GLL (Better)- from one pilot site to a national training rollout.
We build scalable training, tools and delivery standards that help large leisure networks deliver consistent, 5-star children’s parties across differing FEC and facility set-ups.
Results
12 training workshops delivered in 2026 (avg. 20-25 attendees) = 250+ staff trained
Delivered across the UK: Newcastle to Cornwall
Consistently receiving 5-star attendee feedback
Partnership renewed for 2027
Origin story: Sobell Leisure Centre was the pilot site, with additional workshops delivered in 2025
The Brief
GLL is one of the UK’s largest charitable social enterprises, operating 270+ leisure and cultural facilities.
The brief was to create a training model that could start in one centre, prove impact quickly, then scale across a large network - helping teams deliver children’s parties with:
Consistent standards (regardless of site or staff member)
High energy, high engagement delivery (not passive supervision)
Practical structure that works in real-world sessions
An experience parents trust and recommend
The Challenge
In large networks, party quality often varies site-to-site.
Even with strong people and good intentions, delivery can become inconsistent due to:
Different staff confidence levels and experience
Varying local habits and “how we do it here” approaches
Limited practical tools that make delivery repeatable
Pressure during peak periods (weekends, holidays, staffing gaps)
The goal was simple: make great parties repeatable at scale.
What We Did
Design
We designed this as a pilot-to-network rollout.
Start with one flagship site to build the model
Create delivery tools that can be used anywhere
Roll out workshops across multiple leisure centres with consistent standards
Sobell Leisure Centre was the pilot site, following it's Spring 2025 refurbishment and repositioning as a bold, multi-activity family destination.
Build
We created practical resources that help teams deliver consistently:
A bespoke version of our Kick-Start and Pro-Parties workshops, tailored to GLL’s party delivery
Activity cards and delivery structures that make sessions easy to run, easy to repear, and easy to coach new staff into
Clear standards for what “great engagement” looks like in a party environment (energy, flow, transitions, group management)
Deliver
We delivered workshops across multiple leisure centres nationwide:
Sobell was the first site
Two further workshops delivered in 2025 (another at Sobell and one in Sutton)
12 workshops delivered in 2026 across the country, from Newcastle to Cornwall
Average 20-25 attendees per session, totalling 250+ staff trained in 2026 alone
Why It Worked
Built for scale: designed as a rollout model from day one, not a one-off workshop
Practical delivery systems: tools and structure that work on busy weekends, not just in theory
Consistent without rigidity: clear standards that still allow local personality and adaptation
Engagement-first: parties feel more energetic, intentional and memorable - driving repeat bookings and word-of-mouth
