Serco Leisure
Founded in 1983, Serco Leisure Operating Limited is one of the UK’s leading national operators of leisure centres, destination venues and elite sporting facilities.
In 2021, we were named ukactive’s Outstanding Organisation of the Year.
Working collaboratively with independent charitable trusts, including our national partner More Leisure Community Trust, we operate over 50 facilities, including the national sports centres, Bisham Abbey and Lilleshall.
Product range and services
Product range and services The customer is at the heart of everything we do, but sometimes that ‘customer’ is an actual member of staff, which is why we launched a new Serco Leisure Employee Benefits package, offering discounts on products our teams actually use.
Free swimming lessons for one child, and 50 per cent off for all subsequent children. The same deal on holiday activity programmes and sports courses. Big savings on camping and other activities at our national centres. Free swimming lessons to any staff member who wants to learn. Discounts on food and drink at all of our centres. These are just some of the offers available to our colleagues throughout the business.
The new scheme is our way of showing extra appreciation for the teams who do so much to support our customers.
Shows attending
• ukactive Conference,
• IHRSA,
• FIBO and
• Elevate.
Daniel Meese, Police Community Support Officer, Ladywood
Ladywood in Birmingham is one of the most deprived regions in the UK, with low employment and high rates of childhood poverty. Opening a brand-new leisure facility in this area would bring fresh challenges, but by focusing on the needs of the local community, offering sessions that they could afford at times they could attend, we have managed to create a genuine grassroots success story, utilising an inclusive approach, while never forgetting that this is a commercial venture that needs to pay its way.
Before the centre even opened, our on-site team were working with employment agencies to set up a recruitment Open Day, only available to Ladywood residents. Hundreds attended the event, many of whom were long-term unemployed, but when Ladywood opened its doors, it could boast that over 50% of its staff were people from the local area, which has helped greatly in getting ‘buy in’ from the people in this region.
Offering a suite of free and subsidised sessions means this centre is able to offer the residents of Ladywood the opportunity to stay active in a state-of-the-art facility, which may have seemed out of their budget range when they first saw the impressive building go up.
At Ladywood, we have achieved the golden combination: a centre used by local people of all demographics offering subsidised access to a high-quality facility, while managing to keep revenue lines growing all the time. Pre-COVID swimming lesson numbers have recently been smashed, casual swimming is up on pre-2020, the list goes on.
One final element we’re very proud of at Ladywood is how we’ve opened up and promoted the free use of our Community Room, where we house all manner of different sessions, from dance classes to a base for the local chess club. Many leisure centres claim they’re a community hub, but at Ladywood Leisure Centre that claim is a reality.
Let’s Lift the Curfew launched in October 2023 to help address the safety concerns, which cause many women to alter how and when they exercise during evening hours in the winter months.
Research from TGC has shown that nearly 72% of women change their outdoor activity routines in winter due to safety fears. This research also revealed that 24% of women choose well-lit routes, 23% avoid certain areas, and 20% regularly check behind them while exercising after dark.
In 2024, the first Serco Leisure-operated centre to offer Let’s Lift the Curfew was quite appropriately the Sport England-owned Bisham Abbey. The abbey team were soon joined by sessions in Kent, Mansfield and Aylesbury. But for 2025, the after-dark sessions will be available across the Serco Leisure estate.
The free sessions were added to our Active Health and Wellbeing Strategy, which was developed by Sarah Berne, who leads on active wellbeing nationally for the business. Sarah said: “These sessions are about more than fitness - they’re about empowerment, visibility, and community. “From winter 2025, we’ll be looking to offer Let’s Lift the Curfew sessions in every region Serco Leisure operates. The feedback from attendees last year showed a real appetite and need for something like this, so we’re proud to be expanding our programme.
“These sessions are designed to offer a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment, led by trained health and fitness staff. Participants are also provided with high-visibility gear to ensure everyone can be safely seen during their walk or run.
“Let’s Lift the Curfew is now a fixed part of our active wellbeing programme, which means we’re offering it this year, next year and every year until something like this just isn’t needed anymore, as the perceived ‘curfew’ some women feel has been lifted.”
Steve Nelson, Director of Leisure at Serco, emphasised the importance of the campaign: “Dark nights should not mean anyone has to miss out on the many physical and mental health benefits of staying active. We’re proud to support This Girl Can’s ‘Let’s Lift the Curfew’ campaign and help make outdoor exercise accessible year-round.”
