Sheffield’s Sports and Leisure Venues to Welcome New Operator in 2025

[SheffieldForum]

 

Sheffield’s sport and leisure facilities are set for a significant transition as Everyone Active, part of Sports and Leisure Management (SLM), has been announced as the new operator for the city’s venues starting January 2025. This move comes as part of Sheffield City Council’s broader initiative to enhance the city’s leisure and entertainment infrastructure, backed by a £117 million investment.

 

A New Era for Sheffield’s Leisure Facilities

 

The announcement follows a competitive procurement process launched in June 2023, aimed at securing top-tier management for Sheffield’s renowned sport and leisure venues. Everyone Active, the UK’s longest-established leisure operator, emerged as the successful bidder, bringing with them over 35 years of experience managing more than 220 leisure and cultural centres across the country.

 

Councillor Tom Hunt, Leader of Sheffield City Council, expressed optimism about the partnership, stating, “Sheffield is a city of sport, and we are incredibly proud of our sporting heritage and facilities.

Everyone Active will bring a wealth of experience and expertise to help elevate our sport and leisure offer across the city, even further.”

 

A Focus on Community and Excellence

 

From January 2025, Everyone Active will take over the management of several key venues, including the English Institute of Sport Sheffield (EISS), Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, and IceSheffield. These facilities are integral to Sheffield’s sporting landscape, hosting elite athletes such as Dame Jessica Ennis Hill and Anthony Joshua, as well as serving the local community.

 

David Bibby, Managing Director at Everyone Active, expressed the company’s excitement, saying, “We feel privileged to have been chosen as the new operator for Sheffield’s sport and leisure venues. Sheffield is an amazing city, and we are delighted to be working in partnership with Sheffield City Council to serve the vibrant communities within it.”

Enhancing Sheffield’s Sporting Legacy

 

Everyone Active has ambitious plans to tailor Sheffield’s facilities to meet the diverse needs of its communities. The company aims to support the Council’s objectives to reduce health inequalities and ensure that the city’s sport and leisure services are modern, welcoming, and inclusive.

 

Councillor Kurtis Crossland, Chair of the Communities, Parks and Leisure Committee, emphasized the importance of this transition, noting, “We are committed to ensuring that every person in Sheffield has access to facilities and services that support them in being more active, more often.”

 

Acknowledging the Past, Embracing the Future

 

As Sheffield prepares for this new chapter, the City Council extended its thanks to Sheffield City Trust and Places Leisure, who have managed the city’s venues for over three decades. The majority of the current staff will transfer to Everyone Active, ensuring continuity and retaining the expertise that has kept Sheffield’s communities active.

 

Sheffield’s iconic venues are poised for a new era of growth and development, with Everyone Active at the helm, continuing the city’s legacy as a hub for sport and leisure.

 

Facilities Under New Management:

 

- Ponds Forge International Sports Centre
- English Institute of Sport Sheffield (EISS)
- Concord Sports Centre
- Springs Leisure Centre
- Hillsborough Leisure Centre
- Heeley Pool & Gym
- IceSheffield
- Beauchief Golf Course
- Birley Golf Course
- Tinsley Golf Course

 

Additional venues, including Graves Health and Sports Centre, Thorncliffe Health and Leisure Centre, and Wisewood Sports Centre, will also come under Everyone Active’s management in 2026.