The organisations leading Britain’s emerging physical activity movement have been recognised for their pioneering work at the inaugural ukactive Awards.
Stars from across the UK arrived in Manchester last night (Thursday 21 June) for a glittering ceremony to celebrate a vast range of organisations and individuals.
More than 800 guests saw star hosts Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and Greg Whyte present the award for National Leisure Centre of the Year to Life Leisure Stockport Sports Village, while six regional winners were also announced.
The first ukactive Awards – an evolution of the traditional Flame Awards – introduced a wider array of categories to better celebrate the range of leaders getting more people active.
New award categories included Campaign of the Year, won by Ordnance Survey, and the Healthy Community Award, won by MAN v FAT Football.
Meanwhile, the Supplier of the Year – a much-vaunted award from the Flame era – was named as Future Fit Training.
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.
Several stages of evaluation took place, including customer insight surveys, mystery calls, visits and a ‘Judges’ House’ assessment day at WeWork London.
The dazzling awards ceremony was followed by an after-party featuring twin DJ duo The Menendez Brothers.
ukactive Chair Tanni Grey-Thompson said: “It was a privilege to co-host the first ukactive Awards in their new format and the competition was particularly fierce this year.
“It was incredible to listen to the stories from our finalists – their passion for physical activity is clearly evident. I’d like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to all those doing more to get more people active – you really are leading this movement.”
ukactive CEO Steven Ward said: “Given the growing contribution of physical activity in all aspects of society, it seemed only fitting that we expanded the ukactive Awards to recognise the full breadth of our movement to create an active nation.
“I am delighted to have the chance to celebrate our fantastic winners, finalists and indeed all the entrants, who have been making such strides to get more people, more active, more often. Well done to all.”
The full list of winners can be found below:
Club/Centre of the Year
Life Leisure Stockport Sports Village
Regional Club/Centre of the Year
London
GLL Kensington Leisure Centre
North
Life Leisure Stockport Sports Village
Midlands
Oak Tree Leisure Centre, Mansfield – Serco Leisure
South
LED Leisure Management
Wales and Northern Ireland
Bangor Aurora Aquatic and Leisure Complex – Serco Leisure
Scotland
Sport Aberdeen
Supplier of the Year
Future Fit Training
New Concept, Build and Design of the Year
Salt Ayre Leisure Centre – Alliance Leisure
Workplace Wellbeing of the Year
Wellworking Ltd
ukactive Kids Award
Northampton Leisure Trust
Healthy Communities Award
Man v FAT Football
Campaign of the Year Award
Ordnance Survey
Inclusion and Disability Award
Sport for Confidence and Basildon Sporting Village – Everyone Active
Research Impact Award
MyCustomerLens
Physical Activity Champion
Louisa Chatwin
Outstanding Leader of the Year
Oliver Stacey
Unsung Hero Award
Ben Wimbush
Organisation of the Year Award
Active Tameside
Personality of the Year
Colin Jackson
For more information on any of the new award categories above – visit https://www.ukactive.com/ukactive-awards-categories/
More People More Active More Often