The campaign not only promotes physical activity but also fosters cultural awareness around women’s safety. Through thoughtful programming, Serco Leisure is helping to lift the curfew - both literally and figuratively - on women’s access to safe, outdoor exercise.
Key to the success of Healthy Life is the structured and supervised support all clients receive. One of those clients, Alan Jackson in Bolton, was referred across to the scheme in 2024, once the physio he’d been receiving to support his recovery from a stroke came to an end.
Alan was a sporty man in his younger days, someone who felt he understood how best to handle his own fitness recovery. He thinks differently now, following a number of sessions with Steve Little, one of our Healthy Life Coaches in Bolton.
Alan told us: “It’s been brilliant, exactly what I needed. Without Steve instructing me on what to do, I’d have gone rogue. I know myself. And that’s what would’ve happened. I’d have come in here on the weights, overdid it, and because I’d failed, it would have put me off for good.”
Alan’s words are typical of the customers we’re supporting. People dealing with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, mental health issues, or musculoskeletal conditions. They’re appreciating the expert support our team can provide.
Healthy Life is growing year on year, but one region where the numbers have shot up is Shropshire, where Healthy Life is overseen by Amanda Arnold and Wendy Marston.
Starting 2024, the scheme in Shropshire had just under 100 clients signed up. Fast forward to autumn 2025, and you’re now looking at almost 500! That’s around 500 local people now being guided towards more active lifestyles by fitness professionals like Amanda.
Amanda told us: “I work very closely with Wendy, our Community Engagement Lead - we’re extremely proud of our Healthy Life Programme at Shropshire Community Leisure Trust. The whole fitness team across the contract have embraced this project and made it what it is today. We have had some wonderful feedback from our Healthy Life members, people like Peta who attends Bishops Castle Leisure Centre.
“I can honestly, hand-on-heart, say that the Healthy Life programme has changed my life! I am now beginning to introduce exercises in the gym and feel OK about that and perhaps burn some extra calories so that I can begin to lose some of the weight that I gained through my ill-health. My tummy is swelling less now, and slowly but surely, I feel I am returning to health. I have decided that I want a healthy life for good, not just for a few months!”
Or Justyna from The Quarry Swimming & Fitness Centre: "Thank you once again for being brilliant, sharing your exercise knowledge, keeping me on track, and providing lots of laughs along the way. I really enjoyed the sessions. While some improvements are due to the general healing process, my legs feel incredibly strong now! I can walk up and down hills without any pain or do a squat down to the floor."
Another Healthy Life programme which continues to thrive is our one in Mansfield - a scheme which won a National Fitness Award in 2019. In Mansfield, Carolyn Hallam, Health and Wellbeing Manager, is the vital link between the centres, health services and the local community thanks to her outreach work. She said: “We started Healthy Life in June 2016. Since then, we have helped over 1,300 people become more active, via structured support and guidance. Last year, we had over 500 referrals from nearly 60 different health service providers, and so far this year we’re way over 300 referrals!
“My colleague Ramone Morton should get a lot of credit for our scheme’s success, as he oversees the operational and staffing for Healthy Life, which is no small task, when you see how just many people we’re supporting each year!”
In 2024, we launched our national Active Wellbeing Strategy, outlining our strategic approach to addressing health inequalities within the communities we serve. Building on existing best practices, we aim to enhance and expand our efforts in this area, positioning our centres as inclusive community hubs dedicated to supporting the most underrepresented groups.
We are particularly proud of the free to attend, after dark running/walking clubs we launched in 2024 in support of This Girl Can’s ‘Let’s Lift the Curfew’ campaign.
Steve Nelson, director, leisure
Sally Kurton, director of operational support
Steve Lawrence, director of stakeholder engagement
Leigh Brooks, director of marketing & customer engagement
Warren Higgins, business development director
Nikhil Ghelani, director of business improvement
Lisa Boylin-George, director of finance
■ WheelPower
■ Local authorities
Bisham Abbey and Lilleshall retain UK Sport Elite Training Centre status
Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre and Lilleshall National Sports Centre, both of which are managed by Serco Leisure on behalf of Sport England, have retained their UK Sport Elite Training Centre (ETC) accreditation, reaffirming their role in supporting Olympic and Paralympic success on the world stage.
