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Leisure trust's double health and safety accolade - yet again!

Sandwell Leisure Trust (SLT) has once more been awarded the highest possible accolade in the internationally-renowned Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) 2025 Health and Safety Awards.

By contributor Greg Rees
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The Black Country-based charity - which runs and manages eight leisure facilities for Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council - has landed the coveted Order of Distinction (for 19 consecutive annual Gold Awards) and continues to be the only Leisure Trust nationwide to ever achieve this distinction.

Gold Awards are awarded for superior health and safety performance and excellence among companies that primarily offer services direct to guests and visitors – and this latest and 19th continuous accolade is for the period of January 01, 2024, to December 31, 2024.

SLT Head of Operations Mark Wildman (left) and SLT Facilities Manager Graham Berry, carrying out maintenance checks poolside at Tipton Leisure Centre
SLT Head of Operations Mark Wildman (left) and SLT Facilities Manager Graham Berry, carrying out maintenance checks poolside at Tipton Leisure Centre. Photo: SLT

Paul Piddock, Vice Chair of The SLT Board, says: “The RoSPA Award is the most highly-respected health and safety accolade globally, so we’re delighted to have received their recognition once more of our ongoing commitment to maintaining the optimum levels of safety management in the facilities we operate on behalf of Sandwell Council.

SLT Head of Operations Mark Wildman (right) and SLT Facilities Manager Graham Berry, carrying out maintenance checks in the plant room at Tipton Leisure Centre
SLT Head of Operations Mark Wildman (right) and SLT Facilities Manager Graham Berry, carrying out maintenance checks in the plant room at Tipton Leisure Centre. Photo: SLT

“The success of achieving the Gold Award yet again is testament to the continuing dedication of all our staff, the Trust’s Health & Safety Sub Committee, along with our partner Right Directions - a leading independent third-party assessment body, which conducted a very thorough external review and renewal of our application.”

Jimmy Pimblett, Operations Manager at Right Directions, adds: “We’re incredibly proud to have supported SLT on its health and safety journey over the past year, culminating in their 19th consecutive RoSPA Gold Award - it’s an outstanding achievement. We look forward to continuing our strong partnership, helping to drive continuous improvement and ensure safe, healthy environments for all those working in and using their facilities.” 

The RoSPA Awards not only focus on commitment to accident and ill-health prevention, but occupational health and safety management systems, including practices like leadership and workforce involvement. It received some 2,000 entries from 50 organisations around the world this year, impacting over seven millions employees, and is also the longest-running industry awards scheme in the UK - recognising the best of the best and organisations that have gone the extra mile, raising the bar for the delivery of safety in the workplace.