Category: News

The crème de la crème of the UK’s most talented water leisure companies

The aspiration for pool and hot tub ownership saw a surge in demand last year, with home, lifestyle and health at the forefront of people’s minds. Other factors, such as travel restrictions and the great British weather which blessed the UK in 2020, ensured that many holiday budgets were re-purposed to create an everydaycation experience at home.

Leading the way for the water leisure industry the UK trade associations, BISHTA (British and Irish Spa and Hot Tub Association) and SPATA (Swimming Pool and Allied Trades Association) annually invite their members to enter the British Pool & Hot Tub Awards. The combined swimming pool, spa, hot tub and wellness industry awards attract entries from companies across Britain (and some from overseas), celebrating the best of construction, design, installation, retail, hire, service and innovation.

With 29 categories to be contested, this year’s winning and highly commended entries demonstrate the breadth of talent and commitment to quality and service in the industry, even when in the restrictions of a pandemic.

BISHTA and SPATA were delighted to welcome online their special guest of honour Danielle Brown MBE to present their top industry awards this year. Danielle, a Paralympic, Commonwealth and World Champion, started archery on her fifteenth birthday after her disability stopped her from taking part in the sports she loved. Danielle won Gold at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games and retained her title in London four years later. She became the first disabled athlete to represent England (and win Gold) at the Commonwealth Games in the able-bodied team, and she has won five World Championship titles.

Companies presented by Danielle were: Whitewaters named as the pool company who installed the Outstanding Pool of the Year. The SPATA judges cited this pool installation for “technicality, aesthetics and standards”, as the reasons behind their decision. Whitewaters. were also the winner of the Dick Millward Trophy for Pool Contractor of the Year.

Centurion Leisure was named as the winner of the much-celebrated Peter Geekie Award for Retail Excellence.

Outdoor Living (Leeds) won Gold as the hot tub company with the best showroom, providing consumers with everything they need to choose their new hot tub, accessories and products in a relaxed and inspiring environment. The BISHTA judges also awarded Gold to Hot Tub Suppliers for the Hot Tubs Change Lives category, and they also won Gold and Bronze awards in the Hot Tub Happiness category.

Judged by a group of industry experts, these awards not only reward companies for their superior work, celebrating both the technical and aesthetic aspects, but they also create an inspirational gallery of award-winning projects for consumers to view, in the knowledge that as trade association members, every company is expected to work to British and European standards.

All of the trade association members are also expected to abide with the BISHTA and / or SPATA Code of Ethics, with quality and service being their key attributes, providing consumers with a safe route to purchase.

Chris Hayes (Managing Director of BISHTA and SPATA) commented: “The British Pool & Hot Tubs Awards provides an exceptional stage to celebrate the calibre of talent we have in our industry.  I want to congratulate every award winner for their achievements and their continued commitment to providing end-users with high standards of quality and service”.

The 2021 winner’s galleries for BISHTA and SPATA are online to view now!

If you would like to find out more about BISHTA and SPATA and to find your nearest trade association member company, please visit: www.bishta.co.uk / www.spata.co.uk

Certikin International, the country’s largest manufacturer and distributor of swimming pool equipment has agreed a pre-let for a new 125,000 sq. ft headquarters in Witney, Oxfordshire.

Since 1990, Certikin’s headquarters and main distribution hub has been based in Witney, where from its location on the Station Lane Industrial Estate over 8,000 product lines for both domestic and commercial pools are held in stock including wellness, spas, water park slides and equipment as well as a huge range of products for both new build and retro-fit markets.

In addition to the site in Witney, the company has a state-of-the-art computer-controlled swimming pool liner plant in Leeds where it produces tailor-made pools liners and covers. However, it is Witney where the majority of the skilled workforce is based. It was therefore considered crucial that the new HQ remained in the vibrant market town to retain its experienced team of professionals.

The impressive new HQ for Certikin, will be located on Downs Road and is part of the 24-acre site currently being developed by Tungsten Properties.  Located just 500 metres from a new junction on the A40, it allows easy, fast access to Oxford and Cheltenham and in turn the main arterial routes of the A34, M40 and M5 motorways. Certikin aims to move into the new building by the end of 2020.

Neil Murray, Managing Director for Certikin, commented: “Having outgrown our existing premises, we knew we needed to move to a bigger, better site but we were determined to stay in Witney with its excellent infrastructure and pool of labour. As well as being an ideal location, Tungsten Park offers us the space and enhanced facilities that we need to suit all the complex needs of our growing business. This, along with the improved access provided by the new A40 junction, should improve our operational efficiency and secure Certikin’s future as well as that of our 130-strong workforce.”

To learn more about Certikin, visit www.certikin.co.uk

Certikin is proud to announce the addition of the smart M600 pool cleaner to the market leading Dolphin range. Exclusive to Certikin in the UK, the all-new Maytronics Dolphin M600 robotic cleaner makes cleaning the pool easier than ever before. Its cloud-connected function gives you control right in your hand, no matter where in the world you are.

Suitable for pools up to 15m, the M600’s dynamic dual-drive motor, combined with multi-directional water outlets and precise navigation control, provides maximum cleaning coverage to floor, walls and waterline. It features a super-efficient year-round filter, and a full filter indicator removes the guesswork. There’s even the option of a thicker cartridge and larger filter capacity. A dual active scrubber rotates 1.5 times faster than the robot. The cleaning cycle offers 1.5, 2 or 2.5 hour cleaning, depending on the degree of debris. Weighing just 11.5kg it is easy to handle and comes with a 36-month warranty.

