Wycombe Leisure Limited

Success Story - Wycombe Leisure Limited

Wycombe Leisure Limited (WLL) was formed in July 1996 and commenced trading in January 1997. Following the introduction of Compulsive Competitive Tendering (CCT) in the late 1980s, Wycombe District Council’s leisure centres were operated by their in-house Direct Service Organisation (DSO). As the initial 5 year contract reached its penultimate year the Council and the DSO management team considered options for the future in light of the demise of CCT, an ever-worsening financial position for the Council and the arrival of the new hybrid leisure trust pioneered by the operators of the leisure centres in the London Borough of Greenwich.

The go ahead to set up the Trust was given in April 1996.

WLL is a registered Industrial Provident Society (IPS) set up under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965 reporting to the Registrar of Friendly Societies. This mantle has now been taken over by the Financial Services Authority.

WLL is a non-profit distributing company where all surpluses must be returned to the services operated. This can take the form of capital investments in the Centres or improvements to service standards through increased staffing levels and training and development of staff.

WLL does have shareholders. However, these shares are non-redeemable or transferable and receive no interest or dividend. A single £25 share can be purchased by any employee, working over 15 hours per week and aged 18 years or over. Basically this is their membership to the “society” and entitles them to attend and vote at the AGM and elect employee directors.

Under agreed rules the “Board of Management” consists of sixteen members of the society i.e. ten staff members, elected at the Annual General Meeting plus three customer members elected by and from the users of facilities managed by the society and three local authority members nominated by the local authorities in whose administrative areas the society is active. The Managing Director in an ex officio member.

The Board of Management debates and agrees the medium and long term strategy of the company and the annual business and financial plan. The Managing Director delivers these plans through a team of specialist directors and their teams, including Finance, Operations, Human Resources, Commercial and Catering and Hospitality.

In 2001 WLL was classed as a charity for Corporation Tax.

WLL enjoys partial exemption status for VAT purposes and NNDR rebates of between 80% and 100%.

WLL has invested over £2.5 million in its ten year history. These investments have included customer service offices, gym facilities, catering facilities, sports facilities and many community projects geared around improving the quality of life for disadvantaged groups within our communities.

WLL now operates facilities for four local authorities and several schools and community groups.

Turnover is expected to exceed £14,000,000 in 2007 with less than 5% coming from grants and non-trading activities; some 1,500 staff are employed across 20 facilities. This makes the company one of the most successful social enterprises in the South East.