Bisham Abbey named as one of eight Elite Training Centres by UK Sport

Bisham Abbey has earned UK Sport accreditation as an Elite Training Centre.

The national sports centre is one of the first in the country to receive Elite Training Centre (ETC) status from UK Sport, the organisation responsible for the strategic investment of Government and National Lottery money into Olympic and Paralympic sport and other major events.

To earn this status, Bisham Abbey has had to meet some key criteria including the provision of elite facilities and equipment as well as cultivating the staff and overall organisational culture, while maintaining a commitment towards continuous improvement.

It is one of eight centres across the UK to be granted ETC status, having been assessed against an excellence framework built around eight guiding principles: Sustainability and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion; Partnerships: Facilities and

equipment; Access; People development; Performance lifestyle; Science and Medicine; Quality.

Steve Nelson, Serco Leisure’s operations director for national sports centres said: “This is incredible news. To be awarded as one of the very first ETCs by UK Sport is a proud moment for myself and the whole team at Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre. We’re delighted that our behind-the-scenes support for elite Olympic and Paralympic sportsmen and women has been recognised with this prestigious accreditation.”

Dr Kate Baker, director of performance at UK Sport, said: “Our ETC hosts provide the essential daily training environments for our Olympic and Paralympic athletes.

“The ETC accreditation framework reflects the excellence of their support and our confidence that they will continue to empower athletes’ sustainable high performance.”

The other seven organisations selected by UK Sport to become ETCs are: Lilleshall National Sports Centre; Holme Pierrepont Country Park, home of the National Water Sports Centre; Loughborough University; Manchester City Council; Milton Keynes National Badminton Centre; Sheffield City Council; University of Bath.

Bisham Abbey is managed by Serco Leisure on behalf of Sport England. For more information visit its website: https://www.bishamabbeynsc.co.uk/