General Manager's Report - May 2008

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

Staff

Rosie Daisley, the Club's former Service Manager, who had additional responsibility for Bar and Catering management, left the Club in early January 2008. George Bodis, the Club's Bar Steward also left the Club in December 2007. Thus far the Club has not replaced either position, although a potential replacement Service Manager, Stephen Doherty, was actually interviewed but unfortunately declined the Club's offer of employment.

The Executive Committee is currently reviewing the Club's senior staff structure. The Club wishes both Rosie and George the best of luck in their future careers and I, on behalf of the Club, would like to thank them for their considerable hard work and commitment to the Club over the last number of years.

Neil Wenham, the Club's Assistant Groundsperson, will be leaving the Club on Friday 16th May to take up a position with Rookwood Golf Club. I would like to wish Neil good luck in his new position.

Shaun Hodges joined the Club as Catering/Chef Manager in September 2007 on a six month fixed term contract. Shaun's recruitment was in response to the difficulties experienced with the management of the Restaurant Department. The Executive Committee has decided to extend Shaun's fixed term contract for a further five months up until the middle of August 2008. Shaun's future employment status with the Club will be reviewed and determined then.

Jonny Northeast was recruited as a Gym Instructor in September 2007 and provides approximately twenty hours operational cover in the gym. Additionally, Paul Snowsell has been employed as a Gym Instructor from April 2008 and Paul provides six hours operational gym cover. Chris Farley, a member of the Club, also provides cover for gym staff when they are on holiday, sick leave or training. Therefore, the Gym's operational cover has been significantly enhanced.

In addition to the Chair and Executive Committee, I would also would like to congratulate and thank all Club staff, both contracted and non-contracted, for continuing to display professionalism and commitment to the provision of a first class service to our valued members and guests in a particularly demanding internal and external business environment.

The situation regarding Horsham Football Club has created a degree of uncertainty, the problems experienced with the external economy has been well documented and key former Club personnel have not been replaced. The latter has created additional levels of responsibility and increased work load for certain individual members of staff, who have responded extremely well to these challenges.

Membership Subscriptions

On behalf of the Club I feel that it is extremely important to mention that the Executive Committee has decided not to impose an increase to either Membership or Gym subscriptions from 1st July 2008. This is in response to the current problems experienced with the external economy. The Committee considered that in the circumstances the best policy was a 'freeze' on subscription rates. However, the Committee will review this policy later this year.

Membership

Currently, total Club membership stands at 2,618, an approximate 6% decline from this time last year. Of this total membership base there are currently 838 members of the Club Plus Gym.

Club Marketing Initiatives

In response to the slight decline in membership the following marketing initiatives have been instigated in order to attract new members;

  • 'Get Fit for Summer' Gym Campaign - 20,000 colour double sided Gym promotion A5 flyers to be inserted into Horsham Advertiser in mid May, i.e. to be delivered to every household in Horsham. Additionally, x 3 quarter page colour advertisements to appear in West Sussex County Times the week before, the week of and the week after the Horsham Advertiser flyers.
  • 'Swan Walk' Promotion - Club personnel will be promoting the Club in Swan Walk on Saturday 14th June 2008, via attendance at a fixed stand.
  • 'Find a New Member' Scheme - This scheme, where existing members are entered into a cash prize for introducing a new member(s), has been operating for the last two months and expires at the end of May.
  • An additional two advertising banners placed upon the tennis court fencing facing North Heath Lane. The two banners promote the Club's Gym and Function/Party capabilities and service.

Club Restaurant

As previously mentioned, Shaun Hodges was specifically recruited as Catering/Chef Manager in order to generate throughput and additional revenue within the Club's Restaurant Department. A number of improved services have been introduced in an attempt to achieve this, e.g. a brand new Club menu featuring healthy options, Sunday Roasts, Family Disco menus, 'Special Boards', new Pizza range, 'Pint and a Curry' promotion, increased trade via the companies who occupy North Heath Industrial Estate, monthly 'Young at Heart' lunches, fresh fruit availability, desserts etc. The Club is being hired by a corporate client on Monday 12th May for a BBQ, the first of many such corporate BBQ's during the summer. The Club will also be offering BBQ evenings to members and guests throughout the summer, including coinciding with Family Disco Evenings.

