New leisure operator to support our ongoing investment in leisure facilities

Subject to finalising contracts, from 1 December 2023, Parkwood Leisure will begin running our leisure centre alongside the other 80 leisure facilities that the Parkwood group and Partners run on behalf of local authorities throughout England and Wales, including our Princess Royal Sports Arena after recently acquiring 1Life Management Solutions.

This new partnership aims to bring a revitalised culture of continuous improvement, innovation and business opportunity development to our community leisure offer. Together, we will have a focus on increasing user numbers, service beneficiaries and community health outcomes, all supported by new improved quality of service operator systems.

Parkwood Leisure was founded in 1995 and is one of the most experienced providers of leisure management provision in the UK; with a mission to create and maintain sustainable, lasting partnerships which help build happier and healthier local communities. They specialise in the development and operation of leisure facilities, visitor attractions, golf courses, heritage sites and theatres on behalf of local authority clients.

As a Council we are committed to investing in community leisure and are currently working on the £7m Boston Leisure Project investment which is part of the Boston Town Deal funding received in 2021.  This project is also being aligned to the Boston College Mayflower facility which will give the centre a shared plaza area, along with separate Changing Places Facility which was part funded from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Councillor Andy Izard, Portfolio Holder for Communities (Place) including Leisure Services, said: "Having an experienced provider managing the leisure centre will offer a consistent service that is customer-focused and engaged with the needs of the growing community.

"With their experiences with enhancing IT systems and other areas they can match those centres in private operation, something that we were unable to offer to our knowledgeable staff due to limited investment opportunity.

"We look forward to working closely with Parkwood Leisure, as our new leisure operator partner, and believe that through this partnership we can offer a far better and wider range of leisure facilities and continue to develop something for everyone across the Borough of Boston."

Councillor Emma Cresswell, Portfolio Holder for Communities (People) including Health and Wellbeing, said: "We all appreciate the importance of having high quality leisure services for improving an active and healthier lifestyle and that's why we are excited to embark on a new journey that places health and wellbeing at the heart of our mission.

"Parkwood Leisure impressed us with their commitment to helping people of all ages become active and healthy and will offer something for the whole community to enjoy. I look forward to seeing what they bring to our centre and the changes made which will benefit residents now and in the future."

Andy Farr, Strategic Director for Parkwood, commented: "We are delighted to have the opportunity to work in partnership with the Council, supporting local communities to be more active and healthier. We hope to bring the wider support and innovation of the Parkwood group, alongside the local knowledge and community relationships of 1Life from managing PRSA, to support the Council in their continuous improvement journey for leisure services."

Following a thorough procurement process, Parkwood Leisure will assume responsibility for operating the leisure centre with the award of a three-year contract.

Memberships, classes and lessons will continue as normal during the transition period, and we'll ensure users and stakeholders are kept informed as the transfer progresses.