Oswestry Leisure Centre achieves Quest ‘Excellent’ rating for the first time

Oswestry Leisure Centre has achieved a Quest ‘Excellent’ rating for the first time, marking a major milestone for the centre and recognising outstanding performance across customer experience, operational standards, inclusion and continuous improvement.

Shropshire Community Leisure Trust (SCLT) in partnership with Serco Leisure manages Oswestry Leisure Centre and five other facilities on behalf of Shropshire Council.

Quest is the UK leisure industry’s leading quality benchmarking scheme, developed by Sport England. The scheme assesses facilities against nationally recognised standards covering leadership, safety, customer service, inclusion and community impact. Achieving an Excellent rating places Oswestry Leisure Centre among the highest-performing leisure facilities in the country.

The assessment, carried out in February 2026, praised the centre’s welcoming environment, high standards of cleanliness, and strong operational discipline, particularly within pool supervision and safety. Inspectors highlighted the professionalism and visibility of staff, alongside robust risk management processes and a clear commitment to maintaining safe, well-managed facilities.

The report also recognised the centre’s growing impact on community wellbeing, citing inclusive health and activity programmes, personalised support through initiatives such as Healthy Life and GoodBoost, and strong progression into long-term physical activity. These programmes were noted for aligning with local health priorities and delivering meaningful social value outcomes.

Leadership and workforce development were identified as key strengths, with assessors commending structured training pathways, apprenticeships, leadership development programmes and high levels of staff engagement. The centre’s focus on continuous improvement, supported by regular performance reviews, feedback mechanisms and mystery visits, was reflected in improved participation, membership growth and customer satisfaction.

Environmental management also contributed to the Excellent outcome. Inspectors highlighted real-time energy monitoring, preventative maintenance programmes and ISO-aligned environmental procedures, supporting measurable improvements in efficiency and sustainability.

Rhys Collins, Partnership Manager for Shropshire Community Leisure Trust, which operates the centre in partnership with Serco Leisure, said:

“Achieving a Quest Excellent rating for the first time is a huge achievement for our team and a reflection of the pride they take in providing a safe, welcoming and inclusive space for the local

community. We’re incredibly proud of what’s been achieved and committed to building on this success.”

“Our other centres in Shropshire are all currently rated Quest - Very Good, with their assessments due to take place later in the year. But for now, the Oswestry team has set a very high benchmark, which can only spur on our colleagues at Shrewsbury Sports Village, the Quarry, Market Drayton Swimming & Fitness Centre, Whitchurch Swimming & Fitness Centre and SpArC Bishops Castle.”

Sarah Marston, portfolio holder for communities and environment said:

“This is great news for Oswestry Leisure Centre and its team, and I send my congratulations to all involved.”