The accreditation recognises both centres’ contribution to delivering world-class daily training environments, combining high-quality facilities, expert practitioners and strong performance cultures to support athletes and coaches.
Together, they form two of the UK’s flagship high-performance environments, hosting national governing bodies, elite athletes and professional teams across sports including football, hockey and rugby.
Bisham Abbey offers a comprehensive performance environment, featuring elite training pitches, a state-of-the-art gym with Olympic lifting platforms and sprint track, athlete accommodation, and access to UK Sports Institute services including physiotherapy, rehabilitation and performance support.
Lilleshall offers a comprehensive training environment, featuring dedicated gymnastics halls, elite indoor and outdoor pitches, specialist sports halls and an elite sport strength and conditioning gym designed to support high-performance training.
Laurie Jamie-Williams, head of strategic partnerships for both venues, said: “This recognition is a fantastic achievement for everyone. Being named again as a UK Sport Elite Training Centre reflects the quality of our facilities, the expertise of our team, and the strength of the partnerships that support elite sports across the UK.
“Our focus is on providing athletes and their support teams with the environment, resources and specialist support they need to perform at their best.
“We value our ongoing work with UK Sport and our partners and remain committed to supporting both current athletes and the next generation of Olympic and Paralympic talent.”
As part of the UK Sport Elite Training Centre network, both venues will continue to collaborate with centres nationwide, helping to strengthen a connected system that gives athletes and coaches access to world-class expertise and facilities.
To achieve UK Sport accreditation, centres must demonstrate excellence across key operational areas, alongside a clear commitment to continuous improvement. Elite Training Centres form part of a UK-wide network designed to support athletes, coaches and practitioners through collaboration, shared learning and access to world-class expertise.
Serco Leisure to fund free prostate cancer checks to male employees over 40
From March 2026, Serco Leisure and its leisure trust operating partners will be offering complimentary prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests to male employees aged 40 and above at the facilities it operates in the UK.
In 2024, the company launched a new strategy structured around four business objective pillars, including a commitment to becoming the leisure sector’s Employer of Choice, which involves creating a workplace where colleagues feel supported, valued and enabled to prioritise their health and wellbeing.
Director of leisure, Steve Nelson, who is the pillar’s sponsor, said: “A former Serco colleague of mine, Justin Butlin, lost his battle with prostate cancer in early 2024, but I clearly remember the words he said to me: ‘Steve, make sure this doesn’t happen to someone else. Make sure you get yourself tested and encourage others to get themselves checked early’.
“Due to lockdowns resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, a scheduled health check for Justin was cancelled. Had this examination occurred as planned, his cancer may have been detected at an earlier stage. Early detection is widely recognised as critical, particularly for prostate cancer, which has a high survival rate when identified promptly.
“Unfortunately, by the time Justin received his diagnosis, the disease had progressed to stage 4. Throughout his illness, he demonstrated resilience and maintained a positive outlook, dedicating significant effort to campaigning and fundraising for prostate cancer awareness. This initiative is dedicated in Justin’s memory.”
The charity, Prostate Cancer UK reports that prostate cancer is now the most common form of the disease among men in the UK. Recent high-profile cases, such as Sir Chris Hoy and former Prime Minister, David Cameron, have raised awareness of the condition.
Serco Leisure is working with the Graham Fulford Charitable Trust, via its My PSA Tests service, to provide all qualifying employees with the free test, which measures the level of PSA in the blood. Elevated PSA levels may indicate a prostate condition, making this screening an important step in the fight against the disease.
While a raised PSA does not always indicate a person has cancer – just one in four men with high PSA will have the disease - a high reading from the test can help detect prostate cancer at an early stage, often before symptoms develop.
Funding for the free PSA tests will be provided jointly by Serco Leisure and various leisure trusts, which partner with the operator in the UK. In some regions, qualifying customers will also be offered a free PSA test, with local trusts funding the first 100 spaces.
Serco Leisure manages over 50 centres in the UK, on behalf of clients such as local authorities, Sport England, and the national charity for wheelchair sport, WheelPower.
For more information about prostate cancer, and to look for testing services in your area, please visit the My PSA Tests website: https://www.mypsatests.org.uk/
Serco Leisure secures 15-year contract to manage three facilities in Chichester
Serco Leisure, working in partnership with More Leisure Community Trust (MLCT), is set to deliver a major £8 million investment programme across Chichester District’s three leisure centres as part of a new 15-year contract, which will commence on 1 May 2026.
