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Issue 96 - 22 April 2022

YOUR REGULAR ONLINE UPDATE FOR THE UK FITNESS SCENE

Operator wins member experience award – page 3 Operator steps up to help long Covid sufferers – page 4

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05/04/2022 16:07

WORKOUT WEEKLY

SLT’s double health and safety accolade yet again SANDWELL Leisure Trust has once more been awarded the highest possible accolade in the internationally-renowned Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents’ 2022 Health and Safety Awards. The Black Country-based charity – which still runs nine leisure facilities for Sandwell Council across the borough – has landed the coveted Order of Distinction (for 16 consecutive annual Gold Awards) and is the only leisure trust nationwide to ever achieve this distinction.

Gold Awards are awarded for superior health and safety performance and excellence among companies that primarily offer services direct to guests and visitors – and this latest and 16th continuous accolade is for the period of January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Lynda Bateman, chair of The Trust’s Board, said: “The RoSPA Award is the most highly-respected health and safety accolade globally, so we’re extremely honoured again to be recognised as a world-leader in health and safety practice.

“SLT was initially the first leisure trust to achieve the RoSPA Gold Award – and also the President’s Award for 12 successive Golds – but to retain the award over 16 consecutive years and be the first leisure trust awarded the Order of Distinction, really does demonstrate the consistent high standards achieved by all staff at all the Trust’s facilities. “Once again we thank and congratulate our teams that continue to work extra hard to monitor and maintain such a safe standard

of services for all in Sandwell – especially in these most challenging of circumstances – to have safe and proper practices in place and also provide a Covid-secure environment for staff, customers and visitors across all our sites.” The RoSPA Awards not only focus on commitment to accident and illhealth prevention, but occupational health and safety management systems, including practices like leadership and workforce involvement.

what has been a difficult couple of years.” Over the last few years, BPL has invested heavily in the rebrand

of its fitness sites to Your Space; positioning customer service and member experience at the heart of the new brand. Tom added: “It’s been a challenging time for the industry, but ultimately our recovery has been down to our excellent teams at each site, our members and the strength of our brand. We act on every NPS comment and score we get – be it good, bad or indifferent – as we believe it’s really important to look after your promoters as well as your detractors and use the NPS scoring tool as a way of keeping our communication positive at all times. “As a charitable trust we must listen to our customers to ensure when we do make investments, we do so in the right areas; ensuring our sites are aligned with our brand values of being fun, friendly, local and innovative.”

Operator wins member experience award LEISURE operator BPL has won an award for its commitment to providing a high quality member experience. BPL, which operates facilities across Barnsley, Bassetlaw, Mansfield and Pontefract, was named joint first in the Best Member Experience Leisure Trust Category at the TRP Member Experience Awards, sharing the top spot with Tees Active. The win was based on the operator’s average Net Promoter Score across 2021 – the score between 0 and 10 which customers award after a visit to one of the sites. Scores between 0-6 are seen as detractors who are not particularly satisfied with their member experience, 7-8 are passives and 9-10 are promoters who are loyal and highly committed to the company. Tom Galvin, regional manager and head of fitness at BPL, said: “We’re really pleased to win this award. Publishing manager: Dominic Musgrave Tel: 01226 734407 dm@scriptmedia.co.uk Studio manager: Paul Hopkinson ph@scriptmedia.co.uk Assistant studio manager: Scott Firth sf@scriptmedia.co.uk Sales and marketing director: Tony Barry Tel: 01226 734605 tb@scriptmedia.co.uk

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“It feels like a genuine reward for the work we have done with our staff and sites around the Your Space brand and is recognition for everyone during

Alliance Leisure adds weight in the North IN RESPONSE to a growing pipeline of development projects and a desire to increase resource in the North, Alliance Leisure has appointed Seb Rowe as Delivery Manager for the North of England. Working closely with commercial director James Foley, Seb will be responsible for exploring and managing a range of progressive, public sector leisure development opportunities. Alongside working in programme management for the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, Seb’s previous career highlights include heading up business development for award-winning leisure operator Life Leisure. Here, he was also responsible for scoping ‘special projects’ that had potential to enhance operations for the good of the organisation and the

Seb Rowe communities it serves. An accomplished project manager and prince 2 practitioner, Seb is an ex professional football player, and a ukactive future leader alumni. “As soon as I was made aware of the

opportunity to join the Alliance family, I knew I could not pass it up,” says Seb. “Having worked in the industry for several years I was already aware of the company’s excellent reputation and the endless list of successes. I am delighted to be joining such an innovative, professional and highly skilled team. “The future looks bright for both Alliance Leisure and the sector as a whole. I am excited to be a part of this journey.” James Foley added: “I am truly excited about Seb joining the team with his wealth of knowledge and practical experience providing a unique blend within the sector. “His growth mindset and ability to inspire makes for exciting times ahead. “On behalf of all at Team Alliance we are delighted to welcome Seb and his young family to join us.”

