press release: Serco Leisure
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.
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
■ WheelPower
■ Local authorities
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.
– Dave Wagg, head of sport & development, Birmingham City Council
