Life Leisure has won two awards for its services to the community and its staff.
The charitable trust that manages 12 sports and leisure facilities in and around Stockport and one in Cumbria returned victorious from both the UKactive Active Uprising Awards and the Community Leisure UK Awards, which recognise the best and brightest in the UK fitness industry.
The not-for-profit social enterprise has been awarded the Transformational Leadership Award at the UKactive Active Uprising Awards, just weeks after winning best Workforce Development at the Community Leisure Awards (formerly SPORTA).
Seb Rowe, Head of Business at Life Leisure, said: “These awards are a testament to the hard work that goes on behind the scenes to ensure that our staff and members are fully supported.
“We’re constantly striving to provide a first class service to our members, but this can only be achieved by us constantly investing in the development of our team, our people are our most vital asset to us as business.
“Winning these awards is testament to the importance we place on our staff development and their impact on the business.”
Both gongs were awarded for Life Leisure’s staff development programme RTB (Row-the-Boat) that encourages staff from across the business to take on more responsibilities, while providing ongoing development and support.
Seb dedicated the awards to Martin Harriman, Life Leisure’s Group Operations Director, who died unexpectedly in May.
Seb said: “Martin was a huge part of our Life Leisure family and was instrumental in the development of programmes, working practises and internal innovations that have resulted in many industry awards over the last decade. It was fitting to dedicate these awards in his honour.”
Two of Life Leisure’s community engagement programmes were also shortlisted for their work in supporting local communities to move more.
The Physical Activity Referral in Stockport (PARiS) scheme, an exercise referral scheme designed to help inactive people with chronic mild to moderate medical conditions become and stay more physically active, was shortlisted for the Healthy Community Award.
The Simple Movements Improve Life Every day (SMILE) programme, a low impact and gentle exercise concept developed by Life Leisure to encourage older adults to become more active, was in the running for an award.
Life Leisure Grand Central was also shortlisted for Regional and National Health Club of the Year.
The UKactive Active Uprising Conference, which ran throughout the day of the awards, included a motivational keynote speech from Life Leisure’s head of health, fitness and communities Ruth Lynch, accompanied by Dr Greg Whyte.