21/04/2022 12:57

WORKOUT WEEKLY

Samantha Babcock says Dave McGlinchy’s sessions have helped her regain her confidence.

Operator steps up to help long Covid sufferers A FIT and healthy mum who went from going to the gym three times a week to struggling to walk up the stairs has hailed the long Covid recovery programme at Life Leisure. Sam Babcock, 53, caught Covid more than a year ago while she was working as a learning support assistant in a primary school. She said Life Leisure’s specialised exercise classes for residents suffering from long Covid have worked wonders on her fitness and self-esteem. Mum-of-three Sam, from Romiley, said: “Long Covid left me feeling extremely isolated – no one knew or understood how I was feeling. I had gone from going to the gym three times a week to hardly being able to manage a short walk. I also had a problem with severe fatigue and brain fog.

“When the long Covid clinic suggested I enrol on Life Leisure’s scheme I was worried. My anxiety which had been heightened since Covid and my confidence was extremely low. “But I was so glad I did. From the initial consultation on the phone Dave made me feel at ease. “I was able to exercise at a level and pace to suit me with no pressure, as well as speak to others who are going through the same thing. We can chat and share experiences, help each other along and share our journey to recovery.” She added: “Not only have I made friends but my confidence is growing, I feel better about myself and my recovery is progressing. These sessions are an hour where I feel like ‘me’ again. I can’t thank Dave and the team enough for their patience, help and support.”

Life Leisure, which runs 11 centres across Stockport, has supported hundreds of Covid patients across the town during the pandemic, running online exercise sessions and providing activity packs to help keep active. Now gyms are back in action, the leisure provider is running free fitness classes in partnership with SMBC and Stockport CCG to help patients suffering from long Covid build up their strength. Dave McGlinchy, physical activity coordiator at Life Leisure, said: “Our low intensity sessions – which last between 30 and 60 minutes – are designed to help patients build up their strength, energy and confidence through guided exercise, and hopefully have fun while doing it!” He added: “All our sessions are carried out by qualified instructors and carefully designed so that individuals can dictate

their own levels of movement on the day. “If you are struggling with long Covid and would like to take part in our sessions you can self-refer, or speak to your GP who will carry out an initial assessment and refer you to the scheme.” The classes take place at Houldsworth Village on Tuesdays at 11.15am, and Life Leisure Romiley on Thursdays at 1pm. Anyone wishing to take part needs to be referred through the Physical Activity Referral in Stockport system, a partnership between Life Leisure and Stockport GPs. Those who do not meet the requirements for referral through the PARiS scheme are encouraged to visit their local Life Leisure centre to discuss alternative options.

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WORKOUT WEEKLY

Learn to Swim accreditation helps boost swimming lesson income LEISURE operators have revealed that post pandemic swim lessons have returned to pre-Covid levels faster than health and fitness memberships. This may be no surprise given reports that, by the 2025-26 academic year, three in five children may leave primary school unable to swim 25 metres unaided. But it’s putting swim schools under huge pressure to deliver value for money, quality swimming lessons. According to Right Directions’ head of external accreditations Sarah Maxwell, who delivers the Learn to Swim Accreditation on behalf of Swim England, this is where the quality mark steps in. She said: “The process acts as a mini business plan, helping operators to improve their swimming lessons and recognising excellence, which raises the profile of an operator’s programme offer. “By demonstrating they are delivering the best possible Learn to Swim experience for their local community, it also helps schools grow and ultimately earn more income.” Accredited organisations receive a certificate, personalised plaque and the Swim England Accredited Provider logo to display in their facilities and use on promotional material, to help parents and learners recognise the operator as a deliverer of the quality Learn to Swim programme. The scheme assesses key business areas including: n Business development processes. n Workforce development. n Health and safety, quality assurance, compliance and safeguarding.

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n Customer satisfaction. n Programme delivery, targets and operating standards. n Class structures and programmes. n Swimmer pathways. n Marketing and communications. The assessment is available to any organisation running the Learn to Swim programme, including swim schools, school swimming programmes, local authority operators, leisure trusts and private leisure providers, and can be carried out as a oneday stand-alone assessment or alternatively can be completed for free, as part of Sport England’s

quality assurance mark, Quest. Sarah added: “Operators can pay to carry out the accreditation stand-alone or they can include it for free, as one of the modules within their two-day Quest Plus assessment, saving £495. “Either way, the accreditation is carried out by one of our team, who are experienced in running Learn to Swim Programmes and assessing industry standards. “And, by completing the accreditation, a provider can ensure they are ‘match fit’ and ready to maximise both pool space and the fantastic income opportunities swimming lessons can generate.”

21/04/2022 12:05

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F R I D A Y 18 T H N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 2 , T H E AT H E N A , L E I C E S T E R

NOMINATIONS WILL REMAIN OPEN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, CLOSING ON FRIDAY 26TH AUGUST 2022.