A new lifeguard qualification will "break the industry mould" by offering employers more flexibility in delivering training to its workforce.

Speaking to Leisure Opportunities during the recent Elevate conference, Richard Baker, qualification development manager at the Swimming Teachers' Association (STA), said the qualification is the first to align lifeguard and first aid at work revalidations.

Launched by STA following a long consultation with industry groups, the Level 2 Pool Lifeguard award includes a new 3-year revalidation process – designed to consolidate and simplify the revalidation of lifeguards in the future.

"Holders of the qualification will still need to go through their robust training in-house, but that will be depicted through the HSG179 guidance, so it's down to the employers decide how much training needs to be done," Baker said.

To hear Baker's views on how the new qualification can change how the leisure industry trains up its lifeguards, click here for the full interview.