British Swim school celebrated opening in March, providing the local community life-saving skills

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (May 6, 2026) – British Swim School, North America’s leading provider of water safety and survival programs, has officially opened a new location in the North Metro Minneapolis area, located at 6350 Vinewood Ln N, operating out of Hilton Garden Inn. The new franchise is owned and operated by Jesse Crooks, a longtime Minnesota resident with deep roots in the community.

The North Metro Minneapolis location officially opened this past month on March 31, serving families throughout select communities in Maple Grove with a focus on water acclimation, survival-focused instruction, stroke development, and adult lessons. Lessons are taught by highly trained instructors in a warm, indoor pool environment designed to help swimmers of all ages feel comfortable and confident in the water.

“Swimming doesn’t have the foothold in Minnesota that it should, especially in the land of 10,000 lakes,” said Jesse Crooks, owner of British Swim School of North Metro Minneapolis. “There are limited options for families, and we wanted to create a place where every child has access to essential water-safety skills. Our goal is to meet swimmers where they are, give them personalized attention, and help them grow at a pace that truly fits them.”

Crooks and his family are active in local youth sports, coaching multiple teams and participating in several traveling organizations. After a decade-long career in sales and business consulting, he saw British Swim School as the perfect opportunity to combine entrepreneurship with meaningful community impact.

“As a parent, the decision was clear,” said Crooks. “My children gain confidence in the water, and the broader community gains access to essential safety skills. This is more than just a business; it’s an opportunity to make a meaningful impact.”

The new school will serve families across the North Metro Minneapolis region, with plans to expand into additional nearby cities. Crooks hopes to open two more locations within the next 18 months, with long-term goals of growing east and northeast across the metro area. Crooks aims to establish the school as a trusted community partner and premier swim education provider throughout select communities in Maple Grove.

British Swim School of North Metro Minneapolis is also partnering with Hope Floats Foundation, helping provide swim-lesson scholarships for children in need. Registration at the new North Metro Minneapolis location is now open to the public. Families are encouraged to enroll early, as class availability is limited.

For more information on hours of operations and pricing, visit:

britishswimschool.com/north-metro-minneapolis/location/hilton-garden-inn-maple-grove/

About British Swim School

British Swim School is North America’s most established swim school franchise, with more than 45 years of experience delivering expert-led swim education. Guided by the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to be safer and more confident in and around the water — at every age and every stage — British Swim School offers swim lessons for babies, children, young adults, adults, and those with special abilities. The British Swim School program is built on a survival-first approach, focusing on water competency and essential life-saving skills before progressing to stroke development and long-term confidence. This proven methodology gives families peace of mind while equipping swimmers with skills that support lifelong safety. As a purpose-driven franchise, British Swim School also provides entrepreneurs the opportunity to build a meaningful business rooted in safety, community impact, and a proven, scalable operating model. Part of the Buzz Franchise Brands family, British Swim School operates more than 550 schools across the United States and Canada.

For more information, visit www.britishswimschool.com.

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