 |
£1bn support package for leisure businesses in the UK will exclude health clubs and gyms
22 Dec 2021
HCM has confirmed that the UK government's £1bn support package for the hospitality and leisure industry, which allows businesses to claim a cash grant of £6,000, is not currently available to health clubs.
It's understood talks are ongoing with government departments in an attempt to reverse this decision.
Announced by chancellor Rishi Sunak, the funding has been designed to help businesses survive the adverse impact on trade caused by the government's "Plan B" measures – such as the guidance to work from home.
This has seen city centre gyms – especially those with a pay-as-you-go pricing model, feeling the pain as they report falling numbers.
Both UK Active and CIMSPA have raised formal protests about the omission.
The decision to exclude health clubs, gyms, swimming pools and leisure centre operators has been described as "shameful" by industry body, UK Active.
Based on evidence from its members, ukactive has estimated that the sector has already suffered a drop in revenue of more than £200m as a result of the current ‘Plan B’ measures in England. The existing measures have already caused a reduction in footfall to some city centre facilities of up to 70 per cent.
Huw Edwards, CEO of UK Active, said: “The decision by the Government to omit gyms, pools, and leisure centres from access to new grant support within this financial package, following hours of confusion, is shameful.
“It will lead to some businesses that support the health and wellbeing of communities going to the wall.
“It is also ignorant of all the evidence provided to the Government on the damaging impact of the existing Plan B measures to these facilities.
“We will work alongside our members and partners to reverse this omission and ensure our members are fully supported and protected, alongside additional support required, such as VAT relief in line with other sectors, furlough support, and extensions to business rates relief and the National Leisure Recovery Fund.
“This is a health crisis, so to dismiss calls for support for these essential organisations that improve people’s health is inexcusable and will lead to our nation’s physical activity levels – which are already in a lamentable state – becoming even worse.
“Looking forward, the Government also needs to recognise that our sector is entering its most crucial operating period. It needs to ensure that the tens of millions of people in this country that depend on these facilities are able to use them, especially as we enter the depths of winter and the impact this has on people’s physical and mental wellbeing.
“We urge the government in the strongest possible terms to think again.”
Tara Dillon, CEO of CIMSPA said: “It is extremely important that we see clarity and support for the sector workforce, going into the crucial New Year period.
“This professional workforce plays a vital role in supporting the health of the nation, and many were hit hard by previous restrictions.
“Many facilities and providers are already facing staff shortages, so it is essential that the government does everything it can to support them, and the sector as a whole."
UK Active has called for the following financial package:
• Suspend business rates for Q1 2022 for all health, fitness and leisure businesses, and agree to review the 2022/3 cap.
• Introduce new grants to compensate for a lack of trade from Government intervention.
• Include gyms and fitness centres in the reduced rate of VAT, ahead of a review into an extended and permanent reduction.
• Extend the National Leisure Recovery Fund – with the pandemic’s catastrophic impact on public leisure, the previous £100m recovery fund must be extended to cover the additional periods of closure and restrictions.
• Reinstate the furlough scheme and sick pay.
Background briefing
There are around 7,000 gyms, pools and leisure facilities across the UK, employing more than 189,000 full-time staff, 60,000 self-employed or freelance staff, such as PTs.
Together, they serve more than 17 million people from a broad and diverse range of communities, including more than 10 million members.
In addition to sport and fitness services, the sector also provides vital health services, such as 66 per cent of the nation’s cancer rehabilitation and prehabilitation services, swimming lessons for millions of children, and pre- and post-natal services.
Every £1 spent on community physical activity and sport generates nearly £4 for the English economy and society (Sport England and Sheffield Hallam University), with an annual contribution of £85.5bn through social and economic benefits, and £72bn each year in social value – measured in terms of a healthier population, consumer expenditure, greater work productivity, improved education attainment, reduced crime and stronger communities.
back
|
| Latest member news |
 |
|
Community Leisure UK’s Active Kindness project celebrates after being awarded £651,003 in National Lottery funding
Active Kindness, a volunteering programme which previously received Sport England
funding, is celebrating after receiving vital National Lottery funding to leverage
the power of volunteering across public leisure and culture to create greater
community cohesion, stronger personal development of individuals and increase the
diversity of those taking part in health, wellbeing, and creative programmes.
read more...
Edinburgh Leisure Appoints New Chief Executive
Edinburgh-based physical activity charity, Edinburgh Leisure, has announced the
appointment of a new Chief Executive.
read more...
Withington Baths Receives Sports England Grant to Accelerate its Carbon Footprint Reduction Efforts
Love Withington Baths, the non-profit organisation that operates Withington Baths
and co-working space Withington Works, has announced exciting plans to
significantly reduce its carbon footprint and enhance energy efficiency thanks to
a £105K grant secured from Sport England under the Government’s Swimming Pool
Support Fund.
read more...
GLL Celebrate £140k Arts Council Funding
VR headsets, IT hublets and improved seating, shelving and flooring are on their
way to Lye Library, Dudley thanks to funding from the Arts Council.
read more...
Much-Loved Library to Receive Grant Funding of Nearly £400,000
One of Redbridge's most popular libraries will benefit from a significant
modernisation programme after being awarded nearly £400,000 in grant funding.
read more...
Horizon Leisure Scoops Prize at Portsmouth Business Awards
Horizon Leisure, which operates Havant leisure Centre and Waterlooville Leisure
Centre, was crowned Community Business of the Year at the Portsmouth Business
Awards earlier this year.
read more...