Children's Birthday Parties

The Club has experienced a significant upturn in the number of children's birthday parties being held, with parties occurring most weekends.

Activities/Classes

The Pilates classes on Tuesday lunchtimes and Tuesday evenings continue to be popular and well attended, together with the Yoga sessions held on Thursday evenings. The 'Aerobic Body Combo' session on Wednesday evening also proves to be popular. The Saturday morning Pilates session is not as well attended as other sessions, however the Club will continue with this service until further notice. The Club has introduced a new fitness class on a Tuesday morning, 'Legs, Tums and Bums' which is proving popular.

The 'Mother and Toddler' sessions on a Thursday morning still continue to attract a good number of children and parents. The Club's junior and adult tennis coaching sessions also continue to be well attended, particularly the junior coaching. Additionally, football coaching and fun based activity sessions are available to both boys and girls via 'Coerver Coaching', an external organisation who hire the sports hall and playing fields on Friday afternoons and during the school holidays.

The Club's 'Forever Young' Wednesday morning activity based group for 55+ members and guests has increased participation rates during the last year. Regularly twelve to sixteen individuals are in attendance.

Sunday evening adult Bingo sessions have been introduced recently and are proving to be popular with members and guests and well attended. Additionally, an indoor five-a-side football league operates on a Sunday and Tuesday evenings, which again is proving popular and is being well attended.

Club Plus Gymnasium Equipment

The gymnasium's cardio vascular training equipment, i.e. the bikes, rowing machines, treadmills and cross trainers are currently leased from Life Fitness. The existing lease is due to expire at the end of 2008. I will invite tenders from the fitness industry (including Life Fitness) to replace the existing cardio vascular equipment. Therefore, as of January 2009 the Club Plus Gymnasium will be offering brand new, state of the art cardio vascular machinery for members to enjoy.

Corporate Clients

It is a deliberate policy of the Club to target existing or potential new clients to utilise the Club during the day Monday to Friday, i.e. during periods of spare capacity. To date this policy is proving successful with regular utilisation from the local and regional business community. However, this has been identified as a priority area to increase use for the remainder of 2008 and beyond.

Staff Training

Staff training continues to be a policy for myself and the Executive Committee to concentrate upon. Recently, Insight HR Consultants, the Club's commissioned Human Resource specialists, launched a training scheme within Performance Management specifically designed to enable all staff to deliver an effective and efficient service to members and guests.

Additionally, a number of staff have benefited from First Aid training, Personal Licence Holder courses, payroll courses etc.

Club Refurbishment Programme

A number of Club improvements have been implemented since 2007's AGM including the following;

  • The installation of a brand new flat screen TV in the Members Bar.
  • Refurbishment of one of the squash courts (the other court is due for refurbishment soon).
  • External repair and decorations of the Main Pavilion and Gym/Squash blocks.
  • Re-decorations of the internal corridors of the Main Pavilion and Gym/Squash blocks and re-decorations of the male and female changing rooms.
  • Refurbished snooker tables.

The above demonstrates the Club's tangible commitment to invest in improving Club facilities.

2007/08 Social Calendar

The Club is genuinely committed to providing its members and guests a varied and diverse social calendar of events and activities, designed to appeal to as wide a cross section of the membership base as possible.

The 2007/08 social calendar included the following;

  • Sportsman's Dinner - 2007 - Geoff Probyn, former England International Rugby player. 2008 - Duncan McKenzie - former professional footballer who played under Brian Clough.
  • Family Discos.
  • Race Nights.
  • Bingo Nights.
  • Summer Barn Dance.
  • Jazz Night.
  • Monthly Band Nights.
  • Summer BBQs.
  • Big Screen Live sports events.
  • St George's Quiz Night.
  • St Patrick's Night.
  • Comedy Night.

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

Clive Hartley, General Manager, The Holbrook Club - 6th May 2008