Worcester City Council has agreed a five-year extension of its partnership with Freedom Leisure, continuing their management of the city’s leisure services through to December 2030.
The renewed agreement builds on the original 10-year contract awarded in 2016, under which Freedom Leisure has successfully operated Perdiswell Leisure Centre, St Johns Sports Centre, Nunnery Wood Sports Complex, and the city’s Healthy Communities programmes.
As part of the new agreement, Freedom Leisure has committed to a significant investment programme to enhance facilities, improve energy efficiency, and deliver a more inclusive experience for local residents.
At Perdiswell Leisure Centre, improvements will include a comprehensive refurbishment of the fitness facilities, installation of a backwash water recovery system to boost energy efficiency, and upgraded CCTV for enhanced safety. Meanwhile, St Johns Sports Centre will see a refurbishment of its fitness suite and the replacement and upgrade of the 3G football pitch, providing a modern, high-quality playing surface.
In addition to these facility upgrades, Freedom Leisure has also committed to paying all colleagues the Real Living Wage, thanks to the City Council reducing the annual management fee.
Ivan Horsfall Turner, Freedom Leisure’s CEO, said: “We’re delighted to have been awarded the management contract by Worcester City Council for a further five-year term. Since 2016 when we commenced our management contract in Worcester we have seen an increase in footfall across all the centres in Worcester and we have been overwhelmed by the positive feedback from the people of Worcester on the improvements we’ve made to date and continue to do so.
Between Worcester City Council and ourselves, we have committed to a significant investment over the next 5 years to better the facilities and reduce our impact on the environment and we look forward to working with the different stakeholders to improve the lives of the people of Worcester through leisure”.
Councillor Lynn Denham, Leader of Worcester City Council, said: “We’ve proven over the years and through some difficult times that partnership with organisations, and this partnership with a non-profit company, has delivered on the whole for Worcester. All these sports centres are still open and the swimming pool is still functional. I’m also absolutely thrilled that Freedom Leisure are joining the Real Living Wage family”.
