourage UK businesses to venture beyond their home territories and take their products and services into the growth markets of the future.
To help facilitate that growth, the winning businesses recently joined other regional finalists from across the UK on an HSBC International Exchange visit to Turkey, where they gained an insight into the opportunities to trade with that market and develop links with local businesses.
In addition, the winning businesses can gain access to lending facilities up to £6m, linked to a financial reward of up to £120,000, doubled for the national winners.
Paul Thompson, executive chairman and co-founder of Water Babies, said: "We're made up – this is absolutely fantastic. The financial reward will propel our international development.
"The process of the Global Connections competition has made us realise we can grow faster and bigger than we thought was possible."
Gary Burton, regional director for HSBC Commercial Banking, South West and Wales, said: "We had to choose from six inspirational SME finalists who held us captivated. The judging continued all the way until just before the award ceremony started. All the businesses have incredibly strong product or service innovation, and have seen incredible growth through recession. And each has a massive passion for their customers, and for empowering and developing their people."