A new trust to operate Sheffield’s sports facilities and allow them to compete for new business outside the city has been given the go-ahead.

The Sheffield City Trust (SCT) is to set up a subsidiary trust called 7 Hills Leisure Trust to run its sports facilities and compete on equal terms with other trusts for new business outside Sheffield.

A number of the current facilities operated by Sheffield International Venues on behalf of SCT will be transferred to 7 Hills Leisure Trust including Birley Wood, Beauchief, Tinsley Park golf courses, Concord Sports Centre, Heeley Swimming Pool, Springs Leisure Centre, Stocksbridge Leisure Centre and Graves Tennis and Leisure Centre.

Other facilities including Sheffield City Hall, Motorpoint Arena, Don Valley Stadium, Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, Hillsborough Leisure Centre, iceSheffield, the English Institute of Sport and Westfield will remain with SIV.

Some employees will transfer from SIV to other companies within the SCT group which will now consist of SCT, SIV, 7 Hills Leisure trust, and SIV Enterprises (SEL).

The charitable objectives of the new trust will be the provision of leisure facilities in line with the current impressive management track record, health promotion and education through culture and the arts. The new trust will have a separate independent board of trustees.

SIV chief executive Steve Brailey said: “We are always looking at ways of making the company more efficient in the light of challenging trading and funding conditions.

“The restructuring of the Sheffield City Trust Group means we will be in a better position to expand the Group’s activities outside Sheffield. 

“The restructure will not result in any redundancies or reductions in any employee’s pay or terms and conditions of employment.”

SCT has been working with Sheffield City Council, the GMB and UNISON unions on the restructure and is organising a series of consultation meetings to keep employees informed.

Councillor Helen Mirfin-Boukouris, the Council’s Cabinet member for Business, Jobs and Growth said: “The transfer to the new trust has several benefits, but most importantly, allow them to compete on equal terms with other trusts when bidding for contracts outside the city. 

“This will open up the potential for any additional income earned by the trust to be invested in our local facilities.”

The objective is to have the 7 Hills Leisure Trust in place by the end of this financial year.