Staff sport memberships
About Essex Sport
As a member of staff at the University, you have the option of choosing a Gold, Silver or Bronze Essex Sport membership, offering you access to our state-of-the-art facilities, including the Essex Sport Arena. The new space, with seating for 1,655 spectators, offers international standard sporting facilities, suitable for staging televised sporting events, conferences, exhibitions and other large-scale events.
The Essex Sport Arena offers:
- Eight badminton courts
- Three basketball courts
- Three netball courts
- Four volleyball courts
- Two futsal courts
We also offer a spacious, fully air-conditioned gym with state-of-the-art Technogym equipment, 4 glass-backed squash courts, 250 metres of climbing space, 2 activity studios, and a variety of fitness classes. View our latest fitness class timetable via the Essex Sport App, available to download from the App Store or Google Play.
We have an extensive range of outdoor pitches located within the University of Essex grounds and covering 40 acres. Our outdoor sports area includes an 18-hole disc golf course, all-weather tennis courts and enough space to cater for large sporting events or a casual kickabout with colleagues.
Colchester
Membership options
Gold
Cost
- £291.00 annual one-off fee
- £26.99 per month by direct debit, plus £20 joining fee
What's included?
- Peak access to the gym and sports facilities at the Colchester Campus
- Specialist fitness classes, such as cycle fit and Pilates included at no extra charge
- 10 days advance booking of facilities
- Online booking, allowing you to book facilities, fitness classes and manage your membership wherever you are
Silver
Cost
- £248.00 annual one off fee
- £22.99 per month by direct debit, plus £20 joining fee
What's included?
- Off-peak access to the gym and fitness classes (off-peak times are before 3pm)
- Recreational activities; including basketball, tennis, squash, and badminton. All sessions are subject to a maximum number of participants
- 7 days advance booking of facilities
- Online booking allowing you to book facilities, fitness classes and manage your membership wherever you are
- Peak access to recreational activities listed above
Bronze
Cost
- £151.00 annual one off fee
- £13.99 per month by direct debit
What's included?
- Recreational activities; including basketball, tennis, squash, and badminton. All sessions are subject to a maximum number of participants
- 5 day advance booking of facilities
- Online booking allowing you to book facilities and manage your membership wherever you are
- Anytime access to sports facilities listed above
How to join
Join online
To sign up online you'll need your Essex email address and a PIN. To request a PIN choose "Forgotten your PIN" at the start of the registration process.
You will be asked to confirm that you’ve read the terms and conditions (.pdf) and the health commitment statement (.pdf).
Instalments
You can pay for your membership by monthly direct debit. This is available to all staff, including those who are not on the University payroll. You can set up your direct debit membership online.
Join at the Sports Centre
You can also sign up at our Sports Centre. Just pop into reception and a member of our team will be happy to answer any questions you may have and process your payment then and there. We will be operating as a cashless facility when we re-open; only card payments will be accepted on site.
Cancelling your membership
We require at least one calendar months’ notice in writing in order to cancel a Direct Debit membership i.e. if you would like to cancel for the following month, your cancellation request must be received no later than the 1st of the current month. We kindly ask that you state your reason for cancelling, as we value feedback in order to improve our services. Cancellation requests should be sent to scadmin@essex.ac.uk
For information on cancelling annual memberships, please refer to our terms and conditions (.pdf)
How to book
- Book via the Essex Sport app, available on the App Store and Google Play.
- Book and pay online with your email and pin number *
- By telephone on 01206 873250 using your debit or credit card
More information
For more information on the memberships and fitness classes we offer, please email or call us on 01206 873250.
Fitness classes
Whatever type of fitness experience you’re looking for, with over 300 classes each month, you’re sure to find it in our timetable. Whether you’re looking for a high-intensity workout like Cyclefit, Dance fitness and Insanity®, a conditioning session like Core and Stability, Metafit or Studio Pump, or our holistic classes like Pilates or Yoga, at Essex Sport our fitness instructors offer members an unrivalled range of expertly devised classes which utilise our fully air-conditioned, spacious and versatile fitness studios.
Virtual fitness classes
We also offer virtual classes for some of our yoga, cycling and conditioning sessions. This increasingly popular ‘Fitness on Demand’ approach gives you the flexibility to workout outside of normal class hours. An instructor will always be on hand to get the class started and answer any questions you may have.
Southend
Essex Sport memberships do not cover Southend at this time.
Loughton
University of Essex staff at the East 15 Acting School can take advantage of an exclusive discounted membership at Epping Forest's New City Fitness Wellness Centre, with no joining fee, no contract and no direct debit payments, just a £15.00 a month pay as you go membership.
Join now for £15.00 and don't pay again until January 2024.
How to Join:
- Head to New City Fitness in Epping Forest and present your staff ID card when purchasing to activate the discount.
- Pay £15.00 for the month.
- You will be issued with a membership card.
- Enjoy the unlimited access to the gym.
The New City Fitness Gym is located next to the East 15 Acting School
Memberships can be topped up one month at a time or payments for multiple months can be paid in one go (at £15.00 a month).
The membership includes access to the New City Fitness Gym in Hackney.
This discount is exclusive for East 15 Acting School Students and Staff.
