STA Named Finalists in Trio of Fab Awards Categories
Posted on 10th July 2026
Safety Training Awards (STA) has been named a finalist in three categories at the 2026 Federation of Awarding Bodies (FAB) Qualifications and Assessment Excellence Awards, recognising its leadership, excellence and impact across the aquatics sector.
The organisation has been shortlisted for:
Awarding Organisation (AO) of the Year
Qualification of the Year for its new Level 2 Swimming Teacher Qualification
Qualifications and Assessment Leadership Award for STA CEO Dave Candler
The three finalist places recognise a significant period of growth and achievement for STA, including the modernisation of qualifications, investment in digital assessment and learner support, strengthened employer partnerships, and its continued commitment to workforce development across swimming teaching, lifesaving, first aid, open water swimming and pool plant management.
The Level 2 Swimming Teacher Qualification has been shortlisted for Qualification of the Year after Safety Training Awards became the first awarding organisation to launch the new regulated qualification in January 2026. Featuring AI-assisted marking, digital learner portfolios, blended learning and a stronger practical teaching focus, it has helped modernise the way swimming teachers are trained, with every learner also receiving 12 months’ STA membership and CPDs to support their continued professional development beyond qualification.
Meanwhile, Dave Candler’s nomination for the Qualifications and Assessment Leadership Award recognises a decade of leadership that has helped transform STA into a modern, sector-leading awarding organisation. During his ten years as CEO, the organisation has expanded its qualifications portfolio, strengthened professional standards, driven workforce initiatives and championed greater collaboration across the aquatics and education sectors.
Dave Candler, CEO of STA, said: “It is a real honour to see Safety Training Awards recognised across three award categories. While it is always rewarding to receive external recognition, these finalist places are really a reflection of the incredible commitment, expertise and passion of our whole team, our Approved Training Centres, tutors and the many employers and partners we work with across the sector.
“Over the last few years, we’ve challenged ourselves to think differently about what an awarding organisation can achieve, and that hard work has come to fruition this year through the launch of our new Level 2 Swimming Teacher Qualification, the introduction of our new Level 3 Pool Lifeguard qualification, the expansion of blended learning across our first aid portfolio, and a range of other developments designed to better support learners, tutors and employers.
“To see that work recognised in this way is something we’re incredibly proud of, and a testament to the passion, expertise and commitment of everyone involved in making it happen.”
The winners of the 2026 FAB Qualifications and Assessment Excellence Awards will be announced during the awards presentation on Thursday 26 November 2026, held on the evening of the first day of the FAB 2026 Conference at the DoubleTree by Hilton Milton Keynes.
Now in its 11th year, the Qualifications & Assessment Excellence Awards recognise the outstanding work of awarding and apprenticeship assessment organisations, and the people behind them, across the UK.