The Active Standard: Spotlight on Jubilee Hall Trust

More than a hundred health and fitness operators have now achieved certification to Y Safon Weithredol (TAS), ukactive’s quality mark for gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools.

In this blog, Oliver Deen, Director of Operations at Jubilee Hall Trust, shares how TAS certification helped create a safety-driven culture for the public sector operator.

What motivated your organisation to achieve The Active Standard (TAS), and what have been the biggest benefits since becoming certified?

We had been looking for an accreditation that recognised the work being done around health and safety and acknowledged the effort that goes into providing safe, inclusive and compliant facilities.

The Active Standard gave our managers the opportunity to take a real deep dive into their operations. Supported by ukactive and Right Directions, the framework provided a clear and structured approach that made it easy to understand what was expected, while allowing them to demonstrate both the work they do and the culture they have created within their clubs.

Our charity operates three clubs, all within historic listed buildings, which naturally brings its own health and safety challenges. It was important to us and to our partners and building owners to have confidence that these buildings are being managed safely and responsibly, without putting the buildings themselves or the people using them at risk.

That reassurance is especially important when you are operating facilities on behalf of organisations such as the House of Commons, NHS hospitals and other social enterprises, where reputation and trust are fundamental.

How did you find the assessment process, and what was your experience of working through the certification?

The structure of the assessment was clear, well organised and gave us realistic timeframes to demonstrate our competencies.

Every interaction with the assessors was supportive, and the expectations were communicated clearly throughout. What was required of us was explained thoroughly, giving our managers the confidence to evidence their work and fully engage with the process.

What advice would you give to another operator that is about to undertake The Active Standard assessment?

For us, the accreditation wasn’t the end goal. It became part of the foundations for building a stronger culture of operational excellence.

I would wholeheartedly recommend putting your organisation through The Active Standard and allowing it to be the catalyst for doing more. My advice would be not to see it as simply a stamp of approval, but as the spark that reignites a genuine passion for creating a safety-driven culture across your organisation.

The accreditation is the recognition, but the real value comes from the journey and the standards you continue to set long after you’ve achieved it.

To find out more about The Active Standard, click yma.