ukactive awards 2026 THE SHORTLIST

The finalists for the 2026 ukactive Awards have been revealed. Organised by industry body ukactive, the awards are now in their eighth year and celebrate the people, organisations and initiatives driving positive change within the fitness and physical activity industry

This year’s ukactive Awards received a record-breaking 190 entries for the 14 awards categories. The number is partly down to the introduction of new categories, which include the inaugural Workplace Culture & Initiative Award. The new award will recognise organisations that have delivered impactful workforce initiatives designed to improve the wellbeing and activity levels of their employees. The judging process for the awards – which are supported by headline sponsor, the Swimming Teachers’ Association (STA) – has been led by independent business intelligence and mystery shopper specialist, Proinsight.

David Stalker, Chair of ukactive, said: “The ukactive Awards is an opportunity to recognise the outstanding people behind the growing success of the UK physical activity sector.

“With a record number of entries this year, the competition is stronger than ever so huge congratulations to all our finalists.”

The winners will be revealed at an awards ceremony on Thursday 8 October at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Birmingham. Tickets for the awards ceremony will go on sale shortly on the ukactive website.

With a record number of entries this year, the competition is stronger than ever, so huge congratulations to all our finalists

THE FULL LIST OF FINALISTS

Private Club/Centre of the Year – Sponsored by Technogym 1Life Management Solutions Limited NRG GYM Manchester Snap Fitness Christchurch Snap Fitness Pontyclun

Independent Club/Centre of the Year Sponsored by Technogym Branston Golf & Country Club CitySport – City St George’s University of London Hilton Glasgow Health & Fitness with Serenity Kallima Health Club & Spa Hilton Syon Park The Health Club at Ribby Hall Village The Thames Club

Regional Public Club/Centre of the Year Sponsored by Technogym

NORTHERN IRELAND & WALES

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council – Crumlin Leisure Centre Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council – The Valley Leisure Centre GLL – Andersonstown Leisure Centre GLL – Olympia Leisure Centre & Spa Legacy Leisure Limited – Barry Leisure Centre Serco Leisure – Bangor Aurora Aquatic & Leisure Complex

SCOTLAND

Inverclyde Leisure – The Waterfront Leisure Complex KA Leisure Moray Leisure Centre Xcite Linlithgow

NORTH OF ENGLAND

Brio Ellesmere Port Durham County Council – Spennymoor Leisure Centre Everybody Health & Leisure – Holmes Chapel Community Centre Everyone Active – English Institute of Sport Sheffield Everyone Active – Eston Leisure Centre Parkwood Leisure – Crosby Leisure Centre

MIDLANDS & EAST ANGLIA

Alive West Norfolk – Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk Everyone Active – Moulton Leisure Centre Everyone Active – Whitwick & Coalville Leisure Centre Halo Leisure – Meon Vale Leisure Centre Serco Leisure – Northfield Leisure Centre Serco Leisure – Warsop Health Hub

LONDON

Everyone Active – Flitwick Leisure Centre Everyone Active – William Penn Leisure Centre GLL – Charlton Lido & Lifestyle Club GLL – Waltham Forest Feel Good Centre High Town Gym & Wellbeing Centre – Active Luton Lampton Leisure – Hanworth Air Park

SOUTH OF ENGLAND

Everyone Active – Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre Freedom Leisure – Bexhill Leisure Centre GLL – Leatherhead Leisure Centre GLL – Rivermead Leisure Centre Parkwood Leisure – Penzance Leisure Centre Plymouth Life Centre – Plymouth Active Leisure

Supplier of the Year EZ Loyalty Keepme Myzone PSLT Pure Energy Music The Fitness Group YMCA Awards YOUR Personal Training

Build, Design or Refurbishment of the Year Alliance Leisure Brio Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council (NBBC) ReCreation Group Snap Fitness Tees Active Xcite Bathgate

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Award Durham County Council Everyone Active – St Albans Parkinson’s Community Programme Halo Leisure Leisure Focus Trust Plymouth Active Leisure Ltd The Fitness Group West Lothian Leisure (Xcite) Y Awards

Healthy Communities Award 1Life Management Solutions Limited BH Live Edinburgh Leisure Everyone Active – Dacorum Community Programme Everyone Active – Water Safety for Everyone Project Freedom Leisure Mid Devon District Council / Active Mid Devon Serco Leisure PSA Wellbeing Initiative

Transformational Innovation Award

Alive West Norfolk – Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk Durham County Council Everyone Active YOU+ Kallima Health Club & Spa Leisure Focus Serco Leisure – Leys Pools & Leisure Centre Serco Leisure – Maidstone Leisure Centre The University of Edinburgh

Marketing Campaign Award Brio Durham County Council Edinburgh Leisure Everyone Active YOU+ GLL Inverclyde Leisure Kore Swim England

Workplace Culture & Initiative Award Alliance Leisure Durham County Council Everybody Health & Leisure Kore Serco Leisure Sodexo Sport and Leisure – City St George’s, University of London

Education Programme of the Year Achieve More Training Fitness Education Online Magna Vitae OriGym PT Academy Swim England The Fitness Group Y Awards

Physical Activity Hero Award

Adam Roberts – Healthy Communities Manager, 1Life Management Solutions Limited Alex Corney – Active Health Coordinator, Plymouth Life Centre Christine Percival – Volunteer Dora Smith – Falls Prevention Instructor, Brio Gillian Lister – Exercise to Music Instructor, The Louisa Centre, Durham County Council Kirsty Jones – Regional Contract Health, Activity and Wellbeing Manager, Everyone Active Matt Clarke – Swim Manager, Everyone Active Paula Watson – Healthy Communities Manager (Gloucester & The Cotswolds), Freedom Leisure Outstanding Individual Leadership Award David Bibby – Managing Director, Everyone Active Deaglan O’Hagan – Head of Leisure Operations, Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council Lindsey Perry – Head of Fitness, The Thames Club Oliver Deen – Operations Director, Jubilee Hall Trust

Outstanding Leadership Team Award Alliance Leisure Development Board Durham County Council’s Wellbeing, Sport & Leisure Management Team GLL National Aquatics Team Move Southwark Leadership Team Sport and Leisure – City St George’s, University of London The Leisure Focus Leadership Team The My Healthy Way Leadership Team (Parkwood Leisure) Y Awards Senior Leadership Team and Y Awards Management Team