Everyone Active has bolstered its footprint across the North East of England with a new 15-year contract to manage Middlesbrough Council’s sports and leisure services.

The operator, which already manages facilities in nearby Sunderland, Ryedale, Redcar and Cleveland, will take charge of five sites when the contract starts on 1 April. These include Middlesbrough Sports Village, Rainbow Centre, The Manor Youth & Community Centre, The Neptune Centre and Middlesbrough Municipal Golf Centre, while Everyone Active will also manage the popular Run Middlesbrough events.

As part of a £2.7m investment across the estate, fitness facilities will be upgraded with new Technogym equipment, Wattbikes, TRX Suspension Training Equipment and Virtual Exercise Classes.

The Neptune Centre will see a £650,000 investment to create a 120-station fitness facility with brand new changing rooms, group exercise studios and a dedicated group cycling arena.

Middlesbrough Sports Village will receive £700,000 to create a new football league hub, with six 5-a-side pitches to complement the existing 3G provision, with a new bar and extended café. The current fitness offering will be enhanced by the creation of a brand new group exercise studio.

Meanwhile, the Rainbow Centre will get a £500,000 investment to create brand new changing rooms, a 100-station fitness facility and refurbished group exercise studio.

“We look forward to further developing our excellent sports and leisure facilities and service provision in partnership with Everyone Active,” said Middlesbrough mayor Dave Budd.

“They have an excellent track record in delivering services with local authorities and their focus is solely on promoting participation in sports and physical activity for the local community.”