Case Study: Puddle Ducks achieves rapid, economical, paper-free DBS checking with GBG Online Disclosures

Automating DBS checking with the UK’s largest criminal record checking provider

Puddle Ducks, a franchise business with 35 UK franchisees delivering swimming lessons to more than 20,000 children weekly, faced slow, expensive paper-based DBS checks that took 6–8 weeks and cost over £85 each. These delays forced temporary staff hires, cancelled lessons and postponed new class launches, so Puddle Ducks chose GBG’s Online Disclosures to replace manual background checking.

GBG delivered a bespoke Online Disclosures service within two weeks, with head-office and franchisee accounts, pre-filled templates, single-meeting document verification and telephone support. The GBG solution returns certificates in about 10–14 days and offers continuous checking for renewals, cutting months of admin, saving franchisees thousands of pounds per year, reducing staff costs and cancelled lessons, and improving customer service and retention.

Puddle Ducks

Ali Beckman

Technical Director