Everyone Active (Sports and Leisure Management)

The trading name of Sports and Leisure Management, a Hinckley-based company that runs over 230 leisure centres for councils and trusts across the UK.

About Everyone Active (Sports and Leisure Management)

Everyone Active runs public leisure centres on behalf of local councils and trusts. Its own site says it manages more than 230 leisure and cultural facilities, in partnership with or as agent for more than 65 local authorities. The centres include gyms and fitness areas, swimming pools and sports facilities, and some have spa areas. One example on its site is Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre, which houses the Verulamium Spa. It is part of the Everyone Group, which also includes Everyone Golf, Everyone Theatres, Everyone Spa, Everyone Active Sporting Champions and Everyone Events.

Its mission, as stated on its website, is to encourage everyone it comes into contact with to do at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity five times a week, either in a centre or through on-demand training. The page says its people are 'passionate about being active and staying healthy' and want to offer something for the whole community to enjoy. Sports and Leisure Management was formed in 1987 in Hinckley, Leicestershire, and its first centre opened in Hinckley in 1988 with Hinckley and Bosworth Council. Wikipedia names Stephen Hulme as founder. The company calls itself the longest-established leisure contractor in the UK.

The registered address is 2 Watling Drive, Sketchley Meadows, Hinckley. Centres are run for councils and trusts across England; one example named on its site is Parklands Leisure Centre in Oadby, which had a £4 million upgrade. Wikipedia says it manages centres for over 50 local authorities and trusts in England, so the number depends on the source. The company site does not list every centre or give a regional breakdown.

The company site describes a range of programmes: a Swim England accredited Learn to Swim scheme, children's activities, exercise referral for people with long-term conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and anxiety, healthy schools activity programmes, roller sports and archery. It helps councils find sport and physical activity funding, from bodies such as Sport England and the Big Lottery Fund, and runs free open days after refurbishments that have drawn up to 10,000 visitors. It says its centres are energy efficient and hold ISO 14001 accreditation, and that it was the first leisure operator to win the UK Active Flame 'Operator of the Year' award three years in a row.

The roles are those of a leisure centre: lifeguards and swimming teachers, gym instructors, sports and activity coaches, receptionists, duty and centre managers, and head office teams in areas such as operations, marketing and people. The company talks about a commitment to colleague development but gives no details we could check. If you enjoy sport and want to work in your own community, a local centre is a practical place to look.

What they do

• {'desc': 'Gyms, pools, sports halls and spas run for local authorities and trusts.', 'title': 'Council-run leisure centres'}
• {'desc': 'Exercise referral for long-term conditions, plus healthy schools programmes.', 'title': 'Health and referral programmes'}
• {'desc': 'Swim England accredited lessons and activity sessions for children.', 'title': "Learn to swim and children's activities"}

Key facts

• Formed in 1987 in Hinckley, Leicestershire; first centre opened there in 1988
• More than 230 leisure and cultural facilities for over 65 local authorities (company site)
• Mission in its words: 30 minutes of moderate activity, five times a week, for everyone it reaches
• Won the UK Active Flame 'Operator of the Year' three years in a row (company claim)

Website: www.everyoneactive.com