Westminster named Education Facility of the Year at National Fitness Awards

Over 100 education facilities entered a nomination for the 2024 Awards and six were shortlisted. To decide a winner, a panel of judges visited each site to look at the institution’s range of facilities, how they engage with students, colleagues and the wider community, and how they are successfully spreading the word about health and fitness to the younger generation. They also looked for evidence of the facility’s equipment and classes, how they support any sports clubs or elite athletes who train with them and how the facility enhances the experience of those living and working on the campus. Finally, they investigated into retention, marketing campaigns and customer service, as well as any initiatives they have undertaken to boost business in quieter times such as the summer holidays.

Photo: Westminster team at award ceremony from left to right: Sam Lawrence (Sports and Business Manager), Chris Weeden (Health and Fitness Team Leader), Saqib Rashid (Fitness Instructor), Ben McDonald (Student Union Sports Operations Coordinator) and Tiago Dinis (Fitness Instructor)

The standard of Westminster’s facility, the free membership and access to sports for students and colleagues as well as key sporting successes among students who work for the University played a key role in the win. 

One student, Amore Farrag, is in her third-year on Westminster's Fine Art Mixed Media BA Honours course. As the Captain of the University’s Weightlifting and Powerlifting team and a member of the Elite Athlete Programme, Amore has been working in the University’s gyms for the past two years and trains to prepare for powerlifting competitions. Amore is currently training for the British and University Nationals in 2025, where she is on track to break the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) deadlift record. The team also use The Den for their weightlifting and powerlifting sessions. Since it opened, they have significantly benefited and expanded thanks to the state-of-the-art equipment and ample space for lifters.

Amore said: “The atmosphere there is incredible - I’ve made so many friends and feel much more connected to the community. Training has become even more enjoyable, and Powerlifting now feels just as important as any other university sport. Competing in Powerlifting requires consistent training, and the free gym membership at Harrow has made that incredibly accessible. Being based on campus and not having to worry about extra costs has really helped with my mental and physical health as I have Crohn’s disease, so staying fit and strong is extremely important to me. It also allowed me to focus on preparing for BUCS 2024. Without The Den, I would have struggled to manage training alongside my academic workload.”

This year, the National Fitness Awards are in partnership with Service Sport, the leading gym equipment servicing and repair provider in the UK, and were sponsored by Indigo Fitness, a gym equipment manufacturer based in Nuneaton, England. The awards recognise excellence and achievement in gymnasiums throughout the country and took place on 29 November at The Athena in Leicester. 

Sam Lawrence, Sport and Business Manager at the University of Westminster, said: “With the sport and fitness facilities being free, it really stands us apart from other education facilities. If you haven’t been down to The Den and Sports hall in the Harrow or Regent Street gyms, get on down and check us out!”

Winning this Award highlights the University’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3: Good Health and Wellbeing and 10: Reduced Inequalities. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.

Find out more about the sports facilities at The Den.