Double Celebration as Industry recognises quality of local leisure providers.
Following months of dedication and improvements, Thanet Leisureforce has been rewarded with not one but two industry accolades that stamp the quality mark on local facilities in Thanet on a national scale.
In September of this year Ramsgate Sports Centre, operated by Thanet Leisureforce, underwent a quality assessment which benchmarks the organisation and quality of service against national trends and other operators from across the country.
The programme, known as Quest, takes a comprehensive look at the provision within a facility and then grades it according to national benchmarking and reviews this against mystery shoppers reports before issuing a final score and percentage.
To gain the accreditation, centres must achieve a minimum score of 60%. Ramsgate Sports Centre was awarded 75% and was registered as 'Highly Commended'.
Warren Reeves, Operations Manager for Thanet Leisureforce, said: "This alone is an outstanding achievement for a first time assessment. There are centres up and down the country that have not achieved this mark after going through the process for the second or third time. I believe that this, together with other accolades that TLF has received, shows that the local community are able to boast about the quality of their community centres.
He added: "There are still only approximately 600 registered centres across the UK that hold this award and it's great to know that we are in the top 10% of those, and the first in East Kent to achieve the award."
Not content with gaining a quality mark, the Company has also received National Industry recognition for its efforts in bringing more people into and participating in a healthy lifestyle. In 2004 and 2005 Thanet Leisureforce was awarded the FIA Commit to Get Fit Award for Excellence and in 2006 added another string to their bow. The 2006 Awards took place in London on the 26th October and Thanet Leisureforce came away with not only one, but two awards and a brand new exercise bike.
Hartsdown Leisure Centre was rewarded for its contribution to charity fundraising for cystic fibrosis by scooping the Award for Highest Fundraising, and this was presented to the team by Joe Cole, England and Chelsea Footballer.
Thanet Leisureforce then went on to win the Award for Innovations for work within this year's campaign and the way that it attracted both participation and above all introduced the local community to the benefits of exercise.
The "icing on the cake" came with the grand raffle and our very own Lee Fisher, Centre Manager at Ramsgate Swimming Pool won the grand prize of a brand new Startac Spinning Bike, which has taken pride of place within the Ramsgate Pool's Gym.
Thanet Leisureforce Managing Director, Peter Hooker, said: "Following the back to back awards from the Fitness Industry Association, the reward and recognition through Quest for the work, time and effort contributed by our workforce at Ramsgate endorses the value we place on getting the right people doing the right things".
"It also further endorses and highlights the partnership philosophy we share with our client as we work together to reduce barriers to participation for the local community".
Warren Reeves added: "Hartsdown Leisure Centre is next in line for accreditation and will be assessed in early December later this year. We will all be working hard to ensure we can match, if not better our score when this comes round."
Cllr. Roger Latchford, Cabinet Member for Commercial Services, said: "These awards are excellent news, not just for Thanet Leisureforce, but for the whole community and visitors to our area. This national benchmarking scheme has demonstrated what we have known for some time, that we have an excellent facility in the Ramsgate Sports Centre and we are pleased to see that Thanet Leisureforce's quality service is recognised. The Council is committed to improving the area's leisure facilities and we will be working hard to do that over the next few years." |
