Leisure Connection works in partnership with our clients. As an organisation we are entrusted with managing some key leisure facilities. The centres we operate aren’t always the newest, but they are well-known and much loved community hubs.

Our approach to the management of leisure, sports and arts facilities is proven highly successful and as a result we have been able to grow the membership base for Harpers Fitness, the Leisure Connection gym brand, which operates in our leisure centres as well as encouraging more people to swim in our pools and in our structured swimming programmes.

Local people are firmly at the heart of the operation. We invested time and resource into learning more about local demand. This intelligence enabled us to tweak membership packages, reduce prices in some areas and on the whole become far better adapted to serving the local community. Aside from understanding who our customers and potential customers are, we have invested a great deal of time in outreach activities and pro-active community lead generation. We now find any excuse to go and speak to our community – whether it’s a presence at a local half marathon, sponsoring the local sports awards, or dressing up and creating some theatre – we want to get to know our neighbours and spread the message about our centres.
 

 We are pleased to have GP referral programmes in 68% of our community leisure and sports centres, with a plan to deliver this initiative in all our facilities in 2012. GP referral programmes offer free or subsidised 12 week exercise programmes for people with a range of health issues including angina, obesity, mild to moderate depression, lower back problems and asthma. On average, of the people that attend every session of their referral programme, we convert 95% to become a full-time member and work with them to improve their health and well-being. We are very pleased with our  GP referral programme and how it’s making an impact on people and communities up and down the country.

What we can bring to a partnership:

• A hands-on approach to understanding your needs from a highly experienced team.

• A willingness to source funding for major investment into your leisure facilities.

• Focused on delivering quality of design and build, utilisation of all space and ongoing innovation.

• A commitment to ensuring your facility operates effectively and safely through the implementation of our exceptional management and quality systems.

• The provision of award winning programmes, effective programme design and marketing strategies to drive footfall.

• Significant purchasing power and discounts ensuring the provision of the latest cutting edge equipment, technology and services.

• An assurance of continuous service improvement and commitment to achieving the highest quality and service scores.