search
date/time
Lancashire Times
A Voice of the Free Press
frontpagebusinessartscarslifestylefamilytravelsportsscitechnaturefictionCartoons
11:23 AM 11th September 2020
business

CommunityHire acquires Key Assets of £13M facilities hire firm SLS

 
A Bolton firm specialising in hiring out under-used school facilities has sold key assets from administration.


CommunityHire is a local letting solution for premises suitable for sport, health, lifestyle and social use, allowing grassroots sports and community groups to make use of first class facilities at an affordable price.

In 2019, SLS (School Letting Solutions) reported a turnover of £13M, employed over 900 members of staff and held contracts with over 300 schools throughout the UK to open access for community use and generate additional income from their facilities.

Following the administration of SLS and acquisition by CommunityHire, it will operate a high value franchise model, using local owner operators throughout the UK to manage and build relationships with local facilities and community groups. CommunityHire is committed to supporting the local economy through its flexible and low cost approach with local high schools, community halls and any under utilised facility.

Through the management of letting facilities and venues, CommunityHire allows local community groups to easily access suitable, secure and managed local venues. Football teams, yoga classes, choir groups and childrens parties will be provided with local site-based staff to keep administration of the venues to a minimum.

CommunityHire provides a first class customer service to facility owners ensuring that they do not have to manage their own facilities out of hours. A designated local operator will manage all bookings through its online portal with marketing and promotional strategies to maximise lettings. CommunityHire’s local franchisees oversee the full management of the facilities with a hands on approach to each letting.

Sean Mallon Managing Director says "The acquisition of SLS is an exciting opportunity for CommunityHire, it will provide us with further resources to support our growth plans and further affirms CommunityHire’s position as a market leader in local facility lettings. CommunityHire works to provide a localised, highly focused service level based on true relationships, but with the corporate structure needed to ensure continuity and consistency of service.

"Community is at the heart of what CommunityHire is about, we want to bring people together post Covid-19 and re-ignite the community spirit and know that acquiring SLS’s legacy and assets will allow us to do this. Local facilities ran by local people”.