75 New Leisure Centre Jobs For Belfast

A social enterprise that runs 14 leisure centres in Belfast has today announced the creation of 75 new permanent roles as part of a £105 million transformation.

GLL, which operates using the 'Better' brand name, will open three new facilities in the city in late 2019 and early 2020.

As well as the permanent positions, 100 new casual and seasonal roles will also be created, including the likes of gymnastics coaches, swimming instructors, fitness coaches, lifeguards and summer scheme staff. The application process for these roles will open in April 2019.

Regional Director of GLL in Northern Ireland, Gareth Kirk said: "As a strategic partner of Belfast City Council, we are committed to contributing to the Belfast Agenda. An important part of that involves getting more people in the city, more active, more often. The creation of these jobs will be really important in helping us to promote better health and wellbeing to more people across the city.


"Investment in health and wellbeing is a vital component of the development of any modern city. Working closely with Belfast City Council and other key strategic stakeholders we are excited to be a part of the contribution to improved physical and mental health.


"GLL is hugely committed to its workforce and our people are our greatest asset. Part of that commitment means providing existing staff with the opportunity to develop their skills and pursue rewarding careers with us, with over 50 internal promotions delivered in the last three years.

"There is a huge range of rewarding careers in GLL and really exciting opportunities for staff to develop and progress."

The Council's Leisure Transformation Programme (LTP) is a decade long programme to upgrade and modernise leisure facilities in Belfast. This stage will see Andersonstown Leisure Centre, Brook Activity Centre and Lisnasharragh Leisure Centre (on the site of the former Robinson Centre) open with new, cutting edge facilities and services.

Suzanne Wylie, Chief Executive of Belfast City Council commented: "Evidence clearly shows the importance of good and accessible leisure services for both mental and physical health. The creation of 75 jobs by our strategic partner GLL is part and parcel of Council's transformation of leisure services in Belfast.


"Our aim is to provide innovative leisure facilities across the city through a significant capital investment programme. In total, we will invest £105 million in seven new facilities, each with its own unique selling point, so that we minimise duplication and ensure balanced, value for money investment. Olympia is the first example of the state-of-the-art standard we are aiming for.

"This supports the ambitions of the Belfast Agenda, the community plan for the city, by improving neighbourhoods, reducing life inequalities, providing fit-for-purpose services and enabling active and healthy citizens."





(JG/CM)