Category: News & Updates

The Institute of Swimming Pool Engineers (ISPE) is pleased to announce an exciting new partnership with BGi.uk, bringing an exceptional insurance benefit exclusively to ISPE Student Members. This initiative is designed to support those beginning their careers in the wet leisure industry by providing affordable, professional protection at a fraction of the usual cost.

Through this partnership, ISPE Student Members can access £5,000,000 indemnity cover for just £156.84 per year, with a standard £500 excess (increasing to £1,500 for heat-related work). This premium represents outstanding value—around 27% of the best individual rates currently available, with the nearest comparable quote found being £579.92.

Such a competitive rate is only possible through collective uptake. To activate the scheme, BGi.uk requires a minimum of 75 student members to sign up. Until this threshold is met, the insurers cannot provide the cover—so ISPE must now measure interest among eligible students.

This is a unique opportunity for Student Members to secure comprehensive professional liability cover at an exceptional price, offering peace of mind as they build skills, gain experience, and take on practical work within the industry.

ISPE invites all Student Members who may be interested in this exclusive offer to register their interest as soon as possible.

Pictured: Luke Griffiths with Derek Ray from BGi.uk

ISPE was pleased to be represented by Luke Griffiths and Jason Watkins at this year’s UK Pool & Spa Awards, held at the National Conference Centre.

The evening was a great success, bringing together professionals from across the pool and spa industry to celebrate outstanding achievements. The event provided a fantastic opportunity to connect with industry colleagues and recognise the high standards and dedication demonstrated throughout the sector.

During the awards ceremony, Luke Griffiths had the honour of presenting several awards. Congratulations go to Shaun Small of Wensum Pools, who received the Swimming Pool Technician of the Year award.

Luke also presented Special Achievement Awards to Ryan Green, TnISPE (Cert.) of Tanby Pools and ISPE Council Member Colin Day, FISPE.

(From left to right) Shaun, Ryan, Colin.

ISPE would like to congratulate all the nominees and winners and thank the event organisers for a thoroughly enjoyable evening celebrating the pool and spa industry.

Thinking BIG starts at SPATEX 2026

This special 30th anniversary SPATEX isn’t just the UK’s BIGGEST water leisure showcase, in continuing its quest to offer the UK’s most up-to-the-minute and authoritative guidance in the management of water leisure facilities, the 2026 event has its best double seminar programme to date. Just released, the comprehensive programme features 42 talks by leading industry experts, many of them new to SPATEX, and it’s all FREE!

Over the course of the show’s three days, 21 CPD-accredited ISPE (Institute of Swimming Pool Engineers) Technical Workshops will be delivered. This year sees an even greater variety of topics with something for everyone, from architects, pool builders and retailers to leisure centre managers and holiday park owners. On average, over 300 CPD certificates are handed out each year.

Visit www.spatex.co.uk for details of the full programme and register for free.

SPATEX provides 2,000 free car parking spaces for its visitors at Coventry Building Society Arena – centrally located, it is within two-hour drive time of 75 per cent of the population.

The Institute of Swimming Pool Engineers (ISPE) is delighted to announce that Council member Alex Kemsley has been nominated to become a Fellow of the Institute, following a vote of the ISPE Council at the meeting held on Monday 10th November.

ISPE President Bob Judd, FISPE said:

“In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Institute during a period of significant transition, the Council voted to award Alex the status of Fellow of ISPE.

Throughout this time, which included key personnel changes with Luke and Jason joining the team, Alex played an instrumental role in supporting the Institute’s rebranding and the development of our new website.

On behalf of the Council, I extend our warmest congratulations to Alex on this well-deserved achievement.”

Alex becomes the youngest Fellow at the Institute, demonstrating that age is no barrier to excellence, leadership, or meaningful contribution within the sector.

Reflecting on the honour, Alex Kemsley, FISPE said:

“I am incredibly proud to have been made a Fellow of ISPE and for the recognition from my peers in this industry.

I am looking forward to raising wider awareness of ISPE and of all the great work it does for professionals in the industry, and for young people embarking on their careers in this sector.

One of my missions is to evolve the education programme. As a dyslexic entrepreneur, I understand the importance of addressing different learning styles and want to make ISPE’s education programme more inclusive for all types of learning.”

