GLL Recognised at National Awards
GLL’s important position as a leading leisure trust employer and as a people-centred business has been highlighted again in three prestigious awards last night (13 November).
The charitable social enterprise which operates leisure and libraries in partnership with 50 local authorities under the ‘Better’ brand - was nominated for awards at the Investors in People Awards (London), CLUK Seriously Social Awards (Manchester) and Contact Centre Network Awards NI (Belfast).
Judges gave GLL a Silver Award in the People and Culture Category at the Contact Centre Network Awards NI.
The Awards recognise engagement with staff and customers, team and service development and setting the standard for others to follow.
Martine Gibson, Better’s Customer Service Centre Manager said:
"Winning Silver in the People and Culture Award is testament to our diverse, innovative, kind and customer-centric team - of whose hard work we are so proud.
"Having external validation of our excellence is so powerful - it helps to attract and retain good people and reinforces the Better brand."
GLL’s People Team were double finalists in the Investors in People Awards.
GLL’s People Director Lorraine Patrinos, said: “To reach the finals of these international awards is a huge validation of GLL's ‘More than a Job’ core value.
“We are a people-centred business. Our people are key to our success and we give back with sector-leading training, development and career opportunities.”
At the CLUK Awards, GLL’s runner-up position in the Employment & Skills Category recognised the staff-owned co-operative’s support for its 11,000 strong workforce – putting people above profit.
A prestigious 'Lifetime Achievement Award' was presented by Olympic Champion and Wellbeing Advocate Sally Gunnell OBE to Mark Sesnan, OBE - who founded GLL in 1993.
Mark, who also founded CLUK's previous brand Sporta, was commended for his service to - and leadership of - the charitable leisure trust sector, helping shift the narrative from deliverers of public leisure to deliverers of social good.
He said: "I am immensely proud of GLL as the leading charitable social enterprise in our sector and in particular of our track record of raising customer service standards and tackling health inequalities across all communities."
"Charitable leisure trusts do all the things that the private sector do - but in addition we add value to everything we touch, reinvesting surpluses locally and creating opportunities.
"It's people that drive our movement forward. They help us create the better way of doing business that's sustainable and strong and can rise above the challenges we all face."