From humble beginnings to leading a growing nationwide business, Danny has spent almost three decades in the swimming pool industry. We recently grabbed a brew with the Pool Tech Services Managing Director to chat about his journey, life at Pool Tech and some of the lessons he’s learned along the way.

You’ve spent most of your working life around swimming pools. How did it all start?

I started in the industry when I was 16 as a Recreation Attendant at my local leisure centre. It wasn’t exactly glamorous, one minute I’d be cleaning the leisure centre, the next I’d be putting up badminton nets or helping out wherever I was needed. At the same time, I was studying engineering at college, and the job helped pay for that.

Looking back, that’s really where my interest in swimming pools began. I enjoyed understanding how things worked and quickly realised there was a lot more to a pool than what people see on the surface. I was also lucky to be surrounded by some great people early on in my career. Looking back, it was almost like an apprenticeship. They taught me so much, gave me opportunities, trusted me with responsibility and helped build the confidence I needed to progress. A lot of what I know today comes from those early years, and I still think about those days and the people who helped shape my career. I worked my way up through the leisure industry and eventually became a Duty Manager, but when I got to 24, I decided to take a chance and start Pool Tech Services.

I wanted a better future, I wanted to be my own boss and, if I’m honest, I probably didn’t fully appreciate what I was letting myself in for. Pool Tech was actually started with a £20 investment and a lot of determination. At that age, I never imagined I’d end up running a business, employing a great team of people and working with clients all over the country. It’s been a lot of hard work, but I wouldn’t change it for anything.

What challenges have you faced along the way?

Early on, I’d probably say dyslexia. When I was younger, I saw it as a challenge, but now I honestly see it as one of my biggest gifts. It taught me to think differently, solve problems creatively and look at things from angles others might not.

Running a business is all about finding solutions, adapting and thinking on your feet, and I think dyslexia has helped me do exactly that. Like any business owner, I’ve faced challenges along the way, but I’ve always believed that obstacles are there to be overcome. Looking back, something I once worried about has actually become one of my greatest strengths.

Pool Tech has grown massively since then. What’s been the secret?

The people, without a doubt! We’ve got an incredibly experienced and talented team, and everyone genuinely cares about doing a good job. We’re honest with our customers, we’re good at what we do and we’re always looking at ways to improve.

Nobody in this industry can afford to stand still. Technology changes, regulations change and customer expectations change, so you’ve got to keep learning and evolving. I think that’s one of the reasons we’ve continued to grow over the years.

What are your ambitions for Pool Tech over the next few years?

We want to keep doing what we’ve always done, just on a bigger scale.

We’ve recently invested in four new vans and continue to grow the team so we can support more customers across the UK. The goal isn’t growth for growth’s sake, it’s about continuing to deliver the service we’re known for while taking on bigger and more exciting projects. Whether it’s a hydrotherapy pool at a specialist facility or an Olympic-sized swimming pool, we want Pool Tech to be the company people trust to get the job done.

What have you learned about leadership since starting the business?

That you’re going to make mistakes. When you’re young and starting a business, you don’t have all the answers. You learn by doing, and sometimes that means getting things wrong before you get them right.

I’ve learned that success takes time. It takes effort, resilience and a willingness to keep adjusting when things don’t go to plan. One thing I always remind myself is where I started. Before I was running a company, I was pushing a mop bucket around a leisure centre, it’s important not to forget that.

Culture is clearly important at Pool Tech. How would you describe it?

Family. That probably sounds cliché, but it’s true.

We share the good days and the bad days. Everyone pulls together and looks out for each other. When new people join the business, one of the first things they say is that it feels different and that they instantly feel part of the team.

The same applies to our customers. Many of them have been with us for years and know us personally. We build relationships that last, and that’s something we’re really proud of.

As the business has grown, how do you keep everyone moving in the same direction?

It’s all down to communication. We’ve got dedicated project managers, an Operations Director, a fantastic office team and engineers working all over the country, so communication has to be strong.

Everyone knows what’s happening and who they need to speak to. Whether it’s a customer enquiry, a service visit or a major project, there’s always someone at the end of the phone. The business only works because everyone works together.

Apprenticeships are a big part of Pool Tech. Why are they so important?

We’ve always believed in bringing young people into the industry and helping them build a career. You can teach technical skills, but what really helps is learning from people who’ve spent years on site solving problems and working with customers.

I was fortunate early in my career to work alongside people who gave me opportunities, shared their knowledge and helped me develop my confidence. I think that’s one of the reasons apprenticeships are so important to me. I was given a chance when I was starting out, and I want to do the same for others. Some of our best ideas have come from apprentices, and some have come from people who’ve been in the industry for decades. We genuinely believe there’s no such thing as a bad idea.

That’s why we invest heavily in training and development. We want people to join Pool Tech, learn from experienced members of the team and see a long-term future here.

What do you see as the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the industry?

Energy efficiency is probably the biggest one. Operators are under pressure from rising costs, so there’s huge demand for technology that helps pools run more efficiently and sustainably.

We’re always looking at new ideas, new products and new ways of doing things. That’s why we regularly attend events like SPATEX, Aquatech and Piscine Global. If there’s a better solution out there, we want to know about it.

You’ve worked on some incredible projects over the years. What keeps the job interesting?

No two days are ever the same. One day we’re servicing equipment, the next we’re installing a complete plant room upgrade. We could be working at a local leisure centre one week and a major commercial facility the next. That’s what I love about the industry. There’s always a new challenge around the corner and you’re constantly learning.

What can clients expect when they work with Pool Tech?

They will always get an honest answer, sometimes that’s exactly what people need!

We’re professional, responsive and approachable, but we’re also realistic. If something needs doing, we’ll tell you. If it doesn’t, we’ll tell you that too. We genuinely care about helping our customers and making their lives easier, and we’ll probably have a laugh along the way as well.

We’ve heard you described as the ‘Gordon Ramsay of swimming pools’. Is that fair?

I think that’s because I care about standards. I want things done properly and I want us to deliver the best possible service every time. Hopefully I’m a bit less fiery than Gordon Ramsay, but I definitely share his belief that if you’re going to do something, do it properly.

What three words would your team use to describe you?

I’d like to hope that they’d say ambitious, supportive and determined.

If someone needs help, I’ll always do my best to support them and find a solution.

Finally, if you weren’t running Pool Tech, what would you be doing?

Probably driving everyone mad somewhere else! Honestly, I think I’d struggle working for somebody else these days.

But if I could choose any job in the world, I’d love to be a Formula 1 Team Boss. The engineering, the innovation and the speed at which those teams solve problems fascinates me. One of the best examples was during COVID when Formula 1 teams came together to help develop life-saving breathing support devices for hospitals. The speed and ingenuity of that project was incredible. I love that mentality of finding a problem and working together to solve it. It’s something we’ve always tried to bring to Pool Tech as well.

From cleaning pools as a teenager to building one of the UK’s leading independent commercial pool specialists, Danny’s journey has been driven by hard work, ambition and a genuine passion for the industry.

Nearly two decades after launching Pool Tech Services at just 24 years old, that same passion remains at the heart of the business. With a growing team, nationwide coverage and an unwavering commitment to customer service, Pool Tech continues to go from strength to strength.

For Danny, however, success has never been just about swimming pools. It’s about people, relationships and creating a business where customers and employees feel valued, supported and part of something bigger. As Pool Tech looks ahead to its next chapter, those principles remain exactly the same as they were on day one.