The demand for outsourced leisure management services will continue to grow, according to operator Everyone Active, which has reported rising turnover and profit in its latest financial statement.

In a filing to Companies House, Sports and Leisure Management (SLM), the firm behind the Everyone Active brand, said that during the year to 31 March 2017 it started contracts with the London Boroughs of Southwark and Westminster, Middlesbrough Council, Chichester District Council and Westway Trust.

SLM operates more than 150 leisure facilities on the behalf of councils across the country.

Its 31-page report said: “The directors believe that the market for outsourced leisure management services will continue to grow in the foreseeable future, and the group is ideally placed to take advantage of that growth and provide good value high-quality services to an increasing number of local authorities and facilities users.”

The company reported a 30 per cent increase in turnover to £157.5m (US$207.9m, €178.6m) for the period, up from £121.3m (US$160.1m, €137.6m) in 2016.

Its pre-tax profit increased 59 per cent to £10.5m (US$13.9m, €11.9m), up from £6.6m (US$8.7m, €7.5m) the previous year.

Staff costs, which include wages, salaries, pension and social security costs, rose 43 per cent, hitting £98.9m (US$130.5m, €112.2m) during the year, up from £68.9m (US$90.9m, €78.1m) in 2016. The number of employees rose 35 per cent to 6,125 in 2017, from 4,536 in 2016.

The report added that while the group traded well, company directors “are constantly aware of the need to monitor market conditions and competitor initiatives” and that volatility of gas and electricity prices can have an impact on operating costs but have been managed by “purchasing strategies and an emphasis on reducing energy consumption”.