GENERAL MANAGER'S REPORT - MAY 2009

This report focuses upon certain staffing and operational issues that have occurred during the past twelve months.

Staff

The Club has recruited two new Service Managers, Clare Glover and Stephen Dedman, in July 2008 and August 2008 respectively. Clare is responsible for the departmental management of the Club Plus Gym and Exercise Classes together with arranging and organising private function enquiries and bookings. Clare also acts as a Duty Manager at the Club. Stephen is responsible for the departmental management of the Bar and Catering and also acts as a Duty Manager at the Club during evenings and weekends. Both are a welcome addition to the Club's senior management structure and have enabled the provision of a diverse programme of sport and social events and activities for our members and guests to be achieved.

In order to significantly raise the profile of the Club within the local and regional community it was decided that the Club provided a dedicated staff resource to achieve this goal. Debbie Phillips has been undertaking a 'Promotions/Marketing Officer' role since September 2008 and a focus of her role has been the establishment of professional contacts and relationships with the local and regional business community. The main aim of this has been to increase the number of Club corporate bookings.

The previous Catering/Chef Manager, Shaun Hodges, who was employed on a fixed term contract basis, left the Club in August 2008. The Club has recruited a number of new receptionists as a result of some departures during the past year, although service levels have been unaffected.

The Club Plus Gym now have four contracted Gym Instructors and also casual staff which ensures that the Gym's operational cover has been significantly enhanced.

In addition to the Chair and Executive Committee, I would also like to thank and congratulate all Club staff, both contracted and non-contracted, for their considerable hard work and commitment during a particularly demanding and challenging period over the past year. Often staff work 'unsocial' hours including Bank Holidays, evenings and weekends and this commitment is both acknowledged and appreciated. The focus and priority for all staff is the provision of an excellent and responsive service for our valued members and guests.

Membership

Currently, total Club membership stands at 2,652 which is an increase of 34 from this time last year. This increase is extremely encouraging, particularly considering the well documented external economic problems experienced over the last year. Of the total membership base there are currently 820 members of the Club Plus Gym.

Club Marketing Initiatives

In response to the problems experienced with the external economy and the requirement to generate additional revenue, the Club has embarked on a number of marketing initiatives in order to attract new members and generally raise the profile and awareness of the Club;

• Radio Mercury promotion where the Club was featured each morning for a whole week in January 2009.
• Three day promotional display in Swan Walk in January 2009 and a scheduled two day display in May 2009.
• Editorial feature of Club Plus Gym in 'The Resident' in February 2009.
• Back page advertisement featuring Easter Fun Day in 'Horsham Advertiser in March 2009.
• Leaflet/flyer drop to Horsham residents promoting Club Plus Gym in February/March 2009.
• Promotions appearing in West Sussex County Times and Holbrook Home Pages.
• Leaflet drops to parents of local primary schools, emergency services, County Court, hospital, post office etc.
• Attendance at 'The Horsham Festival' in July.

Club Plus Gym

The Club has taken delivery of brand new 'Cybex' leased cardio vascular exercise equipment in January 2009, which replaced the previously leased Life Fitness cardio vascular equipment. The Club has provided an additional Cross Trainer in response to demand for this particular piece of exercise equipment. The new equipment has been positively received by existing and new members.

In October 2008 the Club introduced a 'Personal Training' service for members, where members receive a 1-1 session by fully qualified and trained gym instructors. This service has proved very successful and is gaining in popularity, particularly in early 2009, and also is contributing additional Club revenue.

The 'old' leased water 'bottle' has been removed in March 2009 and replaced with a 'new' water fountain, which also removed the requirement for the provision of drinking cones, both of which has realised an expenditure saving to the Club.

Activities/Classes

The Pilates classes on Tuesday lunchtimes and Tuesday evenings continue to be popular and well attended, as well as the Yoga sessions on Thursday evenings and the 'Aerobic Body Combo' class on a Wednesday evening. Due to poor attendance it has been necessary to discontinue the Saturday am Pilates session, although the Club has introduced a new 'Body Conditioning' session on a Thursday evening. The 'Legs, Bums and Tums' session on a Tuesday morning continues to be well attended. In October 2008 the Club introduced a 'Boxercise' class on a Tuesday evening which has proved successful.

The 'Mother and Toddler' sessions continue to be well attended. Both the junior and adult tennis coaching sessions are successful and popular. The 'Coerver Coaching' sessions are also proving popular. The Wednesday morning activity session, 'Forever Young', is also popular regularly attracting between 12 and 16 participants.

Lawn Tennis Association - Affiliation

In February 2009 the Club affiliated to the Lawn Tennis Association. As part of the affiliation the Club will receive Wimbledon Tennis tickets which will be used for a ballot system amongst tennis section members.

The Club's Executive Committee are aware that the tennis courts require refurbishment and a determining factor regarding Lawn Tennis Association affiliation was the accompanying technical survey, which is provided free by virtue of affiliation. This technical survey has now been completed and the Executive Committee is in the process of proceeding with the recommendations.

Club Refurbishment Programme

As the Chair indicates it has not been possible to undertake major capital spend investments due to the uncertainty regarding the long-term future of the Club. However, there have been some improvements implemented since 2008's AGM including;

• Back bar refurbishment incorporating mirrors, new optics, new lighting, new ceiling tiles, re-decorations - I am happy to report that the expenditure for this was provided by the Club's brewery supplier Scottish and Newcastle.
• Male/Female toilets - new tiles, new electrics, new timer taps.
• In addition the Chair has indicated that the Executive Committee is keen to progress the refurbishment of the tennis courts.

2008/09 Social Calendar

The Club continues to provide its members and guests a varied and diverse social calendar of events and activities, which are specifically designed to appeal to a wide a cross section of the membership base as possible.

The 2008/09 social calendar includes the following;

• 2009 Sportsman Dinner - featuring Duncan McKenzie former professional footballer who played under Brian Clough
• Family Discos - featuring a 'Britain's Got Talent' evening
• Race Nights
• Bingo Nights
• 2009 Summer Barn Dance
• Jazz Night
• Monthly Band Nights
• Summer BBQs
• St Patrick's Night
• Comedy Night
• Big Screen Live sports events
• Real Ale Festival
• Easter Fun Day
• May Day Fun Day

It is the intention that this full and varied programme is continued into the future.

Sports Sections/Membership

On behalf of the Executive Committee and Club staff I would like to take this opportunity to thank all sports section representatives, both organisers and participants, for your involvement with your specific section and congratulations to all those sections who achieved sporting success in 2008/09.

Finally, on behalf of the Club I would genuinely like to thank all members and guests for your valued support throughout the past year and trust that this will continue in the future.

Clive Hartley, General Manager
6th May 2009