News

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1Life sees significant decrease in attrition with new leavers’ survey

1Life has seen a significant decrease in attrition since introducing a leavers' survey late last year. Any member wishing to cancel their membership must complete the online questionnaire as part of the exit process. “As well as making the exit process quick and simple for members, we wanted staff to be able to see the reasons members leave, so that we could track trends and improve our service delivery and provision,” says Neil Harrison, Commercial Manager...

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Createability welcomes industry stalwart David Johns

Leisure design and build expert, Createability, has welcomed industry stalwart, David Johns, as Business Development (Projects) Specialist. Johns joins Createability from 1Life, where he was Regional Director for the north, responsible for 16 venues across six local authority contracts. His new role will see him supporting leisure operators end-to-end throughout their construction projects, interpreting their needs and linking them with Createability’s experts to convert their concepts into revenue-driving, value-for-money projects. He says: “I first met Createability’s Managing...

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Places Leisure completes estate-wide roll out with ReferAll to drive health-focused programming

Places Leisure has extended its partnership with ReferAll to cover its entire nationwide estate of community-based health programmes. The award-winning social enterprise, which currently manages over 120 leisure facilities on behalf of its local authority partners, is using ReferAll’s software-based Exercise on Referral (EOR) solutions to support a number of health-focused programmes, including Exercise on Referral, Shape-Up and Swim for Health. Dr Steve Mann, Head of Healthy Communities at Places Leisure, explained: “As a social enterprise, it...

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OCL’s trampoline academy jumps to success

Three local gymnasts, who train as part of the Dynamo Trampoline Academy in Oldham Community Leisure’s (OCL) Oldham Sports Centre, have been selected to compete in the Trampoline and Tumbling British Championships. The Championships, which take place in Birmingham this September, are the latest in a string of competitive events where the trio have seen success. Last month, Ruth Shevelan, 25, was selected for the Great Britain team and competed at the 26th European Championships in Baku,...

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New appointment at OCL

Oldham Community Leisure (OCL) has employed a new Building Services Manager to be responsible for the planning and delivery of building maintenance across its portfolio of facilities. Simon McDonald will also take the lead role in planning major works and projects in the future, along with ensuring all facilities are fit for purpose and compliant with industry best practice. McDonald originally spent five years in the army, Royal Corps of Signals, where he served at a...

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Spinning® for all – Qualified Spinning® Instructor who has cerebral palsy launches his own club in Scotland

Club McKendry opened its doors in March 2018, offering Spinning® classes seven times a week. The specialist club, based within Danderhall Leisure Centre just outside of Edinburgh, was a dream come true for Iain McKendry, 24, who runs the sessions. “Spinning® is my life,” he says. “It’s the only job I have ever wanted to do. I love being the show man up on stage.” Iain was born seven weeks premature and was diagnosed with cerebral...

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Technology takeaway at 2018 Retention Convention

Delegates at the 2018 Retention Convention were treated to a series of technology takeaways as speakers from across the world gave their take on how the digital revolution will change the face of health club membership as we know it. Dr. Paul Bedford’s fourth annual Retention Convention, hosted by industry stalwart, Dean Hodgekin, welcomed 150 guests representing 63 operators across the UK, Portugal, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Thailand, Columbia and KSA, as well as Germany, China,...

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Oxygen Consulting and DataHub partner to help operators unlock the social value they generate

As part of the DataHub’s continued drive to enrich the sector’s understanding of the data it holds, a new strategic partnership has been agreed with Oxygen Consulting. The partnership is designed to help both private and public sector leisure operators more clearly define and champion the social value generated through their venues and programmes. Founded in 2013, the DataHub is a virtual repository for sports and leisure data, holding information from more than 157 operators and...

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Bigwave Media future proofs with the appointment of Michael Dulku

Sales expert, Michael Dulku, has joined Bigwave media as Business Development Manager. Dulku originally graduated in Law and worked in audit for one of the big four accountancy firms, EY, specialising in retail and technology, before embarking on a sales and management career across Hampshire, Berkshire and London for the American brand, Enterprise Rent-a-Car. In 2008 Dulku joined DC Leisure where he worked in various contract sales management roles looking after the sales teams across multiple sites,...

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A successful start to the 2018 Milltown Race series

The Milltown Races Sprint Triathlon returned to Oldham last weekend and, despite rainy conditions, has been hailed as a roaring success. In total, 196 local people took part in the event, which took place on Sunday 22nd April and was organised by Oldham Community Leisure. The Sprint Triathlon consists of a 400 metre swim, a 20k bike ride and a 5k run, which can be done individually or as part of a team. Every competitor on the...

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