Women from across the UK wet leisure industry came together on 29 September for a dedicated Women in Industry (WIN) Meet-Up and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) training session hosted by SPATA and BISHTA. The event combined professional development, networking and discussions on the future direction of the group.

Inclusion, leadership and mentoring among WIN's priorities for 2027

The event brought together female professionals from SPATA and BISHTA member companies to share experiences, develop their skills and contribute to the next stage of the Women in Industry initiative.

A key part of the day was an interactive EDI training session delivered by Refeia Zaman, The Holistic Coach. The session explored how more inclusive workplaces can support employee wellbeing while helping businesses attract and retain talent.

The training was funded through the Wet Leisure Industry EDI Fund, which recently received further support secured by Amanda Thompson-Smith, SPATA Chair and Business Development Manager, Projects at AstralPool UK. AstralPool UK and Certikin each contributed £1,000 to the fund, with Certikin also hosting the event.

EDI training session led by Refeia Zaman during the Women in Industry Meet-Up.

Participants also took part in a workshop dedicated to shaping WIN's vision for 2027. Discussions focused on several priorities for the group, including leadership development, mentoring, networking opportunities, greater industry visibility and encouraging more women to pursue careers within the wet leisure sector.

The ideas gathered during the session will now help inform WIN's future strategy and activities.

Sallie Leslie-Golding, PR & Marketing Manager for SPATA and BISHTA, commented: "The WIN Meet-Up was a fantastic opportunity for women from across our member companies to connect, share ideas and help shape the future direction of the group. We're particularly grateful to Amanda Thompson-Smith for securing additional funding for the Wet Leisure Industry EDI Fund, and to AstralPool UK and Certikin for their support. Their commitment has enabled us to continue investing in initiatives that help create a more inclusive and welcoming industry."

The initiative forms part of the wider work led by SPATA and BISHTA to promote diversity and inclusion across the sector. Further EDI training sessions are already scheduled for February 2027, with members of the ISPE Board, BSPF Board and SPATA and BISHTA committees due to take part.