The new contract includes operation of Westgate Leisure Centre, Grange Community & Leisure Centre and Bourne Leisure Centre.
Central to the new agreement is the £8 million investment initiative, funded by Chichester District Council, aimed at rejuvenating current services and implementing innovative approaches to boost participation, encourage active lifestyles, and promote overall wellbeing.
A significant portion of the investment will support the Council in delivering its strategic priorities, including the introduction of £1.3m in new carbon‑efficient technology designed to save 229 tonnes of CO₂ annually. The programme will also establish a mobile wellness offer to enhance accessibility and expand the reach of the service.
Cllr John Cross, Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and Place at Chichester District Council said: “This investment marks a significant step forward for our district. We know how important high quality leisure facilities are for people’s health, wellbeing and sense of community. By securing this new contract, we’re not only protecting the services residents value, but enhancing them for the future. The introduction of initiatives like ‘Wellness on Wheels’ programme shows a real commitment to our outreach work, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to lead a healthier, more active life. We’re also really excited to see the upgraded facilities and activities – including the new padel courts, subject to planning permission – and we know the residents of our district will be too.”
Simon Lane, Serco Leisure’s Managing Director said: ”We are delighted that Chichester District Council have placed their trust in Serco Leisure and MLCT to support delivery of their forward-thinking investment programme, which will see us modernise facilities, introduce cutting-edge sustainability measures, and bring new, innovative services directly to the community.”
Brian Taylor, Chair of MLCT added: “As a leisure trust, we’re very proud to have been chosen to operate these fantastic facilities, which offer such an exciting range of fitness, wellbeing and community‑focused amenities for local people.”
Serco Leisure and its operating partners manage over 50 facilities in the UK, including Bisham Abbey, Lilleshall and Stoke Mandeville Stadium, the birthplace of the Paralympic movement.
Serco Leisure awarded contract to operate three facilities in Milton Keynes
Serco Leisure has announced that, in partnership with More Leisure Community Trust (MLCT), it has been awarded the contract by Milton Keynes City Council (MKCC) to manage its wider leisure portfolio.
Since November 2024, Serco Leisure and MLCT have operated Bletchley Leisure Centre on behalf of MKCC. The new agreement, which will commence on March 1st 2026, brings both Woughton Leisure Centre and Windmill Hill Golf Centre into the contract, which is for ten years, with the option of a five-year extension.
Serco Leisure will be investing circa £2.7m across the three facilities. This investment will cover a range of projects including £800k in energy saving initiatives that should reduce consumption by 1.1 million kWh annually. They will also be installing an exciting Splash Pad feature into the Bletchley centre.
Windmill Hill Golf Centre will see investment into its irrigation system, which is just one of several improvements planned at the facility to ensure a better-quality course for golfers. There will also be upgrades for the driving range and the main clubhouse.
Simon Lane, Managing Director for Serco Leisure said: “We are delighted to have been awarded the contract to operate three fantastic leisure facilities in Milton Keynes. Since November 2024, we have already invested over £250k into new gym equipment into Bletchley Leisure Centre, reinforcing our commitment to continually enhance the centres we manage and deliver the best possible experience for our customers.
“Our focus will be to continue delivering exceptional customer experiences, supporting community wellbeing, and ensuring these centres remain vibrant hubs for health and fitness. We look forward to working closely with Milton Keynes City Council to make a positive impact for local residents.”
Cabinet Member for Sport and Leisure, Cllr Mick Legg said: “This is really exciting news and paves a way for a brighter future for our local leisure centres. Wellrun leisure facilities play an important role in supporting strong, healthy communities, offering places where people can exercise, socialise and take part in activities that improve physical and mental wellbeing. I’m pleased to see such strong commitment and investment, along with the contractor’s pledge to work closely with local partners and parish councils to make these facilities vibrant, multi-use community hubs. This new investment will help ensure that these popular centres continue to play that role for years to come.”
Brian Taylor, Chair of More Community Leisure Trust added: “This new contract gives us the opportunity to further expand our Active Wellbeing programme, working closely with MKCC’s Sport & Active Communities Team to engage under-represented groups and support improvements in the health and wellbeing of Milton Keynes’ citizens.
“Our focus will be to continue delivering exceptional customer experiences, supporting community wellbeing, and ensuring these centres remain vibrant hubs for health and fitness. We look forward to working closely with Milton Keynes City Council to make a positive impact for local residents.”
