Oldham Active provide employee benefits to support staff through cost of living crisis

Oldham Active has bolstered its commitment to its employee benefits and wellbeing package in a bid to support the local community through the cost of living crisis.

Oldham Active (Oldham Community Leisure), the not-for-profit organisation responsible for the management, operation and development of six leisure facilities in Oldham, has introduced a number of new policies and staff benefits designed to foster a culture of inclusivity, professional development and genuine care.

Louise Walton, Head of HR at Oldham Active, said: “Oldham Active is a large organisation in the area, employing over 250 staff.

"We are passionate about offering our community great opportunities for employment and career development.

"We understand, especially now, how people are worried about the cost of living crisis and their own financial stability and that is why we have introduced new policies to reassure, retain and respect our existing staff and to entice future employees.

“Oldham Active offers great career opportunities with free training, as well as the chance of career development within the company.

"We recognise that to be a top employer, not only do we need to deliver on pay rises, but we also have to introduce better staff perks and opportunities for our staff’s own wellbeing.”

Since April 2023, Oldham Active has given all members of its team, who don’t qualify for minimum wage adjustments, a £92p per hour pay rise, equating to around £2,000 per year for a full time member of staff.

It has also extended annual leave to five weeks as standard, rising to six weeks after five years of service.

Louise added: “We need to make coming to work for us a great decision, every day and to appreciate the personal circumstances of our staff.

"Staff can now ‘buy’ more holidays, should they need to, be that for caring responsibilities or simply an extended vacation.

"Even better, the cost implication of this doesn’t come out of one month’s salary, it’s spread out over the entire year.”

Oldham Active has also introduced health benefits, which give staff the opportunity to claim for every day health needs, including eye tests, dentists, physiotherapists, GP appointments and repeat prescriptions, as well as 24-hour access to a counselling service.

Oldham Active staff also receive a dedicated ‘plus one’ free membership to all their leisure centres in the borough, which can be given to anyone; a friend, family member or partner, and they don’t even have to live at the same address as the employee.

Louise added: “Oldham Active is all about wellbeing, so it makes sense that we offer both free health insurance and free memberships, to give our team that peace of mind and stability.

"We always want to put our staff first, and look after the local people who work here.”

Unlike many other leisure operators, Oldham Active offers all its group exercise and fitness instructors a contract of employment.

Louise explained: “Group exercise instructors are valuable members of our team; they are customer facing and are the life and soul of our centres, as we know that customers who take part in group exercise are 20 per cent more likely to be loyal than those who only use the gym.

"By ensuring they all have contracts, rather than being self-employed, they can still claim for paid holiday and are entitled to all the other perks, even if they only work a few hours a week, which all helps with their financial stability.”

Oldham Active is always on the look out for new members of the team.

Louise said: “Don’t worry if you don’t have the right experience, we often provide free training for the right people, including swimming teachers and lifeguards.

"It’s more important that job applicants share Oldham Active’s inclusive and welcoming values, and are enthusiastic and keen to learn.

“We are committed to contributing to Oldham’s economic and social wellbeing and we do this by encouraging our community to be more active, more often.

"Working for us is more than just a job, we offer meaningful job satisfaction and the chance to be part of a team, with excellent benefits.

"We’re currently recruiting for a Leisure Centre Manager, Marketing and Communications Manager, as well as swimming teachers, lifeguards, fitness instructors and duty managers.”

Oldham Active welcomes applications from all and is committed to promoting equality and valuing diversity.

A list of its current vacancies, and where you can apply for jobs, can be found here

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