Alex, Managing Director of Waterstream, has served on the ISPE Council since October 2022. With more than two decades of experience in the swimming pool and spa sector, he is recognised as one of the UK’s leading industry experts in wet leisure, swimming pool design, installation, and innovation.

ISPE General Manager Luke Griffiths noted:

“I would like to express my sincere thanks to Alex for his continued support since I stepped into the role of General Manager.

His expertise has been invaluable in delivering the tools needed for ISPE’s rebrand and in advancing the redevelopment and hosting of our website.

Alex’s contributions are far from over, and I look forward to working closely with him as the Institute continues to evolve and grow.”

ISPE congratulates Alex on this prestigious and well-deserved recognition and looks forward to his continued leadership and vision as the Institute advances its programmes and support for the industry.

ISPE is delighted to introduce our newly designed membership certificates — a professional way to recognise your commitment to the swimming pool and spa industry.

All current ISPE members can now request a digital copy free of charge, perfect for displaying or uploading as proof of membership.

For those who prefer a physical keepsake, hard copies are available for just £10, which includes tracked postage. New members will automatically receive a digital certificate upon joining, with the option to request and pay for a printed version during sign-up.

Please note that in-date membership certificates are required when applying to the Joint Industry Board (JIB) for CSCS cards under the Swimming Pool and Leisure Systems Installer Blue Card scheme.

ISPE’s Women in Pool Engineering campaign continues to make steady progress, with more women becoming active members and taking visible roles within the Institute.

Following the recent appointments of Amanda Thompson-Smith to the ISPE Council and Kim Mumford’s well-deserved recognition as the Institute’s first female Fellow, it’s encouraging to see new members joining the conversation and bringing fresh energy to the initiative.

One of those new members is Claire Chitty, MISPE, from Neuman Aqua, who recently joined ISPE and shared her reasons for getting involved:

“I am delighted to see Amanda taking a leading role in the ISPE Council. With several members of the Neuman Aqua team already active ISPE members and given my personal passion for the pool industry,

I felt this was the ideal time to join the organisation. I am keen to both share my knowledge and learn from fellow professionals to support my personal development while contributing to the continued growth of Neuman Aqua and our team.”

While progress is encouraging, there’s still more work to do. We currently have no female speakers confirmed for the November seminar in Dudley, and we’re keen to change that for future events. ISPE is urging female members and professionals from across the pool and spa industry to present at SPATEX 2026 and ISPE’s 136th One-Day Seminar next March in Newbury.

We also urge employers and colleagues to encourage their female team members to explore ISPE membership and training opportunities. Together, by continuing to promote visibility, opportunity, and inclusion, we can ensure that women play an even greater role in shaping the future of swimming pool engineering.

If you’d like to get involved, please contact Luke Griffiths

The ISPE Council is delighted to announce that Amanda Thompson-Smith has been co-opted onto the Council following a unanimous vote at the August Council meeting.

Amanda brings with her a wealth of experience and enthusiasm for the swimming pool and spa industry, and we are thrilled that she has chosen to become more actively involved with ISPE.

As part of her appointment, Amanda will also be standing for election at the ISPE Annual General Meeting on 9th October 2025, during the 134th One Day Seminar.

Luke Griffiths, ISPE General Manager, commented:

“It’s fantastic to have Amanda co-opted onto the ISPE Council. As part of our Women in Pool Engineering campaign, ISPE is working hard to encourage more women both to engage with us and to join the wider industry. Having a professional like Amanda on the Council is a real boost to that mission, and we’re excited about the experience and perspective she will bring.”

Amanda Thompson-Smith added:

“I’ve been in the swimming pool engineering industry for over 12 years, and I currently work in the Projects division at Astralpool.

My role blends business development with technical design and specification, helping to drive innovation and growth in aquatic projects.

I’ve led both internal sales and technical teams, with a strong focus on delivering smart, efficient solutions tailored to each client.

I also sit on the National Council for SPATA and I am deeply committed to driving innovation and raising industry standards.

I’m here to share insights, learn from others, and spark meaningful conversations that move our industry forward.”

We look forward to working with Amanda and benefiting from her insight as the Institute continues to support members, promote best practice, and provide opportunities for professional development.

Click here to find out more about the AGM and how to take part.