This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
Daily news & jobs: www.leisureopportunities.co.uk


leisure opportunities Osborne announces The Living Wage


Chancellor George Osborne has unveiled plans for a new compulsory living wage in the first Conservative government Budget for almost 20 years. From April 2016, the Living


Wage will come into effect in place of the minimum wage, which is currently £6.50 per hour. The Living Wage – intended to cover significant cuts being made to tax cred- its for low income workers – will start at £7.20 per hour for over 25s, gradually rising to £9 per hour in 2020. The announcement will


ADDRESS BOOK n Arts & Business +44 (0)20 7378 8143


www.artsandbusiness.org.uk n ALVA +44 (0)20 7222 1728


www.alva.org.uk n Arts Council +44 (0)20 7333 0100


www.artscouncil.org.uk n ASVA +44 (0)1786 475152


www.asva.co.uk n BALPPA +44 (0)20 7403 4455


www.balppa.org n BHA +44 (0)845 880 7744


www.bha.org.uk n BiSL +44 (0)20 8780 2377


www.bisl.org n CMAE +44 (0)1334 460 850


www.cmaeurope.org n CIMSPA +44 (0)1509 226 474


www.cimspa.co.uk n CPRE +44 (0)20 7981 2800


www.cpre.org.uk n English Heritage +44 (0)870 333 1181


www.english-heritage.org.uk n FSPA +44 (0)2476 414999


George Osborne’s Living Wage will have big implications for leisure


have big implications for the leisure industry – both in terms of revenue opportunities and staff costs – where the majority of entry level workers start their careers on minimum wage. For lifeguards, receptionists, junior per-


sonal trainers and a number of hospitality workers, the announcement heralds the prospect of a 38 per cent pay rise by 2020. Operators meanwhile, must contemplate how to cover a rapidly inflating wage bill. “Increased costs for operators who rely on


minimum wage staff, will have to be bud- geted for, but the industry must embrace this


increase with a positive attitude, to ensure we continue to build our reputation as a credi- ble sector which creates good jobs and offers solid employment prospects,” said Leisure Media CEO Liz Terry. “Te increase in mini- mum wage is good news for the industry, as it gives people more disposable income to enjoy their leisure time.” Terry also criticised the “further undermining of student grants,” which she flagged as being at odds with the government’s stated aim of creating a com- petitive economy based on increased skills. Details: http://lei.sr?a=5S7q2_O


Fitness First eyes offload of 10 sites


Continued from front cover A well-placed source told Leisure Opportunities that the gym chain is looking to offload 10 sites outside of London, in areas where “con- sumers are sensitive to price and budget gyms have gained a strong foothold.” Te clubs in question, which span the south


west, Midlands region and “a few outliers,” are being marketed “through the usual chan- nels” and are expected to be sold separately rather than to a single suitor. Although several are profitable, the gyms are understood to be “not exceptional enough to hold on to” as Fitness First looks to finalise its shift towards offering premium clubs in major urban centres. “We can confirm we are considering


options for other gym operators to take on the operation of a small number of Fitness First clubs,” said a Fitness First spokesperson. “Tese clubs are situated in locations that are


24


www.sportsandplay.com n Fields in Trust +44 (0)20 7833 5360


www.fieldsintrust.org n HHA +44 (0)20 7259 5688


www.hha.org.uk n IAAPA +1 703 836 4800


www.iaapa.org n IEAP +44 (0)1403 265 988


www.ieap.co.uk n Institute of Hospitality +44 (0)20 8661 4900


www.instituteofospitality.org.uk n LPF +44 (0)1462 471932


www.leisurepropertyforum.org n Natural England +44 (0)845 600 3078


www.naturalengland.org.uk n People 1st +44 (0)870 060 2550


www.people1st.co.uk n REPs +44 (0)20 8686 6464


www.exerciseregister.org n SAPCA +44 (0)24 7641 6316


www.sapca.org.uk n Sports Aid +44 (0)20 7273 1975


www.sportsaid.org.uk n Sport and Recreation Alliance +44 (0)20 7976 3900


www.sportandrecreation.org.uk n Sport England +44 (0)8458 508 508


www.sportengland.org n Springboard +44 (0)20 7529 8610


www.springboarduk.org.uk n SkillsActive +44 (0)20 7632 2000


www.skillsactive.com n Tourism Management Institute +44 (0)1926 641506


Te gym chain is looking to offload 10 sites


better suited to other types of operator and do not fit with our strategic plan going forward, which is to invest heavily in our people, our service and our facilities to grow our business in the right locations across the UK.” Details: http://lei.sr?a=Q9c5u_O


Read Leisure Opportunities online: www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/digital


www.tmi.org.uk n Tourism Society +44 (0)20 8661 4636


www.tourismsociety.org n ukactive +44 (0)20 7420 8560


www.ukactive.org.uk n VisitBritain +44 (0)20 7578 1000


www.visitbritain.com n World Leisure +1 250 497 6578 www.worldleisure.org


Twitter: @leisureopps © CYBERTREK 2015


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24