Press Release

STA SECURES EXCLUSIVE INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT

STA, the UK's leading awarding body for swimming and lifesaving, has announced today a major international partnership agreement with the Dubai based FSG Group.  This announcement comes at a time when Dubai’s magnitude as an all year-round international tourism destination is growing, resulting in a demand for enhanced safety and security measures at pools and beaches.

31st May 2006

STA has announced today, a major international partnership agreement with the Dubai based First Security Group (FSG).  The collaboration will allow STA to deliver its full range of lifesaving, swimming teaching, and first aid programmes in collaboration with FSG, to over 25 countries throughout the Middle East and North Africa, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

FSG is a specialist organisation providing security, training and recruitment, with significant business exposure across the Middle East.  The joint venture will give STA, the UK’s leading awarding body for swimming teaching, lifesaving and first aid qualifications, greater international presence in delivering water safety policy and training quality standards. 

Roger Millward, Chief Executive of STA, said: “The partnership marks an exciting time in the development of STA, and represents a fantastic, long term opportunity for us.  We are now able to build on our UK success and profile, to deliver proven training programmes and qualifications to a broader international audience.”

The scale of the opportunity for STA is immense.  It is projected that the partnership with FSG has the potential to provide training for over 10,000 people in the first year alone covering a range of ‘fit for purpose’ qualifications from lifesaving, pool and spa plant operations, to first aid and swimming teaching.

Furthermore, the Dubai Municipal Government has announced that it aims to build on its hugely successful development plans to promote tourism, and hopes to attract over 50 million tourists by 2010.  To accommodate this anticipated influx, STA will be using its experience and knowledge as a QCA accredited awarding body to develop strategies for FSG that address safety on the beaches, as well as accreditation for the many new hotel swimming pools that will be built over this period.  

“Through high standards and professional instruction we can improve water safety awareness in these economically developing countries, which will hopefully help to save many lives in the process,” added Mr Millward.

STA also has the potential to influence legislation, in partnership with FSG, who are currently leading the development of a new regulatory specification for the management of swimming pools and beach lifeguards for the Dubai Municipal Government, in addition to developing other educational programmes, which, if approved, will directly raise standards in the leisure industry throughout the region. 

“The partnership with STA is FSG’s latest step towards securing and maintaining the safety and security in Dubai and the UAE as a whole”, Mr Craig Stanbridge, FSG Group Managing Director said, “We joined hands with STA with the mutual aim to introduce the international expertise of STA to Dubai, the UAE and the Middle East region, and raise the standards of swimming and water safety to the benefit of all - residents (children and families), businesses and tourists. The partnership comes at a time when Dubai’s magnitude as an all year-round international tourism destination is growing resulting in a demand for enhanced safety and security measures at pools and beaches.”

STA, through its international arm, the IFSTA, also has partners organisations in China, Singapore, Taiwan, Netherlands and Ireland, as part of its long-term commitment to reduce deaths by drowning, by improving standards in teaching swimming, life saving and other survival techniques.