Greenwich Leisure Limited
{{Infobox company
| name = Greenwich Leisure Limited
| logo = Greenwich Leisure Limited logo.svg
| logo_size = 100px
| image = London-Woolwich, Royal Arsenal, Middlegate House 08.jpg
| image_size = 240px
| image_caption =
| type = Industrial and Provident Society
| foundation = 1993
| location = Royal Arsenal
London, {{postcode|SE|18}}
United Kingdom
| key_people = Peter Bundey – CEO, Phil Donnay – Deputy CEO, Mark Sesnan OBE – Founder
| industry = Sport, leisure and culture
| products =
| revenue = £306 million (2022){{Cite web|url=https://www.better.org.uk/who-we-are/our-four-pillars|title = Our Four Pillars | Better}}
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| num_employees = 10,800
| parent =
| subsid =
| homepage = {{URL|https://www.gll.org/}}
| caption =
| footnotes =
}}
Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL), operating under the brand Better, is a British social enterprise organisation which runs sport and leisure facilities,{{Cite web |title=Better leisure centres being bailed out across UK, says GLL chief |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/jan/10/better-leisure-centres-being-bailed-out-across-uk-says-gll-chief |last=Weaver |first=Matthew |date=2021-01-10 |access-date=2024-12-08 |website=The Guardian}} on behalf of local authorities the UK.
It has operated the GLL Sport Foundation since 2007, providing support to young athletes and is one of the largest independent athlete schemes in the UK.{{Cite web |date=2023-04-28 |title=GLL marks a new partnership with Switch The Play Foundation |url=https://switchtheplay.com/news/switch-the-play-and-gll-national-news-release/ |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=switchtheplay.com}}
History
GLL was established to run local services in the London Borough of Greenwich in 1993 as a non profit distributing co-operative.{{Cite web |title=Money is not the only bottom line |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/money-is-not-the-only-bottom-line-gv5jl3sh3sz |last=Gilmore |first=Gráinne |date=2006-01-12 |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=The Times}} In the following years it started to run services for other local authorities. It also manages Crystal Palace National Sports Centre. On 9 January 2012 it was announced that GLL would be managing the Aquatics Centre and the "copper box" Multi-Use Arena of the London 2012 Olympic Games from 2013 for 10 years.
In June 2012 GLL rebranded all their centres under the "Better" brand.{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/news/1097435/|title = Albion London nets GLL rebrand brief|magazine=Campaign|first=Matt|last=Williams|date=6 October 2011}}
In April 2022, GLL became the largest operator of London 2012 legacy venues, when it entered a new partnership with Lee Valley Regional Park Authority. These included London 2012 venues at Lee Valley Velo Park, Lee Valley Hockey & Tennis Centre, and Lee Valley White Water Centre.{{Cite web |title=Leisure centres cut hours because they can’t afford to heat swimming pools |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/leisure-centres-cut-hours-because-they-cant-afford-to-heat-swimming-pools-3xz7xpcsm |last=Byers |first=David |date=2022-11-22 |website=The Times}}{{Cite web |last=SportsPro |date=2022-07-27 |title=London 2012: What has become of the Olympic venues ten years on from the Games? |url=https://www.sportspromedia.com/insights/analysis/london-2012-olympics-venues-today-london-stadium-velodrome-aquatics-centre/ |access-date=2023-11-18 |website=SportsPro |language=en-GB}}
Structure
GLL is a staff-led 'Leisure Trust', social enterprise structured as an Industrial and Provident Society{{Cite web|url=https://www.andrewbibby.com/socialenterprise/greenwich-leisure.html|title=Andrew Bibby|website=www.andrewbibby.com}} for the benefit of the community. The members of the co-operative and therefore owners of the company are the workers of GLL.{{Cite web |title=When workers take control: four case studies |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/when-workers-take-control-four-case-studies-jmq5t53q59f |date=2010-11-18 |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=The Times}}