Leisure operator Everyone Active has been awarded the contract to manage Knights Templar Sports Centre in Baldock, pledging a £150,000 investment to enhance facilities for both students and the wider community.
The company will take over operations from 1 April 2025, with a major refurbishment planned, with £150,000 allocated for a full upgrade of the gym, which is scheduled to take place during the summer.
Additionally, Everyone Active and The Knights Templar School will jointly fund the resurfacing of the 3G artificial pitch.
Mark Leahy, Regional Contract Manager at Everyone Active, described the new partnership as a significant step in improving local leisure provision.
“We are thrilled to be appointed as the new operator of Knights Templar Sports Centre,” he said.
“This investment underlines our commitment to providing top-quality sports and fitness facilities for the community. With our ongoing management of other sites in North Hertfordshire, we are eager to bring our experience and expertise to Knights Templar.
“We will also ensure a seamless transition for customers, maintaining high standards of service throughout the handover process.”
John Swift, School Business Manager at The Knights Templar School said: “We are delighted to welcome Everyone Active to the Knights Templar Sports Centre and we are very grateful for their significant investment proposal. The fitness suite refurbishment and 3G pitch resurfacing will vastly improve facilities for students and the wider Baldock community. We look forward to developing our partnership in the months and years ahead.”
The contract, initially running for nine years, includes options for two additional five-year extensions, potentially lasting up to 19 years in total.
Knights Templar Sports Centre, which first opened in 2005, is a joint-use facility based at The Knights Templar School, a mixed secondary academy with approximately 1,450 students.
It features a four-court sports hall, a 41-station gym, a group exercise studio, a floodlit 3G artificial turf pitch and three grass football pitches.
Under the refurbishment plans, the gym will be equipped with new state-of-the-art fitness equipment, the décor will be refreshed, and the 3G pitch surface will be completely resurfaced.
Everyone Active will also provide a range of free and discounted memberships to make fitness more accessible.
These include complimentary memberships for cared-for children and care-experienced young people, available via referral from the Council Family Support Team.
Free memberships will also be offered to people living with Parkinson’s, along with their carers if required, to support symptom management. Additionally, reduced-rate memberships will be available for NHS staff, emergency service workers, full-time carers, and those receiving Universal Credit.