Beloved Belper Leisure Centre’s future is secured after Derby accountancy firm helps secure a successful transition

Belper Leisure Centre has replaced its members and Trustees with appointments from Trilogy Active Limited, a not-for-profit charitable organisation based in Northamptonshire, in a transaction assisted by the business recovery and insolvency experts at Derby firm PKF Smith Cooper.

The charity-run Belper Leisure Centre has been an invaluable cornerstone of the local community for nearly 50 years, providing vital leisure and recreational facilities to over 1,500 members, 40 active clubs and several local primary schools.

Like many sports centres across the UK, Belper Leisure Centre’s survival was put at risk as a result of mounting pressures from soaring energy costs, with its annual utility bill rising from £112,000 in 2021/2022 to £480,000 for 2023/2024.

The pivotal deal was led by Derby Insolvency Partner Dean Nelson of PKF Smith Cooper, a prominent accountancy and advisory firm in the Midlands, who has overseen Belper Leisure Centre’s operations throughout the recovery process and also advertised the facility for sale as part of a merger and acquisition process.

As part of the transaction, Amber Valley Borough Council agreed short-term funding of £150,000 to assist Trilogy Active with the ongoing costs. Belper School will also continue to offer support in terms of deferring accrued utility payments.

Trilogy Active is a not-for-profit charitable organisation that operates a number of leisure and well-being facilities in the UK. After carrying out a stringent due diligence process, Trilogy intends to implement its detailed business plan for Belper Leisure Centre, designed to make the venue sustainable and implement energy-saving initiatives to improve current facilities.

Speaking on the successful acquisition, Adrian Evans, Former chair of Belper Leisure Centre, commented: ‘Whilst it has been a difficult period for the Leisure Centre, we are pleased with the outcome and feel confident that the Leisure Centre is in safe hands. PKF Smith Cooper have been a great support throughout this period and we are grateful for their tireless efforts in helping us achieve this outcome.’

Dean Nelson, Derby Insolvency Partner at PKF Smith Cooper, added: ‘We’re delighted to have helped secure the future of the Leisure Centre – Trilogy Active are a credible organisation, and I’ve no doubt that the Leisure Centre will flourish under their ownership and continue to provide vital services for the community, users and clubs that rely on its facilities as well as secure jobs.’

Notes to Editors

An ambitious business and multi-award-winning firm, we are the home of PKF in the Midlands. The region’s leading firm of trusted accountants and business advisors, we operate across key geographies in Derby, Nottingham, Birmingham, and Ashbourne.

Through our membership of PKF International, the large network of legally independent accounting firms and 11th largest network here in the UK, we are at the forefront of compliance regulations and specialise in providing high-quality solutions.

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