The best in the business from across the physical activity sector were honoured last night (30 June) as the winners of the ukactive Awards 2022 were announced at Birmingham’s ICC.

The awards ceremony took place in person for the first time since 2019 due to the pandemic and saw the sector come back together with a bang, following a day of discussion and learning at the Active Uprising conference.

Parkwood Leisure was the big winner on the night, picking up four awards; the Digital Transformation Award; Regional Club/Centre of the Year for the Midlands region; National Club/Centre of the Year Award for its Towcester Centre For Leisure facility; and the Outstanding Organisation of the Year Award.

The organisation was also highly commended in the Business Continuity, Recovery & Success following on from COVID-19 Award category.

The awards – supported by Active IQ – saw Professor Greg Whyte OBE and award-winning PT Laura Hoggins announce the winners of 24 categories in front of more than 900 people.

The full list of winners is available below:

Regional Club/Centre of the Year

NorthClare's Space Ltd

Midlands

Parkwood Leisure - Towcester Centre for Leisure

LondonThe Fore

South

Leisure Focus - Braywick Leisure Centre

Northern Ireland & WalesAntrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council

Scotland

The Shed Health Club

National Club/Centre of the YearParkwood Leisure - Towcester Centre for Leisure

Supplier of the Year

Alliance Leisure

New Concept, Build or Design of the YearGLL, Britannia Leisure Centre

Generation Active Award

Northampton Leisure Trust

Healthy Communities AwardNuffield Health

Activation Award

Halo Leisure

Marketing Campaign AwardYour Space (BPL)

Diversity and Inclusion Award

Serco Leisure, Ladywood Leisure Centre

Digital Transformation AwardParkwood Leisure

Business Continuity, Recovery & Success following on from COVID-19

Hotpod Yoga

Developing and Supporting Communities following on from COVID-19Featherstone High School

BUCS - Physical Activity Excellence Award

University of Nottingham Sport

Education Provider of the YearSwimming Teachers’ Association

Physical Activity Hero Award

Charmaine Daley, Active Nottingham

Outstanding Leadership AwardHolly Ainger, Nuffield Health

The Jan Spaticchia Special Recognition Award

Andy Read, formerly the Head of Safety, Places Leisure

Outstanding Organisation of the YearParkwood Leisure

Active School Hero Award

Nula Breen, from St Mary's Primary School in Draperstown, Northern Ireland

“This year’s finalists and winners deserve not only to be recognised as an inspiration to the sector but also to the whole nation,” said Huw Edwards, CEO of ukactive.

“Congratulations to everyone who took part for showcasing the undeniable resilience, dedication and creativity that will lead our sector over the coming years.

“The ukactive Awards generate so much energy and positivity within our sector, as well as a healthy dose of competition.

“Thank you to each and every individual and organisation for your unrelenting commitment and passion behind our mission to get more people, more active, more often.”

This year’s ukactive Awards saw nominations from across the breadth of the sector, with the judges praising the quality and achievements demonstrated by all finalists (click here for the full list).

Each entrant underwent a rigorous independent assessment which was delivered by ukactive’s process partner, ProInsight, and designed to select the best in each category from hundreds of entrants, as well as to provide valuable feedback from the judges to help improve but also to promote success.

Jenny Patrickson, managing director at Active IQ, added: “It was wonderful to see the room full of people celebrating the achievements of our industry together once again.

“After the awards evening, we were left in no doubt that the physical activity sector is brimming with talent and commitment.”