International Women's Day 2024

This International Women's Day coincides with National Careers Week, a week dedicated to increasing awareness and getting young people up to speed with their potential future career pathways. So we've been spotlighting the experiences of some of our women leaders. 

Inclusion plays a huge part in this year's theme for International Women's Day, but also in how we operate. Investing in inclusive workplaces which support women makes all the difference.

It's important to remember that investing in women and inclusion mean different things to every person, so let's keep pushing forward!

Chloe Amis - Contract Manager

What does inclusion mean to you?

Inclusion to me means that everyone should be able to have the same opportunities no matter what.

What is the best career advice you ever received and who gave it to you?

“Take every opportunity given to you, run with it, mould it and make it your own”

What are some of your favourite or most memorable career wins?

Throughout my time in leisure there have been a number of career wins but I think my biggest achievement is my most current which was successfully obtaining the contract manager role.

What do you think are the biggest barriers preventing women from progressing within the leisure industry?

I feel the only barriers in place are the ones we put in place ourselves, if you don’t know how to progress then find out.

What would be your advice to female colleagues in the industry who are looking to progress?

Advice to any female wanting to progress would be to reach out to those that have. These things do not happen overnight, its years of consistency and pushing for the opportunities, don’t wait for them to come to you.

Sophie Pateman - General Manager

What does inclusion mean to you?

Inclusion to me is feeling that I am respected and being heard.

What is the best career advice you ever received and who gave it to you?

The best advice I have had is to enjoy what you do.  It was from a Tutor at college as I was wanting to drop out after year 1, I thought they were going to try and talk me out of it but she said you spend a huge part of your life at work so make sure its doing something that makes you happy and you enjoy or you will live to regret it.  My parents didn’t share the same view and thought I was making a mistake but I listened to that tutor and didn’t look back!

What are some of your favourite or most memorable career wins?

There are so many things I am really proud of its hard to narrow it down, in my previous role with the company I was the Contract Activities Manager for the 4 Horsham sites and as part of that secured a large amount of funding to put on open days, swimming lessons, trampolining lessons and build a purpose built sensory room for disabled children and adults.  This took a lot of blood, sweat and tears but was definitely the single handed most rewarding thing I have done and to see the families using and enjoying them was well worth it. 

I think the other highlight for me was the opening of the new site I am now GM at The Bridge, this opened in 2018.  That opening weekend when I lost count of how many sales tours and families we showed round the centre was one of the busiest and tiring of my career but to see it open and bustling with activity and the hard work of so many staff in the lead up paying off was definitely a high point.  

What do you think are the biggest barriers preventing women from progressing within the leisure industry?

Often a woman leaves their full time employment or takes a less pressured role to focus on raising their family or financially its not worth coming back to work because of the extortionate childcare costs and its then hard to get back into some fields or find a job in the industry that can be flexible round your families needs. 

Then there is the ‘mum guilt’!  For me this has been the single biggest challenge of my career balancing having my young son and also doing a job which doesn’t just switch off, we are on call all the time and at times trying to juggle so many things.  Getting this right and trying not to feel guilty that I am not doing either of those jobs well I find a challenge on a daily basis!  However I am very fortunate that I do a job share, I have flexibility with my hours and a team of great staff that make my job easier so I make it work.  I also want to make sure I show my son that you have to work hard in life and to choose a job in the future that he enjoys so hopefully he grows up with this ethos too.  I also hope by the time he starts his career that we have progressed even further and he sees and recognises the successful women in his life and that we have gone a step further in breaking down the barriers that still exist in part today.

What would be your advice to female colleagues in the industry who are looking to progress?

Work hard and place yourself outside your comfort zone.  It’s a great, diverse and innovative industry to be part of and the career paths are so varied so doing those 2 things will stand you in good stead to be part of it. 

Gemma Hudson - Area Commercial Activities Manager

What does inclusion mean to you?

Inclusion to me means feeling welcome, supported, and empowered to contribute to the environment I’m in without facing biases. Inclusion is creating a culture where diverse perspectives are embraced and where everyone feels safe to express themselves authentically. Ultimately, it's about establishing a place where individuals of all backgrounds feel they belong and can more importantly, thrive.

What is the best career advice you ever received and who gave it to you?

There are 2 things that spring to mind.

When I first started with Places Leisure, 2 people gave me the same advice- to be open minded and explore every opportunity that’s offered to you but just as importantly, volunteer for further leadership opportunities, special projects and to get involved with as many teams/departments within the business as possible.

Secondly, as women, we know we can be prone to moods and sometimes we might be more emotional than men which we see as a negative. An old General Manager from my previous company once advised me to not always feel the need to hide my emotion. When I’m frustrated, down or just having a bad day, if I channel it in the right way then showing vulnerability can build trust with a team whilst allowing personal boundaries to remain.

What are some of your favourite or most memorable career wins?

There are so many, but I’ll mention 2.

Firstly, becoming GM of Places Gym Sheffield. Sam Jones as it was known previously, had been the place I’d gone to teen gym when I was 14/15 years old so to be given the opportunity to lead the team and club forwards was a super proud moment for me. To then take the club live membership to an all time high of over 3000 was a further highlight!

Secondly was getting the role I’m in today. Three of my strongest skills; sales, customer service and leadership all tied in together had always been a long-term goal. I was taking so many steps in the background to advance my knowledge and put myself in the best position possible for whenever an opportunity arose. That, alongside a strong network of colleagues I’d built to support me got me to where I am now.  

