Ask the Expert: Wave Leisure

Here, CEO of Wave Leisure, Duncan Kerr provides you with the answers you need… 

Your mission for a healthier community is a key objective of Wave. What are your areas to focus on in 2017?

“Delivering to our Community” is one of core business objectives. The challenge is how we ensure this contributes to our “Business Sustainability” objective. Supporting Community initiatives and reaching out to support those in greatest need requires significant partnership working and through 2017 we will continue to bring new partners to projects and continue be creative and re-imagine our role in the community.

Building on our successes, including our Quest Award for Peacehaven Leisure Centre as the “Best Facility Managed” in the UK, through 2017 we will continue to ensure our facilities are attractive and fit for purpose for Customers and provide a quality service to ensure customers have a positive and fulfilling experience when visiting our Centres.

We will also continue the pursuit of ensuring that Wave is recognised for the role we can play as part of the Primary Healthcare Pathway. Supporting GPs with time and patient management whilst ensuring those in need gain access to support and facilities to lead healthier lifestyles.

How will you make keeping healthy affordable should interest rates start to rise?

What we have attempted to do of the last 12 months is to make leading active lifestyles more accessible and protect our price point by not increasing membership prices for our customers. Whilst this approach is clearly in line with our business objectives, it has meant that we have had to make some difficult decisions in order to future proof our organisation against a number of eventualities, including Brexit.

Moving forward, we will continue to invest in staff to ensure excellent customer care and we will be refurbishing a number of key facilities as part of our reinvestment programme aligned to our Social Enterprise Values.