health & fitness


Survey reveals cost of ‘poor’ phone response


A survey by Leisure-net Solutions has found that fitness operators could be los- ing out on potential members by failing to handle telephone enquiries properly. The National call-Focus Survey tests


membership enquiries against sector stan- dards and this year’s results saw the national average score decline by 8 per cent. It is the worst score in the survey’s five-


year history and Leisure-net’s Mike Hill said that it was “reasonable to assume” through the results that telephone responses had got worse. Details: http://lei.sr?a=B2c1j


truGym to open fourth facility


Independently-owned budget health club chain truGym is to open its fourth health and fitness club in Bromley, Kent, at the end of February. The 14,000sq ft (1,300sq


m) club will join sites in Maidstone, Peterborough and Plymouth. Te equipment at each club has been supplied by Evolution Fitness. All sites are open from 6am


to 10pm and are manned dur- ing opening hours. Monthly memberships begin at £12.99, which includes a selected range of group classes such as body pump. Yoga and Zumba are also available for extra cost. According to truGym director and owner Parm Singh, the company is look- ing to expand aggressively and will also look to add franchising services. “So far all clubs have been company-owned but we are looking to open our first franchised


Simon Harrison was one of the four interviewed


Fitness experts predict 2012 industry trends


Te low-cost sector will continue to drive the growth of the UK’s fitness industry dur- ing 2012, according to a panel of experts offering their predictions for the year. Health Club Management spoke to four


industry leaders and most agreed that, while economic pressures will continue, increasing public awareness of health and fitness will act as a compensatory factor. Deloitte director of corporate finance


Simon Harrison said operators also need to focus on innovative membership pack- ages. Read more: http://lei.sr?a=G5M1G


Sandown leisure centre renovation underway


Isle of Wight Council (IWC) has started work on a two-stage refurbishment of Te Heights Leisure Centre in Sandown to help improve provision and reduce costs. Te project was given the green light by


councillors in March last year, with phase one set to include the construction of a new Tone Zone fitness suite at the rear. A new activity room and a revamped


pool also form part of the first stage of work, which is due for completion in June. Te second phase of the project will see the health suite given a new-look.


4 Te new Bromley venue will join the operator’s portfolio of three clubs


club later this year,” Singh told Health Club Management. “In fact we’ve very recently recruited our first franchisee so we’re actively looking for a site for him to operate.” Singh added that he is currently looking to


add seven further sites during 2012, bringing the number of truGyms locations to 11.


Work starts on £15.3m Kirkcaldy facility


A turf-cutting ceremony has taken place to mark the start of work on a new £15.3m lei- sure centre in Kirkcaldy, which is one of three facilities to be developed across Fife. Graham Construction has


been selected by Fife Council and Fife Sports and Leisure Trust to deliver the project, which is scheduled for com- pletion in summer 2013. B3 Architects are lead con-


sultant and joint architects with Cre8 Architecture on the project, with facilities at the new Kirkcaldy leisure centre to include a 25m, six-lane swimming pool and a training pool with moveable floor. The venue, which is expected to attract 200,000 visitors a year once open, will also comprise a health suite with a sauna and


A 60-station fitness suite will form part of Kirkcaldy’s £15.3m complex


steamroom; and a 60-station fitness suite; an aerobics studio; and a four-court sports hall. Te new Kirkcaldy facility is part of Fife


Council’s £55m Future of Leisure programme to improve local provision.


Freedom Leisure nets Wealden leisure contract


Freedom Leisure has announced that it has secured a new 10-year management agreement to operate local facilities on behalf of Wealden District Council from 1 April. Te contract covers four centres across the East Sussex district, with the non-profit trust


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


planning to invest a total of £7m in undertak- ing “major improvements” to facilities. Spending plans include £1.8m on new equip-


ment, which will help ensure each of the four leisure centres are able to compete with rival privately-operated sites.


Twitter: @leisureopps © CYBERTREK 2012


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