Gold Medal Business
Swimming, Education & Sports Specific
The Place to Be Where Programme Owners Step Into the CEO Mode of Their Business
Running a swimming, sports-specific or educational programme is more than just teaching skills or running sessions. It’s about building a business that delivers results, financial stability, and freedom, while giving hundreds of children the chance to learn, grow, and achieve.
And at Gold Medal Business, you’re not doing it alone.
You get a dedicated mentor who has been in your shoes, led programmes, and scaled businesses successfully. Katie brings real-world experience from running swim schools, education-based programmes, and sports-specific training from small classes to multi-location operations.​
And you’re very lucky as you’ll also get support from our experts in Dance & Performing Arts (Shelley) and Football & Multi-Sports (Amy).
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Together, our team brings over 50 years of experience across children’s activity industries.
Meet Katie — Your Swimming, Education & Sports Specific Growth Coach
From a four year old gymnast with endless energy to a five time British Champion, to a founder, gym owner and mentor, Katie has been in this world for more than 20 years.
She has been an athlete, a coach, a studio owner, a manager of large teams, and now a mentor for children's activity entrepreneurs across the UK and beyond, as well as a mum of 3.
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Her strength comes from persistence and the willingness to fail, learn, and get back up.
These same traits are at the core of how she coaches you.
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Her Story: From Athlete to CEO, Mentor and Industry Leader
Before launching Gold Medal Business, Katie spent years growing her own activity companies. She taught in schools, worked as a personal trainer, and opened her first gym in 2008.
She went through the real highs and lows of this industry. Opening venues. Closing venues. Growing teams. Firing team. Fixing systems. Making mistakes.
Learning the hard way and rebuilding stronger each time.
She understands exactly what it feels like to juggle classes, admin, money, team, parents and growth all at the same time. And she knows what it takes to turn a packed schedule and messy systems into a stable, profitable business.
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Katie is still in the industry today. She applies strategies in her own programmes first, ensuring what she teaches is current, practical, and effective. Not what worked 20 years ago.​
Real coaching from someone who has done it and is still doing it.
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Whether you have 10 students or 2,000, Katie helps you grow with structure, not stress.
The Results Our Members See
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Within months, members achieve:
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Increased enrolments and retention
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Streamlined systems for scheduling, staff, and operations
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Stronger financial control and planning
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A capable team that runs the business smoothly
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The freedom to focus on growth instead of being stuck in the day-to-day
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They move from reactive to strategic, building programmes that can operate without them while continuing to expand.
Why Swimming, Education & Sports Specific Entrepreneurs Love Working With Katie
She has lived every part of this industry and understands the pressure you face. She knows how to run busy weekly timetables, manage coaches, open and manage venues, deal with parent expectations, plan costs, and grow to multi site level.
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She is part coach, part mentor, part strategist, and part steady hand when things feel heavy.
She cares about your results and holds you to a higher standard than you usually hold yourself.
Why Swimming, Education & Sports Specific Entrepreneurs Choose Gold Medal Business
Industry-specific support
We speak your language and understand the day to day reality behind the scenes.​
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Growth you can measure
Members grow revenue, build stronger systems, and gain back their time.
A community that isn’t “false”
Unlike some industry groups, our community is genuine, supportive and collaborative —
bringing together business owners from dance, theatre, gymnastics, football and more to spark fresh ideas.
We help you step into the CEO role
No more doing every class, answering every parent or drowning in admin. We help you build a school that works even when you are not there.
We are in the trenches with you
All our coaches aren’t teaching just from past experience. They’re still running their schools, giving you both years of experience and insight into what’s working right now.
How We Help Swimming, Education & Sports Specific Entrepreneurs Grow
*All our Mentorships and Programmes are 100% tax-deductible.
You not only get support from Katie, you’ll also get access to our other experts.
Bringing over 50 years of combined experience in the children's activity and sports industry.
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Shelley Otway-Wood
PERFORMING ARTS & DANCE EXPERT
Shelley began her journey with us as a Gold Mentorship Programme member.
With 30 years in the industry, Shelley’s career spans West End and touring musicals, including 42nd Street, Anything Goes, Carousel, and Oliver. She went on to become a coach, choreographer, franchise owner, and support manager for major performing arts brands. Her theatre school, Steppin Out Stars Of Tomorrow, has nurtured students in Matilda, Lion King, Les Misérables, and more.
Shelley is a multi-award-winning entrepreneur, including the Silver Stevie® Award for Best Female Entrepreneur, and was named one of the “25 Most Influential Businesswomen of 2025” by CIO Leaders Magazine
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Amy Schweizer
MULTI-SPORTS & SOCCER EXPERT
A Gold Mentorship Programme mentee turned CEO, Amy, built a thriving children’s sports business.
From a 16-year-old soccer newcomer to college captain and pro player with the Cincinnati Ladyhawks, Amy used her B.S. in Finance and M.S. in Sport Management to launch Tiny Troops Soccer while stationed in Japan as a USMC military spouse.
Today, Tiny Troops runs in 17 states with 50+ locations and 60+ staff worldwide. She is a mom of 3, author, and an advocate for military spouse employment. Featured in Sports Illustrated and Military Spouse Magazine, Amy was named 2021 Inspirational Leader of the Year.
"If I built my businesses from the ground up with no roadmap and no support, then you can grow yours even faster with the right help in place."
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Katie believes strongly in support, accountability and steady coaching. Self-study can only take you so far. Real growth comes when someone is in your corner, helping you stay focused and moving each week.
You do not need to learn the hard way.
You do not need five years to get results that you can achieve in one.
You just need the right guidance, structure and community.
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And that is exactly what Gold Medal Business gives you.