The leading lights in Britain’s fast-growing physical activity movement were recognised last night (6 June) at the largest ever ukactive Awards.
The cream of the sector descended on Manchester Central last night for a dazzling ceremony to celebrate award winners across 23 diverse categories.
More than 800 guests were in attendance as Olympic gold medallist Joanna Rowsell and physical activity expert Greg Whyte presented the award for National Leisure Centre of the Year to onePT, a Rochdale-based gym and personal training facility.
It was a strong night for Everyone Active and GLL, which each picked up three awards, closely followed by Serco Leisure, which emerged victorious in two categories.
The hotly contested Organisation of the Year Award went to Brio Leisure.
The ukactive Awards 2019, supported by headline partners Active IQ, saw the inclusion of several new award categories and the incorporation of the Active Training Awards into an expanded ceremony.
Each of the award finalists underwent a rigorous independent assessment process designed to select the best in each category from hundreds of entrants, as well as to provide priceless feedback about how to share success stories.
The evaluation process included customer insight surveys, mystery calls and visits, and a ‘Judges’ House’ assessment day at WeWork London.
Two individual awards were decided by a public vote, with Ruben and Elena Evans-Guillen picking up Physical Activity Champion of the Year, and GLL’s Haider Ali taking the Unsung Hero Award.
The glittering awards ceremony was followed by an after-party featuring twin DJ duo The Menendez Brothers.
ukactive acting CEO Huw Edwards said: “I’m delighted we could expand the ukactive Awards to celebrate every aspect of our growing sector. Last night was a fantastic opportunity to take stock, celebrate, and look forward to the year ahead.
“Congratulations not just to all of the fantastic award winners, but to every finalist and entrant, all of whom are fantastic examples of the extraordinary work we do as a sector to get more people, more active, more often.”
Active IQ Managing Director Jenny Patrickson said: “The ukactive Awards represents a truly wonderful opportunity to reflect on what we do so well a sector, and to celebrate those who are leading the way.
“We are thrilled to support what was a fantastic evening, and we are excited to see how each of the winners build on their success in the year ahead.”
The full list of winners can be seen below:
Club/Centre of the Year –
OnePT Ltd
Regional Club/Centre of the Year
Scotland – Edinburgh Leisure, Drumbrae Leisure Centre
North – OnePT Ltd
Midlands – Serco Leisure, Oak Tree Leisure Centre
London Winner – GLL, Rainbow Leisure Centre & Spa
South Winner – Anytime Fitness Farnham
Wales & Northern Ireland – GLL, Olympia Leisure Centre & Spa
Physical Activity Excellence Award
King’s Sport – King’s College London
Supplier of the Year
STA
New Concept, Build or Design of the Year
Serco Leisure, Stechford
Workplace Wellbeing Programme of the Year
Gladstone
Kids Award
Everyone Active, Lammas Leisure Centre
Healthy Communities Award
Abbeycroft Leisure
Activation of the Year
Ordnance Survey
Marketing Campaign of the Year
North Lanarkshire Leisure
Inclusion & Disability Award
Active Tameside
Insight of the Year
Everyone Active
Digital Transformation of the Year
Everyone Active
Physical Activity Champion of the Year
Ruben and Elena Evans-Guillen
Transformational Leadership Award
Life Leisure
Unsung Hero Award
Haider Ali, GLL
Organisation of the Year Award
Brio Leisure
Personality of the Year Professor Greg Whyte
Outstanding Contribution Rich Millard
More People More Active More Often
