Run by award-winning operator Everyone Active in partnership with North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC), colleagues at the facility are ecstatic with this result.

Everyone Active’s contract manager, Duncan Gibb, said: “We are delighted with the outcome of the Quest assessment and believe it is nothing more than the centre and its team deserve.

“Quest is to the leisure sector what Ofsted is to the education sector – it holds huge importance. Quest is very customer focused and as such, quality facilities alone will not result in a ‘outstanding’ banding being secured.

“This is only achieved through a strong team of colleagues delivering consistently high standards of customer service to the local community they serve.”

The ‘outstanding’ banding score is the highest level of attainment given by Quest, and is only currently held by six centres in the UK. Quest is a continuous improvement tool for leisure facilities and sports development teams, and is managed by Right Directions on behalf of Sport England.

It was established more than 20 years ago to measure how well a facility is operating and how effective organisations are across a range of topics, so in offering a state-of-the-art 110-station gym, three group fitness studios, two swimming pools, a Clip ’n’ Climb wall, an eight-court sports hall, three squash courts, a sauna, steam room and spa pool and café, Quest’s conclusion puts the centre in the top 1% of facilities registered to the scheme.

The evaluation included a number of compulsory modules on day one, such as tackling inequalities and environmental management, as well as a variety of topics to help the facility progress in specific areas of its business of day two. The centre also went through a mystery visit to receive their overall analysis.

This renowned award has evolved over the years to keep pace with the ever-changing sport and leisure industry, and is still the sector’s best-known improvement programme, with its rigorous assessments challenging even the top leisure centres in the UK.

Councillor Michael Wyatt, Portfolio Holder for Communities and Climate Change at NWLDC, said: “We are incredibly proud of Whitwick and Coalville Leisure Centre and the outstanding rating it has achieved through the Quest assessment.

“This recognition reflects the hard work and dedication of the Everyone Active team and the strength of our partnership in delivering high-quality leisure services for our residents.

“The centre continues to thrive, promoting health, wellbeing and community engagement in North West Leicestershire.”

Quest’s managing director, Caroline Constantine, said: “Whitwick and Coalville Leisure Centre’s achievement in securing an ‘outstanding’ rating reflects their dedication to providing high-quality facilities and exceptional customer experiences. The Quest process highlights the value these centres bring to their communities, recognising the hard work of their teams and setting a national benchmark for service and performance. It’s a well-deserved acknowledgement of their ongoing commitment to excellence.”

This is a popular venue for people of all ages and interests, and the Stephensen Way site deserves a particular mention after scoring highly in many areas with the formal assessment and mystery visit elements.