What do you think are the biggest barriers preventing women from progressing within the leisure industry?

I think the lack of representation of women in leadership roles within the leisure industry can serve as a barrier. How can we expect to inspire talented women if we have a lack of diverse perspectives and role models?

There are also the natural work-life balance challenges. Balancing work commitments with family responsibilities can be challenging for women in the leisure industry, with the potential of irregular hours, weekend work and seasonal demands.

As a company, I do believe we’ve created pathways for women to succeed, thrive and progress but there is still work to do!

What would be your advice to female colleagues in the industry who are looking to progress?

Advocate for and celebrate yourself! Be proactive in advocating for your career advancement and professional goals. Don't be shy to talk about your aspirations and shout about your achievements.

Promote visibility and recognition by taking credit for your contributions and accomplishments. Within the company, advocate for visibility and recognition of your work by asking your manager to share best practice. 

Invest time in building professional relationships and networks within the wider company and in the industry. Seek out mentors, allies, and peers who can offer guidance, support, and opportunities for growth.

Never stop looking for opportunities to upskill yourself with knowledge and expertise relevant to your role and aspirations. Consider additional training and qualifications to stay competitive in the industry, especially where these opportunities come subsidised from an employer!

Tatiana Hagan - Finance Director

What does inclusion mean to you?

Respect and value the contribution that women bring to all spheres of life. Challenging the outdated gender norms that undermine women’s abilities and achievements.

What is the best career advice you ever received and who gave it to you?

I had the pleasure of working with great people throughout my career, from whom I learnt a great deal and who’s advice I will always remember.

• Always treat people how you would like to be treated.
• Believe in yourself! If you believe in yourself, people will believe in you.
• Never hold yourself back from trying something new. Try, make mistakes, learn from them, and grow.

What are some of your favourite or most memorable career wins?

There were a few milestones achieved in my career, challenges, and awards that I am proud of, but the most important for me is making a meaningful impact whether it through mentoring and leadership or any other work. Knowing that you made a difference can be incredible rewarding.

What do you think are the biggest barriers preventing women from progressing within the leisure industry?

I cannot make any comments specifically to leisure industry, as I am new to Leisure (5 weeks in my role), my background was financial services, retail, and manufacturing.

It does not matter which industry you are in; women face various barriers all the time, which prevent their progression, i.e. work-life balance, equal pay, underrepresentation in leadership position, gender stereotypes, bias etc.

The question is, are you going to let it stand in your way to achieve your goals?

I never let barriers de-rail me from what I was trying to achieve.

What would be your advice to female colleagues in the industry who are looking to progress?

I recently read “The Diary of a CEO” by Steven Bartlett, there are two quotes that spring into mind, which I quite liked

“Stop telling yourself you are not qualified enough or worthy. Growth happens when you start doing things you are not qualified to do.”

“Take nothing personally.”

Believe in yourself, try things you have never tried before, learn from your mistakes, those lessons will make you stronger and do not give up, just keep going, it is not going to be easy, but you will get there.

Sarah Roberts - Head of Fitness

What does inclusion mean to you?

Inclusion is broad, to me isn’t just the physical setting & ability to access facilities or services, it’s about being included, being enabled to access progression, being privy to important things which include or affect you & being part of something – a team, a movement, making a difference.

What is the best career advice you ever received and who gave it to you?

When you feel challenged or out of your depth, always say yes. Even if you feel like you might be in over your head, go for it.

A previous manager gave me this advice, she believed in me & motivated me to apply for a role, which at this time I didn’t think I was quite ready for. I love being challenged & even in the most nerve racking of situations, I have challenged myself & progressed.  I am true believer that as long as your intentions are right, you know your stuff & are passionate – nothing bad will happen.  Take that deep breath & do it!

What are some of your favourite or most memorable career wins?

I have been in the leisure sector for 30 years, 25 of those with DC Leisure/Places Leisure.  I have seen a lot of change during that time & have achieved more than I ever thought I would when initially starting out as a Group Workout, Gym Instructor & Lifeguard. 

My most memorable things still existing today.

Working with & for an outstanding team of innovation, motivated & amazing people.

Making a difference within our company, the sector & the communities we serve. I am proud to tell others that I am Head of Fitness for Places Leisure.

I love working in a role which gives me a voice within the sector, I have presented on many industry event panels such as Elevate, Ukactive, SIBEC, Life Fitness & Leisure Data base conferences. This not only enhances Places Leisure’s brand but ensures that we demonstrate & share best practice as the leading Health & Wellbeing Enabler in our sector

I recently won a Star Award (Nov 2023) in the ‘Leading Change’ category.  This relates to our Big Sister project, something I immensely proud of & great to see this gain Ukactive award recognition too.

What do you think are the biggest barriers preventing women from progressing within the leisure industry?

I don’t feel that there are barriers – just perhaps perceived ones.  Everyone must work hard, enjoy what they do & enjoy the challenge every day.

We are a flexible working company who offers everyone the change to multi skill, diversify & find the role that they love. 

Historically, the leisure sector (as many others) has been male dominated in senior leadership teams, this is shifting & we’re now seeing more women in senior roles – naturally a good thing.  It’s about the right people in the right roles, not about gender.  I see leisure as being a forerunner for this change.

What would be your advice to female colleagues in the industry who are looking to progress?

Push yourself, keep learning, stay open to change & challenge yourself.  No-one will progress your career for you, you need to work hard, say yes (as above) & always be that team player that others can reply upon.