Suffolk Pool Hit By Staff Shortage

Thursday, 16 September 2021 16:05

The pandemic has hit all types of leisure industry businesses, with staff shortages and now a Beccles leisure operator is having to reduce its opening hours - after becoming the latest victim of the country wide issue.

Beccles Lido heated open air swimming pool, based on Puddingmoor in the town, has temporarily reduced its opening hours because of a shortage of lifeguards and says that trying to recruit new staff has been especially challenging.

Matt Day, General Manager, said: “We’re currently undertaking a recruitment programme for lifeguards, as many of our seasonal staff return to college or university. We have a number of vacancies and if people have an RLSS Lifeguard qualification and are looking for work then please get in touch now. Send me your CV and a photo or scan of your NPLQ certificate to matt@beccleslido.com .”

He added: “Despite this and the ongoing challenges of recruitment, we’re pleased the number of swimming sessions has only had to be reduced slightly - the Lido is planning to remain open and heated until the end of October - and is currently open for lane swimming on Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings and Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday evenings (including the Lido’s popular floodlit swims)... and with swim and fun sessions early evenings 3 days a week and during the day at weekends. We are committed to providing a safe environment for swimmers of all abilities and to keeping our pool open for the local community.”

The blow to staff recruitment comes after the pool in the town celebrated the success of athletes some of whom trained at the lido and completed in the Tokyo Paralympics.