Scuba School dives in to new premises
A Warwickshire dive training business is gearing up for a busy year ahead as it expands into additional premises.
Scuba School, based in Studley, has taken a further unit on the Washford Industrial Estate in Redditch, enabling it to offer scuba cylinder testing, servicing and refilling, as well as providing additional training space.
Fiona Gray, who runs Scuba School with her partner Darren Ellis, said: “The extra space is particularly useful at the moment because of the need to be socially distanced.
“And tanks need to be serviced every two and a half years, so we now have the space to offer that service as well.”
Scuba School worked with Ian Parker and the team at John Truslove, the Redditch-based commercial property agency, to find the premises.
The 1,602 sq ft Unit 70 in Heming Road has been secured on a five year lease.
Gray said: “We are adding new facilities to the property at the moment and it will also provide space for our diving suit repair service.”
The duo lead an experienced team of divers and trainers, working across the UK and internationally, and run apartments in the diving mecca of Egypt.
They launched the business nine years ago and the diving club now has 190 members. Despite the restrictions on travel and business during the coronavirus pandemic, the business is continuing to expand.
It provides diver training for absolute beginners and professionals, running regular UK diving and overseas trips, with two pools at its headquarters in Alcester Road, Studley.
“We had been looking for suitable additional premises for about 18 months,” said Gray.
“We talked to Ian and the team at John Truslove about what we were looking for – additional space within our budget. We are very pleased with the help they have provided.
“The new premises have put us on the road to fresh growth. We are now just waiting for the local council to relax the Covid restrictions and allow us to get back to full working.”
Ian Parker, joint managing director at John Truslove, said: “Fiona and Darren have built up a strong and successful dive training business from their base in Studley but needed additional space in a second set of premises – the Heming Road unit provides that.
“We are delighted to be able to help another local business to grow. Our unrivalled knowledge of the commercial property market in this region means we are always in a position to help expanding businesses.”
