Alliance Leisure has made a number of new appointments across its business development team to support increasing demand for leisure facilities across the UK.

James Foley has been appointed to the new position of commercial director at the facility development specialist. Foley joined Alliance in 2012 as business development manager of the North.

Before this, he had a 20-year career in leisure specialising in facility development, company strategy, operational management and marketing. In his new role, Foley will oversee the delivery of new projects.

He will be joined by Tom Fairey and Julia Goddard. Both have been promoted to senior business development manager posts. The senior team will work with its public sector partners to regenerate leisure provision across the UK.

The company has also appointed three new business development managers. Ruth Doyle has 20 years’ account management and business development experience in the property sector, while Will Gardner, previously account manager at Alliance, and Gillian Dunster, formerly partnerships manager at Alliance, also join team. Finally, Jeremy Bradbury joins the company as business support manager from 1Life.

In February, Alliance was appointed to lead a UK leisure framework. As Denbighshire County Council's partner in the scheme, Alliance is at the forefront of the delivery of design, refurbishment, construction, equipping and development of leisure centres, theatres, play, recreation and sports facilities across the UK public sector.

Sarah Watts, Alliance Leisure founder and chief executive, said: “In order to continue to meet the needs of our growing portfolio of public sector clients and achieve our ambitious business growth objectives, it has become necessary to expand the senior team.

“Our aim is always to promote from within where possible so I am really pleased that we have been able to offer new challenges to our existing, loyal and dedicated team members. I am excited to welcome the newcomers, all of whom I have no doubt will add huge value and experience. These are indeed exciting times and I am really looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together over the next few months.”