press release: Serco Leisure
Gold company profile | Serco Leisure
PRESS RELEASE
Oxford City Council awards Serco Leisure 10-year leisure management contract
07 Mar 2024
Leys Pools & Leisure Centre / Serco Leisure
The new contract includes management of Barton Leisure Centre, Ferry Leisure Centre, the Leys Pools & Leisure Centre, Hinksey Outdoor Pool, and Oxford Ice Rink.
Among a range of exciting improvements coming as part of the new contract, state of the art EGYM equipment will be installed at both Ferry Leisure Centre and the Leys Pools & Leisure Centre. EGYM is accessible for disabled and non-disabled users, and designed to provide a truly personalised experience. It is also fully integrated with MLCT’s My MORE app, which is available free to all customers.
There will also be major refurbishment work across the portfolio including a new interactive play arena for young people and families at the Leys Pools & Leisure Centre, creation of new bespoke group exercise studios at Ferry and Barton Leisure Centres and a reopening and re-launch of the contract’s café offering.
Councillor Chewe Munkonge, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Leisure and Parks, said: "I am delighted to confirm Serco Leisure as the selected provider for Oxford's leisure facilities. At a time when many councils up and down the country are grappling with the closure of key facilities due to budget pressures, we are proud not only to maintain but also to elevate our suite of leisure amenities for Oxford residents. This new contract marks a fresh start for leisure provision in Oxford and will bring many health and wellbeing benefits to our residents. We are committed to providing all Oxford residents, of all ages and abilities, with access to quality health and fitness facilities and we look forward to working closely with Serco Leisure and seeing their plans come to fruition over the coming months.”
Simon Lane, Managing Director for Serco Leisure, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Oxford City Council and we look forward to working with them to support the people of this community to live healthier, more active lives. In addition to Oxford, we have recently been appointed as the operator for a number of centres on behalf of Buckinghamshire Council. This will present opportunities for increased collaboration within the Oxfordshire, Berkshire West and Buckinghamshire Integrated Care Systems.”
Serco Leisure is the current UK Pool & Spa Water Leisure Operator of the Year. A title they have won for five out of the last six years. In 2021, they were named ukactive’s Outstanding Organisation of the Year.
More press releases and updates from Serco Leisure:
Serco Leisure, in partnership with Leisure Solutions Community Trust (LSCT), is the new
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growing national portfolio of community leisure services.
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
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.
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.
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.
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Serco Leisure
Tel: +44 0116 240 7500
Email: [email protected]
Address:
Lancer House,
38 Scudamore Road,
Leicester,
Leicestershire,
LE3 1UB,
United Kingdom
Steve Nelson, managing director
Serco Leisure video gallery:
Key personnel
Steve Nelson, managing director
Sally Kurton, director of operational support
Leigh Brooks, director of marketing & customer engagement
Warren Higgins, director growth & strategic partnerships
Nikhil Ghelani, director of business improvement
Lisa Boylin-George, director of finance
Sally Kurton, director of operational support
Leigh Brooks, director of marketing & customer engagement
Warren Higgins, director growth & strategic partnerships
Nikhil Ghelani, director of business improvement
Lisa Boylin-George, director of finance
Key customers
■ Sport England
■ WheelPower
■ Local authorities
■ WheelPower
■ Local authorities
Plans for the next 12 months
We will continue working closely with our
partners to support their overarching
health and wellbeing strategies; while
remaining focused on the promise we
make to all the people who benefit from
the services we provide, which is to help
our customers make more of every day.
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.
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.
Testimonial
“The knowledge, expertise and experience Serco bring is first class. We’re confident
they are the operator who will provide the level of service, variety of activity and the
inclusive welcome the people of Birmingham deserve.”
– Dave Wagg, head of sport & development, Birmingham City Council
– Dave Wagg, head of sport & development, Birmingham City Council
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