David Lloyd Leisure launches new Leadership Programme during National Apprenticeship Week

11th Feb 2022

This National Apprenticeship Week, David Lloyd Clubs (part of the David Lloyd Leisure Group), Europe’s largest health and leisure group, has partnered with the Remit Training to officially launch a management training programme to support individuals identified as future Heads of Department that combines its internal talent and leadership programmes with tailored apprenticeships.

The newly accredited programme, called ‘Step up to HoD’, (head of department) has been custom designed for those who are aspiring leaders to train and challenge their management and operational skills and to ultimately prepare them for the next step in their career as a future head of department. 

The new programme officially launches during National Apprenticeship Week 2022, which runs from 7th -13th February. It has been developed in partnership with apprenticeship specialists Remit Training, to provide a series of internal targeted training programmes for David Lloyd Clubs, which will be delivered by a combination of Remit development coaches and David Lloyd Clubs regional General Manager champions.

The theme for National Apprenticeship Week is once again 'Build the Future' which continues for its second National Apprenticeship Week (NAW), and focuses on the benefits apprenticeships can have on individuals, businesses, and local communities.

Combining internal talent programmes with the Team Leader Supervisor Level 3 apprenticeship, the Step up to HoD management training programme has been created in line with national apprenticeship standards and is available to nominated team members that have been identified as managers of the future in David Lloyd Clubs across England, Scotland and Wales.

The programme will cover all aspects of the head of department role with a focus on key areas including operational excellence, delivering premium customer experiences, becoming inspirational leaders and a greater commercial understanding of the organisation. 

Sue Burton, Apprenticeship Manager at David Lloyd Clubs said, “We are delighted to launch the new Step up to HoD management apprenticeship programme across all of our UK clubs. Developing and nurturing talent from within the business is something we’re incredibly passionate about. These blended development programmes will give clear guidelines and support for those that aspire to become our future leaders and further demonstrates the rich pool of opportunities that exist within a career in the active leisure sector.”

Michelle Luxford, HR Director at David Lloyd Clubs adds, “The revised Step up to HOD programme, is part our wider strategy to develop future leaders across all areas of our business to give us the pipeline of talent we need to meet our acquisition and growth plans.” 

Sue Pittock. CEO, Remit Training, said, “It has been fantastic to work alongside David Lloyd Clubs to map out the Step up to HOD programme. There is a misconception that apprenticeships are only for entry level roles, when actually there are a number of apprenticeship programmes available for leaders and managers at every stage of their career, clearly highlighted by the breadth and depth of this initiative. We are delighted to be able to support David Lloyd Leisure’s focus on providing its supervisors with the opportunity to grow, develop and progress within their business.”

In all, more than 200 David Lloyd Leisure employees are expected to have the opportunity to join this programme over the next 12 months. 

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About David Lloyd Leisure Group
David Lloyd Leisure is Europe’s largest health and fitness group (by revenue according to Deloitte’s health & fitness market report 2019). It operates 125 clubs - 99 clubs in the UK and a further 23 clubs across mainland Europe, comprising its three brands David Lloyd Clubs, Harbour Clubs (of which there are three in London) and Meridian Spa and Fitness in Germany.  

For the last four years, David Lloyd Leisure has been voted into the Top 25 of The Sunday Times’ Best Big Companies to Work For.  

It has over 700,000 members and employs nearly 10,000 people. This includes an expert health and fitness team of over 2000 while it contracts the services of more than 680 tennis professionals. David Lloyd Clubs’ racquets facilities are unparalleled with over 1080 tennis courts as well as over 400 badminton and squash courts. 

Additional facilities include health and beauty spas, Clubrooms with free Wi-Fi and business lounges, kids club facilities, crèches, and specialist sports shops.  www.davidlloyd.co.uk 

About Remit Training 
Remit Training is a national training provider with an Ofsted Grade 2 overall and recognition for Outstanding  leadership and management that operates in England, Scotland and Wales, delivering more than 6,000 apprenticeships each year. 

Remit specialises in supporting employers with their apprenticeship levy allocation across a range of sectors including, Active Leisure, Business Services, Food Manufacturing, Hospitality, Health and Social Care, IT, marketing and retail, offering apprenticeships and training solutions from entry level to senior management. www.remit.co.uk