East Staffordshire Borough Council has awarded a 10-year contract to Sports and Leisure Management Ltd (SLM) for the management of its leisure facilities and services.
SLM, which operates as Everyone Active, will take over the contract on 1 February 2019. The partnership will see the company manage Meadowside Leisure Centre, Uttoxeter Leisure Centre, Shobnall Leisure Complex and Active East Staffs.
As part of their commitment to local leisure services, SLM and the Council will be investing a combined £1.7m into the flagship centres. This will ensure quality leisure services for the community and will provide an affordable and diverse range of sports facilities for everyone to enjoy, regardless of their age or ability.
SLM will also be delivering its award-winning Learn to Swim programme to children in the borough, which was recently awarded the Facility Operator of the Year accolade for the eighth year at the 2018 Swim England National Awards.
The company has over 30 years’ experience of managing leisure facilities across the country and is the longest-established leisure operator in the UK. It prides itself on being a community-focused organisation that aims to get everyone active by doing at least 30 minutes of activity, five times a week.
SLM currently operates over 170 leisure facilities across the UK, in partnership with 54 local authorities. The business also has long-standing experience of operating services within the Midlands, including Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire.
Councillor Richard Grosvenor, Leader of East Staffordshire Borough Council, said: “We are very excited at the prospect of working with such a well-established leisure brand as Everyone Active. The Council is already very proud of its leisure facilities and we look forward to them going from strength to strength during this important partnership, which will ensure that the Borough continues to have access to a range of fantastic and affordable sports and health programmes”.
Simon Fearn, Everyone Active’s Area Contract Manager, said: “We’re extremely proud to be appointed as East Staffordshire Borough Council’s chosen operator for leisure services. Improving the health and wellbeing of local communities sits at the heart of everything we do.
“I am delighted that our extensive experience in the sports and leisure industry will now be used to benefit people in Staffordshire. We look forward to investing in the leisure centres and ensuring a high-standard of services for local people.”
For further information on Everyone Active, visit www.everyoneactive.com.