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Be A Winner in 2014
Stevenage Leisure Limited have won WOW! What a Team for 2 years running - they must be doing something right! The employees at Saxon Pool & Leisure Centre have a strong team spirit and a great sense of fun which their customers find infectious. They shared with us some of the things they are doing to encourage a powerful community bond.
Committed to building a strong team
When recruiting they used to look for people with the relevant qualifications and experience to try and build teams with the right skillset. However, in a bid to reduce the high levels of employee turnover, Stevenage Leisure Limited decided to change their recruitment process. They started looking for people with the right qualities and passion to fit into the team well. For example, as opposed to selecting qualified lifeguards, they now provide apprenticeships and training to those with the right attitude. Subsequently, they have seen a dramatic decrese in their employee turnover.
Keeping their customers and their team members in the loop
After recognising the need to improve communication with their young employees, Saxon Pool & Leisure centre created their own private Facebook page. Knowing that most of their team are already using Facebook, they saw it as the perfect platform to notify the teams of important business updates, shifts that need covering, minutes of team meetings etc. Continuing their fun and lively team spirit onto the page keeps employees engaged and in the loop. The team are also encouraged to share their suggestions, this makes them feel that their opinions are valued and empowers them.
Community spirit
After analysing the local demographic, Stevenage Leisure Limited also teamed up with partners in the local area to provide the community with a large variety of classes including; speech and language therapy, Swim Britain, Diabetes Charities & Cardiac Rehab. They recognise it isn't just about the team at Saxon, it is also about creating a strong community bond to enhance the customer experience.
"Remember! Batman couldn't do it alone. He was partly successful because of Robin, Alfred, Police Commissioner Gordon, Rachel Dawes, but also because he had the support of the good people of Gotham City."
-Saxon Pool & Leisure Centre