DC Leisure and BADMINTON England have teamed up to boost the number of qualified badminton coaches countrywide, in response to a current shortage.

The fitness provider will trial the first BADMINTON England level two coaching course at its Fakenham Sports and Fitness Centre in Norfolk, in collaboration with the sport’s governing body, with plans to roll the programme out at its 120 health club sites.

Jamie Sims, badminton development manager at DC Leisure, said: “This partnership positively encourages leisure centres to release court time to hold coaching courses, ensuring that the sport is represented across the group.

“We hope that more sites will take up the opportunity to qualify their staff, allowing BADMINTON England to use this as a partnership model for other leisure service providers.”

Photograph: Pat Dodd, general manager at Fakenham Sports & Fitness Centre, and Norma Bowen, Badminton Development Officer (Norfolk) at Badminton England