Holme Pierrepont Country Park, home of the National Water Sports Centre, has been named as one of the first Elite Training Centres (ETC) by UK Sport, the organisation responsible for the strategic investment of Government and National Lottery funding into Olympic and Paralympic sport and major events.
To earn this status, Holme Pierrepont Country Park has demonstrated that it is providing elite facilities and equipment, staff, and overall organisational culture – with a clear commitment to continuous improvement.
As one of eight initial locations to be granted ETC status, Holme Pierrepont Country Park has been assessed against an excellence framework that is built around eight guiding principles:
- Sustainability and Equality, Diversity & 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 Holme Pierrepont Country Park, home of the National Water 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
• Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre
• Loughborough University
• Manchester City Council
• Milton Keynes National Badminton Centre
• Sheffield City Council
• University of Bath
Holme Pierrepont Country Park, home of the National Water Sports Centre is operated by the More Leisure Community Trust in partnership with Serco Leisure and on behalf of Nottinghamshire County Council.
Photo: Steve Nelson, Kevin Burton Head of National Centres (Sport England), James Ewart, Steve Welsh, Strategic Lead, Place Development (Sport England)