Pocket Rocket Group

08/09/2026

Exciting news from Leisure United 👀

🚧 Something exciting is taking shape in Calverley…

Very soon, Woodhall Hub will officially open its doors - creating a fantastic new destination for grassroots football, sport and community activity.

The new hub will feature:

⚽ Three full-size 3G pitches
🌱 A natural grass pitch
☕ Community café
🛝 Play areas
🤝 Flexible meeting and community spaces
🚶 Improved walking routes

More than simply a place to play, Woodhall Hub has been designed as a space where local clubs, families and the wider community can come together.

We’re incredibly proud to be operating the new facility and are looking forward to welcoming everyone through the doors very soon.

A huge thank you to Leeds City Council, the Football Foundation, National Football Trust and all the partners who have helped bring Woodhall Hub to life.

📍 Calverley, Leeds
📅 Opening Soon

08/09/2026

Clear communication isn’t about making something sound more impressive.

It’s about making it easier to understand and easier to act upon.

Clear communication across sales and marketing looks like:

🚀 A focused brief to keep everyone working towards the same goal.

🚀 Clear advertising to explain the offer and its value.

🚀 Simple website copy to help customers find what they need.

🚀 Consistent sales materials that help teams tell the same story.

🚀 Clear proposals to make the solution and next steps obvious.

International Literacy Day reminds us that communication matters - because confused people rarely buy.

Here are just a few examples of projects we’ve worked on with clients to create clear, consistent communication for both internal and external audiences.

01/09/2026

TUESDAY TREND: The rise of “regularmaxxing”

The theme from Cheers captured it perfectly: a place “where everybody knows your name.”

Decades later, that idea is becoming increasingly relevant to brands and in particular, to health and fitness operators.

Gen Z and younger millennials are increasingly choosing familiar places where people know their names, preferences and routines over exclusive venues and one-off experiences.

In marketing terms, this trend has a name - it’s called “regularmaxxing.”

For gyms, leisure centres and community hubs, loyalty isn’t built through points alone. It grows when:

👋 Reception teams greet members by name
🏋️ Instructors notice when someone returns
☕ The café becomes part of the weekly routine
🤝 Classes create friendships and belonging
💬 People feel recognised, supported and included

The latest equipment or an exciting launch might attract someone through the door, but it’s the consistent, personal experience that turns them into a regular.

The opportunity for operators is clear: create places people don’t simply visit, but genuinely feel part of.

Because retention isn’t only about programming, pricing or rewards.

It’s about creating somewhere “where everybody knows your name.”

Hands up who’s old enough to remember this classic sitcom?

20/08/2026

📻 Radio or podcast - which gets your vote?

An incredible 93% of UK adults consume some form of audio every week. Among 15–34-year-olds, streamed music and podcasts now account for more than half of their listening time.

Radio brings immediacy, shared moments and local connection, while podcasts offer choice, depth and the convenience of listening on demand.

Are you loyal to live radio, completely converted to podcasts, or do you see the benefit in both? 🎙️

Don’t forget Pocket Rocket Group has it’s own podcast series; Being Human. Tune in to listen on Spotify or head over to YouTube for the full visual experience 🚀👀

Here’s a preview of our recent conversation with Craig Cocking, Managing Director of Life Fitness and Hammer Strength UK - sharing valuable insights, inspiration and lessons for the next generation of leaders.

18/08/2026

✨The Conversation Gap✨

Why Soft Skills matter more than ever in the Leisure sector!

Young people are growing up with fewer opportunities to practise face-to-face communication - and employers are noticing.

CIPD research found that 64% of UK employers believe young people often lack important social skills at work. In the US, although 96% of employers regard communication as highly important, only 54% rate recent graduates as highly proficient.

But this is not a “kids these days” problem.

It is an experience and training gap.

A member’s experience is shaped not only by the facilities, equipment or timetable, but by how the team makes them feel:

- Were they greeted warmly?
- Did somebody remember their name?
- Were they asked about their progress?
- Did they feel noticed and included?

People might join because of the location, price or facilities, but human connection creates belonging and belonging gives them a reason to return.

🚀 If you’re an operator, that makes conversation part of your retention strategy.

The good news is that soft skills can be trained. Starting natural conversations, asking better questions, listening properly and recognising social cues are practical, learnable skills - not personality traits people either possess or lack.

Sometimes (perhaps controversially) the most effective retention tool is not another piece of equipment or a new app.

It is a team member who remembers someone’s name, asks the right question and genuinely listens to the answer.

If your team is technically brilliant but conversationally rusty, Pocket Rocket Academy can help.

Get in touch with our brilliant Director of Training and Education, Dave Swis 🚀😍

📸 Photo credit: Leisure United



Sources: CIPD; The Open University; National Association of Colleges and Employers; US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

11/08/2026

For National Son and Daughter Day, we thought it only right and proper to share a few recent photos from a Leisure United photoshoot - featuring Pocket Rocket’s very own youth stars, Jesse and Aaron! ✨🚀

We’ve loved getting the boys involved in our work this summer and giving them a glimpse behind the scenes. Hopefully, inspiring them to pursue a career in sport, whatever that might look like! ⚽️💙

10/08/2026

We’re still in awe after visiting the incredible new Pilates Barn in Selby! 🤩

Steve and the team have done an absolutely brilliant job of creating such a beautiful, welcoming space dedicated to movement and wellbeing.

A fantastic addition to the local community - congratulations, guys! 🫶🏻🚀

05/08/2026

Congratulations to everyone at Leisure United on the official opening of the incredible Wealden Community Sports Hub! 🎉⚽💙

A fantastic new facility that will bring people together through sport, health and community for years to come. From football, padel and tennis to family spaces, accessible facilities and a welcoming community café, Wealden is a brilliant example of what’s possible when organisations come together with a shared vision.

We’re incredibly proud to have supported the Leisure United team on this journey.

Here’s to the next chapter and the thousands of lives this hub will positively impact. 🚀👏