New operator chosen for city's leisure centres

Everyone Active will run facilities including Ponds Forge International Sports Centre

A new operator has been selected to run council sport and leisure centres in Sheffield.

Everyone Active manages more than 220 leisure and cultural centres across the UK, in partnership with more than 60 different local authorities, according to Sheffield City Council.

The council said it was the "longest established and most experienced leisure operator in the UK".

The firm will take over the management of seven leisure facilities and three golf courses across the city from January 2025.

'Wealth of experience'

The announcement follows the news last year that three Sheffield leisure centres would be rebuilt as part of a £117m plan to improve the city's leisure and entertainment facilities.

Everyone Active, which was founded in 1987, has a mission to "encourage more people to take part in physical activity, in person at one of their centres or via on-demand training", the council said.

Sheffield City Council leader Tom Hunt said: "Sheffield is a city of sport, and we are incredibly proud of our sporting heritage and facilities.

"Everyone Active will bring a wealth of experience and expertise to help elevate our sport and leisure offer across the city, even further."

From January 2025, the firm will take over the management of the English Institute of Sport, Ponds Forge International Sports Centre and IceSheffield.

It will also run Hillsborough, Concord and Springs leisure centres and Heeley Pool, as well as Beauchief, Birley and Tinsley golf courses.

Graves, Thorncliffe and Wisewood leisure centres would also be run by Everyone Active from 2026, the council said.

David Bibby, managing director at Everyone Active, said: "We feel privileged to have been chosen as the new operator for Sheffield’s sport and leisure venues.

"There is an incredible array of facilities within the city, renowned for hosting major sporting events and cultivating world-class athletes."

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