Job talks as city leisure provider faces crisis

SHEFFIELD’S BIGGEST leisure and entertainment provider said it has opened redundancy consultation as it struggles under financial pressure and may not be able to reopen some sports facilities when given the go-ahead.

Sheffield City Trust, also known as Sheffield International Venues, looks after 17 facilities across the city, including City Hall, FlyDSA Arena, Ponds Forge and Ice Sheffield.

The non-profit organisation was formed in 1987 for the World Student Games. Leisure providers have still not been given permission from the Government to reopen pools, gyms and other indoor sites and entertainment venues have had to cancel events for the foreseeable future – leaving many, like Sheffield City Trust, struggling.

As a result, SCT said last month it was ‘‘gauging interest’’ in redundancies and has sent a letter to all staff. It has also now said it has “specific issues” with some sporting facilities and therefore may not be able to reopen these when given the go-ahead from government.

Andrew Snelling, chief executive of Sheffield City Trust, said: “Clearly these are very challenging times for all organisations operating in the leisure and entertainment industry as we await government guidance on how and when we can open our venues.

“Sheffield City Trust runs a variety of facilities across sport, leisure and entertainment. It has become apparent that concerts, shows and large attendance events will not be possible in the short and medium term, so this leaves us with decisions to make regarding how we sustain venues such as Sheffield Arena and Sheffield City Hall.”

There are also rumours Sheffield Arena and City Hall were closing permanently, which SCT denied. Sheffield Steelers ice hockey team also confirmed the Arena was not closing permanently.