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BATH LIFE AWARDS 2019 Stephen Baddeley, director of sport at the University of Bath, is pretty much into winning in general. From Bath Life Awards to trophies and medals, Team Bath has nabbed them all… What was it like to win a Bath Life Award?
It was a tremendous honour. To win the Health & Wellbeing Award was a great achievement in itself, but to then receive the Platinum Award [the Bath Life Awards’ final gong, celebrating the best of the Award winners] was a wonderful and unexpected bonus, especially considering the outstanding calibre of competition we were up against.
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Where do you keep them?
They take pride of place alongside sporting mementoes from Olympic and Commonwealth Games in the trophy cabinet located in our Hall of Fame for Sport gallery, celebrating the outstanding contribution made by athletes, coaches and staff to our sporting legacy.
Why do you think you won?
At Team Bath we strive to create an inspirational sports and fitness environment for people of all ages and abilities to live a healthy, active lifestyle. Thousands of school students
“WE ARE PROUD TO BE PART OF BATH’S FANTASTIC HERITAGE”
and community club members use our facilities or receive coaching and other support from our staff every month. We have strong links to the city through fellow sporting institutions like Bath Rugby and our family of sponsors and business partners. We also contribute to the city’s profile by hosting major events like the Fed Cup in tennis and Modern Pentathlon European Championships, and being home to Olympic, Paralympic, World and Commonwealth Champions. We are a major local employer of sport and fitness experts, with 180 staff supporting all of our activities, and we run courses for people to train in the industry through our training and development team.
Wow. And what sets you apart?
There really is something for everyone here. Our Sports Training Village, or STV, receives around 1.6 million visits annually – from toddlers enjoying their first taste of sport to people working out in group exercise classes, and from elite sportspeople targeting medals to retirees taking their weekly swim. We support people at all stages thanks to our expert gym, physio and sport science staff, and we provide training and development opportunities through vocational courses. We are also continually investing in our facilities, and this year opened a new two-tier extension to our Team Bath Gym & Fitness Centre.
What do you really love about your job?
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Seeing the positive impact sport has on people’s lives. Watching someone like pentathlete Jamie Cooke – who we see training here day in, day out – be crowned World and European Champion. Seeing young people visiting the STV on school trips, or attending one of our Tribe camps, be inspired to pursue their dreams. It’s just a great environment to be in.
Where do the frustrations lie? University of Bath director of sport Stephen Baddeley, with sports facility manager Ron Stewart
88 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
Because we are renowned for being home to Olympic and Paralympic medallists, the perception can
sometimes be that the Sports Training Village is for elite sportspeople only. That isn’t the case, and we are proud of the fact that our facilities are open to the public all year round. There aren’t many places where you can literally swim alongside people training towards Tokyo 2020, but you can here.
What’s the best part about working in Bath?
There is a real passion for sport in Bath, which is clear to see from the number of community clubs based here at the STV. There is also a supportive business community in the city, and we have built a number of strong relationships over the years.
What’s the best piece of advice you've been given?
Don’t send or reply to work emails late at night!
Any exciting plans to watch out for?
We are always looking at events to host and ways we can improve our facilities and offering, so watch this space! The big events on the sporting radar in 2020 are the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, and there are around 60 sportspeople who train or have trained here that are hoping to qualify. It is also the 15th anniversary of the Netball Superleague and, as founder members and the most successful franchise, we will be marking that occasion. Before that we have our annual BUCS Super Rugby Anniversary Game at The Rec on Wednesday, October 16 – come along to enjoy some top-class student sport.
Finally, tell us something surprising about Team Bath.
The name Team Bath was originally launched as part of the city, university and Rugby Club’s bid to become a national centre for sport. It was a name designed to be inclusive across the university and city. We are proud to be part of Bath’s fantastic heritage.
For more: www.teambath.com