A BURY fitness centre and leisure club is in great shape after winning the Investors in People (IIP) award.

The Stables Fitness and Leisure Club, based at the Bolholt Hotel in Walshaw Road, has expanded in size and staff numbers in the five years since it opened.

Two extensions have added extra training facilities, a health and beauty salon, cafe bar and squash courts.

In line with the expansion of the business, a management team was established which has co-ordinated the club's commitment to the national business development programme.

Its success has also encouraged the hotel itself to aim for Investors in People status in the future.

Assistant manager Jonathan Butterworth said: "Achieving Investors in People recognition has helped us to focus closely on what we are doing, which is vitally important as the business is continuing to grow rapidly.

"Through in-depth business planning, we are able to concentrate on our objectives and have a degree of flexibility so that we can adapt as the business demands."

He went on: "And through our regular staff meetings, we are able to get the big picture.

"We are very much a team-orientated business and this achievement recognises that."