Portsmouth Tennis Centre celebrated for bringing tennis to all
Portsmouth Tennis Centre has been recognised by the LTA Tennis Awards for bringing
tennis to under-represented groups and communities throughout the city.
read more...
|
|
Wellness Hub Breaks Down Barriers to Tackle Health Inequalities in North East Lincolnshire
A new report on Lincs Inspire’s Wellness Hub has revealed the difference it is
making to community health.
read more...
Grant from Parkinson’s UK Gives Green Light to New Cycle Classes
Everybody Health & Leisure has launched a dedicated group cycling classes for
people living with Parkinson's Disease.
read more...
Doncaster Culture and Leisure Trust score partnership with Club Doncaster
Doncaster Culture and Leisure Trust (DCLT) and Club Doncaster have agreed a
partnership that will see DCLT as an official sponsor of the Dons RLFC and sponsor
of two Belles players.
read more...
BPL Achieves Swim England’s Water Wellbeing Accreditation
AWARD winning community leisure trust BPL has achieved Swim England’s Water
Wellbeing accreditation.
read more...
Edinburgh Leisure Scale New Heights Following £100,000 Boost
Edinburgh Leisure’s flagship climbing arena at Ratho has benefitted from a major
funding investment from sportscotland’s Sport Facilities Fund.
read more...
78-year-old George’s marvellous weightlifting medicine
Almost an octogenarian, George Travis is still hammering out kettle bell classes
as an Active Tameside fitness instructor.
read more...
Cefn Hengoed Leisure Centre Gets Massive Makeover
A Swansea leisure centre has been totally revamped with a £7.5 million investment.
read more...
|
| Business partner news |
|
|
|
|
09 Apr 2024
Oxygen Consulting deep dives into padel with forthcoming report
Oxygen Consulting is about to launch its first UK Padel Report, which
investigates this fast-growing sport.
read more...
05 Apr 2024
Ronaldo crashes the app store with launch of new wellness, fitness and health app, Erakulis
Portugese footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo, has launched a health and wellness app that harmonises
advice on fitness, nutrition and mental wellness in one seamless experience.
read more...
04 Apr 2024
New research shows BMI fails as a measure of childhood obesity, leading to flawed policy
Waist circumference-to-height ratio is a more reliable measure of obesity in children and
adolescents than BMI according to a new study, published in Pediatric Research.
read more...
28 Mar 2024
4Global and UK Active launch private sector health club benchmarking
The first annual Private Sector Benchmarking report was released today (27 March). A
collaboration between UK Active and 4Global, the aim of the research is to provide accurate
insight into the state of UK-based private sector health clubs.
read more...
|
|
27 Mar 2024
Egym snaps up Hussle as it moves to dominate the corporate wellness market with its Wellpass product
Egym, has signalled its intention to become a dominant force in the corporate wellness sector
with the acquisition of UK-based aggregator, Hussle.
read more...
26 Mar 2024
Total Fitness turns a profit as it beats pre-COVID membership
Total Fitness has released results for its most recent financial year (to June 23), which saw a
return to pre-COVID membership levels following a year-on-year uplift in membership numbers
of 5 per cent.
read more...
25 Mar 2024
Entrepreneurs share secrets of building a fitness business at PerformX
Enjoy building your business because the journey can be as good or better than the destination
was one takeaway of the industry titans’ panel on empire building, comprised of three industry
entrepreneurs.
read more...
22 Mar 2024
Myzone removes the hardware barrier with launch of MZ-Open, making its system available on smart watches
Myzone is now available on smart watches, allowing Android and AppleWatch wearers to record
workouts without an additional device, and taking the tech company into the multi-billion dollar
smart watch market.
read more...
|
|
|
|
| General Meetings |
 |
|
CLUK General Meeting
15 May 2024: Glasgow
|
| Special Interest Groups |
|
|
Social Value
16 April 2024
|
Volunteering
24 April 2024
|
Finance
2 May 2024
|
|
For more information about Special Interest Group and regional / national members meetings, please contact [email protected]
|
|
| Job vacancies |
|
|
Leisure Centre Duty Manager
Salary: £24,687.57pa + pension + health care + benefits
Location: Uppingham, Oakham, UK
Company: Uppingham School
Read more and apply
|
Leisure Supervisor (Development)
Salary: £32,982 - £37,099pa + excellent pension and benefits
Location: London, UK
Company: City University of London
Read more and apply
|
Duty Manager
Salary: £30,000pa + local Govt pension + attractive benefits package
Location: Kirkwall, UK
Company: The Pickaquoy Centre
Read more and apply
|
Team Leader (Harrow School Fitness Club)
Salary: £13.71 per hour
Location: Harrow on the Hill, Harrow, UK
Company: Harrow School
Read more and apply
|
Centre Manager (Leisure)
Salary: £40,221 - £42,403pa + pension + benefits
Location: Exeter, UK
Company: Exeter City Council
Read more and apply
|
Director of Operations
Salary: £61,000 - £64,000 + exceptional pension + excellent benefits
Location: Luton, UK
Company: Active Luton
Read more and apply
|
Membership Manager
Salary: £29,605 - £32,982pa + pension + benefits
Location: Coventry, UK
Company: University of Warwick
Read more and apply
|
Chief Executive Officer, Mount Batten Centre
Salary: c£65,000pa + pension + benefits
Location: Plymouth, UK
Company: Mount Batten Group
Read more and apply
|
|
|
