Surrey Sports Park’s new team training hard for imminent opening
Tuesday 13 April 2010
Surrey Sports Park today edged closer to opening later this month with the appointment of its final full-time crew members. This last round of pre-open employment takes the total team number up to approximately 100 staff at the new University of Surrey owned Sports Park.
The state-of-the-art sports facility has recently seen the introduction of Recreation Assistants and Front of House advisors as the Monday 19 April opening draws nearer. The new team has spent the last few weeks taking part in intense site familiarisation, operations and emergency procedure training, guest care education, and team building exercises. In total crew members will receive over 120 hours of training to ensure Surrey Sports Park is ready to deliver a truly world-class guest experience and quality member’s service upon the site’s opening.
With over 5,000 applications and expressions of interest, and 1,000 interviews for various positions at Surrey Sports Park, the senior leadership team has spent the last few months building a highly professional and qualified team from all areas of sport and leisure across the country. All new employees have made it through fierce competition amongst a vast array of the UK’s top sport and leisure talent to form an elite crew that is now ready to meet the very highest standards and expectations a sports facility of this size, stature and quality demands.
Surrey Sports Park Chief Executive, Jason Harborow, said: “We are getting closer to opening the doors and this is a unique time to build the team and ensure that they have the skills and development to give guests of Surrey Sports Park the ultimate experience. This is a fantastic venue and we have employed the very best crew. We have a number of test events coming up that will test the staff and ensure that when we open on 19 April we are prepared.”
Sarah Thurlow, formerly of Guildford Spectrum, said, “I’ve really enjoyed it so far. Everyone’s really excited to be here and we want to learn as much as possible to ensure we are ready to deliver a quality experience when our guest walkthrough our doors for the first time. The facilities are absolutely amazing and I can’t wait for the opening day!”
Sam Cartwright, formerly of Farnham Sports Centre, said, “It’s great to be working here. I’ve never seen anything as good as this, and I’m proud to be part of the Surrey Sports Park crew. The training we are currently receiving here has really raised the bar compared to where I have worked previously, but we have all met the challenge and all taken our game to the next level.”
Surrey Sports Park will give residents and workers in Guildford the opportunity to experience a world-class sporting environment and a true celebration of sport. With Surrey's only indoor 50m swimming pool, a 700sqm, 120-station health and fitness centre, 12m high climbing centre, sports arenas, squash courts, floodlit tennis courts, floodlit artificial and grass pitches, and over 100 classes and courses each week in dance, exercise and sport., both adult and junior, there really is something for everyone.
Courses start on Monday 26 April and bookings are available now. Classes, courts and arenas are now open for booking. More information including dates, times and prices can be found at www.surreysportspark.co.uk where programmes can also be downloaded – to book please call 01483 689111.
The Surrey Sports Park has already been registered as a suitable training venue for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012 but as well as catering for elite athletes it will also provide the best and most up to date sport and facilities for anyone interested in sport and fitness everyone.
Media Enquiries
Peter La, Press Office at the University of Surrey, Tel: +44 (0)1483 689191, or Email mediarelations@surrey.ac.uk
