About Us

Distinct from purely commercial enterprises, GLL is the first leisure operator in the UK to be awarded the prestigious Social Enterprise Mark.  Not just another leisure company, but a charitable social enterprise that exists for the benefit of the community.

We are a values-based organisation and we recognise our responsibility towards our customers, employees and the environment, within the communities we serve. Any financial surpluses we generate are reinvested to provide long-term benefits for our customers, employees and the communities where we operate. We manage 70 leisure centres within the M25 area in partnership with thirteen London Boroughs, Epsom and Ewell Borough Council, Reading Borough Council, Bellingham Community Project, the London Playing Fields Foundation and the London Development Agency.

We are committed to the provision of leisure and fitness facilities at affordable prices. 

The beneficiaries of our ongoing reinvestment programme include: building improvements, staff training and development, community sports programmes and sports development.

Our aims

We aim to encourage community involvement and to promote healthy living. We work to increase levels of physical activity by delivering sport and health programmes that reach all sectors of the community. We aim to ensure financial viability of GLL, meet our charitable objectives, increase employee participation, maintain and expand our services and endeavour to continually exceed our customers’ expectations.

Ownership and Empowerment

GLL is guided by a board of trustees, which is appointed on an annual basis at the general meeting. The board has representation from a number of stakeholders including customers, council, and the workforce. This stakeholder mix has helped create empowerment, enthusiasm and ownership at all levels of the organisation. In turn this has led to improved commitment and motivation of staff, resulting in an improved quality of service for customers.

Promoting Social Inclusion

GLL has successfully introduced many ’inclusive’ initiatives into its partnerships to promote and encourage more people to visit the leisure centres, regardless of their ethnicity, gender, disability or financial background. This social inclusion agenda is as important to us as ensuring a value for money service.

Bringing Added Value to our Partnerships

We believe in delivering added value to our partners by:

Working to a social agenda with key local partners in each borough and Implementing local Leisure Centre Advisory Committees.  Delivering cross cutting programmes with partners, including health, crime diversion, children and young people strategies.

Introducing Inclusive Fitness Initiative Gyms to a number of centres, improving access for those with disabilities
Investing in Community Development Officers to work directly in the community to engage new users.
Investing in the leisure centres to make them modern and relevant for today’s customers.

Creating access to work routes and employing locally as well as reducing the cost of service to partners, combined with ongoing investment.  

Quality and Awards

GLL has always invited scrutiny of its service and quality, this is reflected in the range of recognition we have received.

Our Future Ambitions

Our ambition is that GLL becomes the benchmark for quality leisure services management within the public sector. We are also committed to reducing our impact on the environment and we continue to identify ways to reduce our carbon footprint.

• To be at the forefront of London’s Olympic preparation and legacy requirements
• To be the operator of the Olympic Aquatic Centre
• To develop pan London initiatives that promote a cohesive approach to sport, leisure and its cross cutting benefits
• To introduce the Amateur Swimming Association’s National Teaching Plan as our learn to swim programme
• To ensure that we continue to deliver a socially responsive and financially viable business