Member Article

Life Leisure named ‘one to watch’ in national business list

A Stockport leisure provider has been given special recognition by the team behind the Sunday Times’ 100 Best Companies to Work For list.

Life Leisure, which runs gyms, swimming pools and sports halls across Stockport and the North West, has been named as ‘One to watch’ as part of the prestigious list. This means workplace engagement shows promising signs for the future.

The Sunday Times’ Best Companies to Work For List is compiled based on a survey sent out to staff. More than 350 members of Life Leisure staff working across 13 sites completed the survey, highlighting the support and education offered to employees.

Life Leisure, which also employs eight apprentices, enjoys a 93 percent staff retention rate. The not-for-profit also supports staff to qualify as personal trainers, swimming teachers and coaches, as well as First Aid training and other development courses.

All staff are recognised and rewarded for embodying the charity’s WATCH principles – Winner, Authenticity, Together, Caring and Happy, while initiatives such as the Life Leisure Academy have been set up to help staff to grow their potential and progress in the business.

Leigh Appleton, who works at the Life Leisure Brinnington Park centre, said: “I started out as a receptionist at Brinnington Park and thanks to developing my skills through the Life Leisure Academy have worked my way up to duty manager. I love working at Brinnington Park and definitely think the best move I made was applying for a job with Life Leisure. We all work hard as a team and I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

To celebrate the accolade and to thank its team, Life Leisure delivered cupcakes, balloons and other treats to each site. The business also made sure it highlighted to staff what it is doing to improve the lowest scoring areas from the survey to make sure it keep improving.

Malcolm McPhail, group CEO at Life Leisure, said: “I firmly believe that if you help your staff be the best they can be, they will do the same for your customers. To be named as ‘One to Watch’ under the Sunday Times’ 100 Best Companies to Work For List is fantastic. Not only does it acknowledge the importance we place on staff development, but also shows how much they appreciate and recognise it.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Claire Evans .