Building a Better Welcome: How Elswick Community Pool & Gym Strengthened Their HR Foundations
Client
Elswick Community Pool & Gym
Skills
Recruit, Develop, Retain.
Elswick Community Pool & Gym participated in Recruit, Retain & Thrive — a free programme of expert‑led workshops delivered by Zenith Training in partnership with the North East Combined Authority’s Economic Inactivity Trailblazer initiative.
The programme was developed in direct response to the recruitment and retention challenges facing businesses across the North East, bringing together HR expertise, AI‑driven tools, and peer learning to help organisations build stronger, more inclusive teams.
The Recruit, Retain & Thrive programme is funded by the North East Combined Authority and is available free of charge to qualifying North East businesses — from SMEs establishing their first HR systems to established organisations modernising their people practices.
The programme consists of four workshops. Phil attended three:
Inclusive Recruitment That Works (3 hours)
Redesigning recruitment to attract diverse talent, including alternative interview formats and access to local talent networks.
Inclusive Onboarding That Sticks (3 hours)
Creating welcoming experiences that boost retention from day one and accelerate new starter productivity.
Fix It Early — Managing Retention (3 hours)
Identifying early warning signs of disengagement, conducting effective check‑ins, and using flexible role design to prevent departures.
The Challenge
When Phil Jameson and his team at Elswick Community Pool & Gym began reviewing their people processes, two areas stood out. Their onboarding process lacked structure and detail, with no clear pathway to ensure new starters felt properly set up for success. While the team were committed to supporting staff, there was no formal strategy in place to manage retention over the longer term.
Phil was clear‑eyed about where they stood. They weren’t starting from scratch, but they knew there was room to improve. He attended the sessions not to be told what was wrong, but to find a framework to build on what was already working and to fill the gaps that good intentions alone couldn’t cover.
“We were unsure if our onboarding process was detailed enough, and we did not have a specific strategy in place for retention.”
What Brought Phil To The Programme
Phil’s motivation for attending was practical. He wanted to develop Elswick’s recruitment process, gather new ideas, and receive honest feedback on their current approach — alongside recognition for what they were already doing well.
The interactive format of the Zenith sessions suited him well: detailed enough to be genuinely useful without being overly theoretical or time‑consuming.
The peer learning element was also a key draw. Having other North East organisations in the room meant the sessions were not just about absorbing information, but about comparing experiences, testing ideas, and learning how others in similar roles had approached the same challenges.
Key Insights & Lightbulb Moments
One of the most valuable takeaways for Phil was the idea of onboarding as a structured journey rather than an ad hoc introduction. For a team without a formal HR function, this reframing showed that effective onboarding doesn’t require significant resource — just clarity and intention.
The sessions also encouraged reflection. When job descriptions were shared during the training, Phil noticed that some organisations were using overly restrictive or off‑putting language that may unintentionally screen out strong candidates. Seeing real examples made the issue tangible in a way that theory alone would not have.
When JDs were shared as examples, some companies used inappropriate language or were too selective — it was good to have other workplaces there so we could learn from each other alongside the course content.”
The Impact: What Changed
Following the programme, Elswick Community Pool & Gym made several meaningful changes to their people practices.
Recruitment
Job descriptions were reviewed and revised to remove unnecessary barriers, reducing the number of ‘essential’ criteria and widening the candidate pool.
Accessibility
New candidate adjustments were introduced. Interview questions are now available in advance on request, and information can be provided on different coloured paper — practical steps that support neurodiverse applicants and signal a genuinely inclusive approach.
Onboarding
A formal onboarding strategy is now in place, based on the pathway ideas introduced during the training. New starters benefit from a clearer, more structured experience from day one.
Retention
More regular check‑in meetings have been introduced, focusing on targets, performance, and how individuals are getting on. The newest team member has already experienced this approach first‑hand.
The Bigger Picture
The changes Phil has implemented reflect the purpose of the Recruit, Retain & Thrive programme: equipping North East employers with practical tools to attract a broader range of candidates, improve onboarding experiences, and retain talent for longer.
For a community facility like Elswick Pool & Gym, where staff are integral to the service provided to local residents, these improvements have impact beyond the organisation itself. Inclusive hiring opens doors to candidates who may previously have been overlooked, stronger onboarding reduces early drop‑off, and regular check‑ins help address issues before they become reasons to leave.
While some changes are still bedding in and have yet to be tested through a full recruitment cycle, the foundations are firmly in place. Elswick now has a more intentional and inclusive approach to attracting, welcoming, and supporting its people.
Would Phil Recommend The Programme?
Yes — informative sessions in enough detail without being too time consuming. We came away with some good action points.”
About The Programme
Recruit, Retain & Thrive is delivered by Zenith Training in partnership with the North East Combined Authority’s Economic Inactivity Trailblazer initiative. Workshops are free of charge to qualifying North East businesses.
To register, visit: Recruit, Retain & Thrive on Eventbrite