Certikin is the UK’s leading distributor for Dolphin and Certikin and its manufacturer, Maytronics have enjoyed a hugely successful working partnership of 32 years standing. Certikin offers its customers an unsurpassed service as it boasts the UK’s only Dolphin service centre as well as an unrivalled spares holding capacity for machines of all ages.  The technical and service staff, based in Witney, Oxfordshire, have superb product knowledge. For those customers who want to try before they buy, demonstration Dolphins can be hired for a small charge (refunded on purchase).

More information

www.certikin.co.uk

Dear Customer,

In November 2017, our parent company Fluidra Group announced plans to merge with Zodiac. It is with great pleasure that we are able to say that as of 2nd July the merger has closed. This means we are officially one organisation – two outstanding companies coming together to offer an even better service. The new company will continue to be known as Fluidra.

Whilst our global merger is complete, there is still work to do integrating the two companies. This will not impact on our business relationship and you can continue to deal with your usual contacts at Certikin. In the short-term you will see no changes to the products and programmes you currently purchase from us.

As you know, Certikin has worked with Zodiac over many years. We have always found them to be a benchmark for innovation, offering best-in-class products in many areas of the pool industry. Looking forward we expect the product offering from Certikin to expand in the medium-term even more, giving you more choice and an even better service.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Yours sincerely

Neil Murray
Managing Director

Witney-based Certikin International, the UK’s largest manufacturer and supplier of water leisure equipment, is now one of the proud partners of Witney and District Swimming Club (W&DSC).

Employing over a hundred people in the West Oxfordshire region, Certikin is the premier distributor of swimming pool, spa and wellness equipment in the UK and exports to over 50 countries. Becoming a sponsor of the Swimming Club was therefore a natural synergy.

Highly popular, W&DSC offers members the opportunity to take part in competitive swimming in a friendly, safe and supportive environment. It caters for a variety of abilities, welcoming swimmers from six years of age to adults and swimming for fitness right though to elite performance squads. The club made a splash at the 2018 West Oxfordshire and GLL Sport Awards held in May, with W&DSC being announced as the Club of the Year and their Head Coach, Chantal Clavaud, taking the Coach of the Year honour.

Certikin was delighted to launch its partnership at the recent AGM where Executive Sales Manager, Bruce Coppuck was in attendance to present the Certikin Perseverance Award to Maddie Good. The partnership will continue throughout the year, with Certikin committed to support the club through various activities.

Bruce said: “Swimming is not only pleasurable, it might one day save your life. Certikin is delighted to promote the W&DSC’s values of team spirit, strong work ethic and enjoyment of competitive sport, so that swimmers are encouraged to remain in competitive swimming at any level and age for lifelong fitness.”

Witney & District Swimming Club | Find out more

Certikin Sales Director, Richard Way and NIVEKO CEO Šimon Janča, shake hands after signing a contract making Certikin International the exclusive distributor of the brand in the UK.

Established in 1991, Czech Republic-based NIVEKO is widely regarded as the home of premium quality one-piece pools, installing around 450 pools across Europe each year.

The stunning custom-built pools combine the advantages of one-piece pools with the best features of traditional concrete pools. The main benefits being a quick and easy installation, a pool delivered in one piece, an extensive portfolio that includes skimmer as well as overflow
pools plus perhaps most importantly, no limitations on the pool size or shape. The pool shells are made from a special, highly durable material which represents the latest technology in the field.

Signing the contract, Richard said: “Certikin is proud to be the UK distributor of this state-of the art one-piece pool which is the finest of its kind in the wet leisure market. We are delighted to cement our strong partnership with NIVEKO and we look forward to many more years of
collaboration.”

Talking about his recent trip to the company’s new purpose-built factory in the town of Uherský Brod, in the south east of the country, Richard said: “I was totally impressed with NIVEKO’s factory and showroom, plus the organisation and the courtesy and respect they show towards their customers. It is both a wonderful company and stunning product to work with.”

niveko-pools.com

The stunning new edition of the popular Fantasy Drift® ‘plug and play’ hot tub will be available in the UK from November 2017. And, as you would expect coming from the Watkins stable, the world’s leading manufacturer of hot tubs and spas, this great selling model has been significantly upgraded and bears the hallmark of a quality product at an affordable price.

Easy to set up, simple to use and maintain, the stylish and super sleek new Drift compliments the other four recently improved Fantasy spa models, Entice®, Splendor®, Embrace® and Aspire®.

Super spacious, the new interior design of the four-person hot tub has been ingeniously thought out to give even more seating comfort and the seating configuration now allows for a cool-down seat.

It’s an ideal size for patios and decking (173 x 160 x 81cm) and its unibody is superlight. The cabinet is manufactured from polyethylene resin which is rotationally moulded and highly durable.

The 17 jets are all stainless steel trimmed and a dual therapy system offers gentle massage with the lighter speed setting or vigorous massage on the higher speed.

A multi-coloured cascading waterfall and an LED light adds to the hot tub’s appeal. The Drift comes with a 1.5 HP pump and with its full foam insulation and locking thermal cover, electricity bills are kept low.

For further information, please contact Certikin International by phone on 01993 777200 or email info@certikin.co.uk 

The new energy saving, variable speed E.Swim pump is available and ready for the 2017 pool season. Compact and suitable for different pool types, it is ideal for the replacement of old pool pumps as the pipe connections are identical to the popular Euroswim Pump.

The E.Swim by DAB offers variable speed or variable flow function helping to reduce energy usage and running costs.  Highly efficient, E.Swim features a brushless motor and has eight settable speeds and a built in timer.

Other features include optimised hydraulic parts to reduce head losses; whisper quiet operation; user-friendly LCD display and the simple control and setting of working parameters.