Serco Leisure manages over 50 centres in the UK, on behalf of clients such as local authorities, Sport England, and the national charity for wheelchair sport, WheelPower.
In December 2025, Serco Leisure was named UK Pool & Spa’s Water Leisure Operator of the Year for the seventh time. At the same awards event, Whitchurch Swimming & Fitness Centre won the Water Leisure Venue of the Year prize. The Whitchurch centre is operated by Serco Leisure in partnership with the Shropshire Community Leisure Trust.
Serco Leisure expands free after dark walking and running clubs in support of This Girl Can campaign
This Girl Can (TGC) is an initiative by Sport England, funded by the National Lottery, launched in 2015 to celebrate a realistic vision of women and exercise in England and to tackle the gender activity gap. In October 2023, TGC introduced its Let’s Lift the Curfew campaign, which looks to showcase women’s stories and concerns around getting active outdoors in the darker months.
TGC research from 2024 showed that around one in four (24%) women ensure they take well-lit routes, almost a quarter (23%) avoid certain areas altogether and one in five (20%) glance behind them to ensure they’re not being followed, while exercising after dark.
Steve Nelson, Director, Leisure, said: “As part of Serco Leisure’s Active Health and Wellbeing strategy, we’re proud to continue our support of This Girl Can’s ‘Let’s Lift the Curfew’. Dark nights should not mean anyone has to miss out on the many physical and mental health benefits of staying active.”
Sarah Berne, Serco Leisure’s National Active Wellbeing Manager, added: “These sessions are designed to offer a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment, led by trained health and fitness staff. Participants are also provided with high-visibility gear to enhance safety during the walk or run.
“Let’s Lift the Curfew is now a fixed part of our active wellbeing winter programme, which means we’ll be offering it this year, next year and every year until something like this just isn’t needed anymore – when the perceived ‘curfew’ that some women genuinely feel has finally been lifted.”
Serco Leisure manages over 50 centres in the UK, on behalf of clients such as local authorities, Sport England, and the national charity for wheelchair sport, WheelPower.
Birmingham Community Leisure Trust and Serco Leisure to operate Alexander Stadium
In 2015, BCLT and Serco Leisure signed a 15-year agreement with Birmingham City Council (BCC) to manage nine leisure centres across the city. The operation of Alexander Stadium is an addition to this contract.
BCLT and Serco Leisure will also assume responsibility for the new Perry Fitness & Indoor Athletics Centre, which is within the same footprint as the stadium complex.
Simon Lane, Managing Director for Serco Leisure said: “We are delighted to strengthen our partnership with BCLT and BCC, as managing agent for this internationally renowned venue. Over the next 12 months, we’ll be working closely with BCC to support the delivery of the European Athletics Championships, which will be hosted at the stadium in August 2026, marking the first time the UK has held this prestigious event.
“We are very proud of our record in Birmingham since 2015. For over a decade, we have supported people from all sectors of the community to lead more active, more socially connected lives. In 2024, the nine centres Serco Leisure and BCLT currently operate brought in over £14 million in social value for the local community.”
Councillor Mariam Khan, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care said: “The Alexander Stadium was the beating heart of the Commonwealth Games, and today the stadium continues as a world class sports venue, delivering major sport events whilst also continuing to service the community, providing opportunities for local sports clubs and people of all ages to access high quality facilities, stay active and engage in sport.
“The stadium will remain publicly owned and through our partnership with Serco and Birmingham Community Leisure Trust, we are working together to further enhance the stadium’s long-term legacy as a vibrant hub for sport, connection, fitness and community.”
Brian Taylor, Chair of BCLT said: “We are looking forward to working with the local community to boost the popularity of this exceptional facility, supporting both recreational users and the elite sportspeople who train and compete here.”
Serco Leisure operates 57 facilities, including community leisure centres, Sport England’s National Sports Centres, Lilleshall and Bisham Abbey, as well as Stoke Mandeville Stadium, the birthplace of the Paralympic movement.
Steve Nelson, director, leisure
Sally Kurton, director of operational support
Steve Lawrence, director of stakeholder engagement
Leigh Brooks, director of marketing & customer engagement
Warren Higgins, business development director
Nikhil Ghelani, director of business improvement
Lisa Boylin-George, director of finance
■ WheelPower
■ Local authorities