Social Enterprise GLL to manage two Olympic sites post-2012

Finance | Vibeka Mair | 10 Jan 2012

The Olympic Park Legacy Company has awarded social enterprise GLL a contract to manage the 2012 Aquatic Centre and Multi-Use Arena after the London Olympics are over.

GLL will operate the Aquatics Centre and Multi-use Arena for ten years starting in 2013. The social enterprise currently oversees the management of over 100 public leisure centres. GLL fought off competition from private sector providers Serco and Parkwood Leisure to secure the two contracts.

Responding to today’s announcement, Social Enterprise UK’s chief executive, Peter Holbrook, said: "Social enterprises have more to offer our Olympic host boroughs than PLCs. Rather than private companies making profits and giving them to their shareholders, which means the money invested in poorer communities ends up elsewhere, GLL will reinvest the profits to provide training, jobs and top-quality leisure facilities at affordable prices. This is what good business looks like."

The two contracts will provide:

254 full-time jobs
86 apprenticeship places every year
On average, 75 per cent of jobs will go to local people in the host boroughs
A strong focus on small and medium-sized enterprises benefitting from supply chain opportunities
The price of swimming at the Aquatics Centre or hiring a court at the Arena will be the same as the average local pool or sports centre

Mark Sesnan, managing director of London-based GLL, said:
"Our charitable social enterprise status, community values and successful track record, demonstrate that GLL is committed to opportunity for all, ensuring the Games offer a long-lasting sporting legacy all Londoners can enjoy."

GLL holds the Social Enterprise Mark. Its legal constitution is an industrial and provident society.

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