Vicky returns to make a splash

VICKY Pettitt is returning to her Greater Manchester roots to fulfil an ambition of providing her home community with the opportunity to use the business she established and has nurtured for the past five years.

Her love of swimming helped fuse her entrepreneurialism to create Splish Splosh Swimming School in 2005.

As one of the region’s top swimming schools for all ages and abilities, a deal with DW Sports Fitness will see the provision of Splish Splosh lessons in Trafford Way, Manchester.

Vicky (31), formerly of Dobcross, is the owner and managing director of Splish Splosh Swimming School.

She said: “I am absolutely thrilled to be taking my business back home. My love of swimming began in Oldham where I swam for Saddleworth Swimming Club and then worked for the Leisure Services Department in Oldham at Oldham Leisure Centre back in the 1990s.

“I knew then that my dream would be to have my own swimming school.”

Moving from Oldham to Snaith in Yorkshire in 2004, Vicky explored a career in IT, managing the helpdesks for a NHS programme. In April, 2005, the savvy businesswoman decided to follow her dreams by establishing Splish Splosh Swimming School.

As the school grew so did Vicky’s enthusiasm to make it a full-time operation.

Expansion meant new team members were needed to help secure the future of the school. Vicky’s mum, Chris Hartshorn, was recruited to help with administrative duties and in 2008 husband Adrian joined the business.


Sponsor sought for golf day

FUNDS raised by Business Consort on their golf day will be donated to the Five Stars Scanner Appeal which is aiming to raise a £1million to buy a new MRI scanner to be housed at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.

The organisers are seeking a sponsor for the day, and having been to Business Consort events I can report there are some good people offering serious networking opportunities.

Taking place at Styal next Thursday, the event already has nine teams.

The sponsorship package includes a range of benefits — including, obviously a team of four in the event. If it’s something you feel you can support, call Dawn McGruer on 0800-334 5784 for a chat.

It would be lovely to report an Oldham company sponsoring such a worthy cause.



Around £3,500 was raised for The Christie Hospital at the Housing Units Charity Golf Day at Saddleworth Golf Club.

The furnishings firm’s charity events have now raised more than £86,000 over the past eight years.

“Handing over the cheque will be a great pleasure,” said Nick Fox, a director at the Wickentree Lane store in Hollinwood.

The winner was Danny Rice who received a trophy plus a £200 gift voucher and golf equipment.