Stockport Sports Village (SSV), a Life Leisure sports and fitness facility, has been named National Leisure Centre/Health Club of the Year at the 2018 ukactive Active Uprising Awards.

The ukactive Active Uprising Awards – formally known as the ukactive Flame Awards – are the pinnacle of recognition for the UK fitness industry.

SSV in Woodley offers a wide range of facilities over its 23-acre site including a 5,000 sq ft gym, aerobics, HIIT and dance studios, free crèche for members, 3G football pitches, tennis courts and, new this year, an outdoor training facility for obstacle course races (OCRs) and an outdoor laser combat course.

SSV is also home to Stockport Town FC and the 2017 The Tough Tribe 10km obstacle course race.

More than 800 guests saw star hosts Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and Greg Whyte present the award to Matt Skates, Senior Business Manager at SSV.

Michaela Pennington, Assistant Operations Manager at Life Leisure, said: “The ukactive Active Uprising Awards are the prize that everyone in the industry wants to win, and we were absolutely thrilled to be named the best Leisure Centre/Health Club of the Year in the UK.

“We are passionate about providing the best facilities and programmes for our customers, as well as continually evolving our product offering to ensure we can offer something for everyone as we work towards getting more people more active.

“The award and recognition are testament to the hard work and commitment of everyone who works at Life Leisure.”

Each of the finalists underwent a rigorous independent assessment designed to select the best in each category from hundreds of entrants.

Life Leisure’s CEO Malcolm McPhail was also shortlisted for outstanding leader of the year, but lost out to Oliver Stacey from Kensington Leisure Centre.

The centre is on the doorstep of Grenfell Tower and in June 2017, Oliver was the first staff member from the centre on the scene as the horrific fire took hold.