Keeping your leisure and sport business legal

Leisure and sport businesses are subject to legislation relating, for example, to health and safety (including special rules for certain ‘adventure’ activities), firearms licensing, consumer rights, trading standards, event and music licensing, data protection and child protection.

Professional legal advice should always be taken before making business decisions.

Health and safety

Leisure and sport businesses are legally required to protect the health and safety of their employees and anyone else that may be affected by their business activities, such as customers, contractors and members of the public.

Particular duties include the following:

• Carrying out a health and safety risk assessment of all business activities at all locations where they are carried out, including, for example, tracks and trails used for cycling, running or quad biking.
• Providing employees with adequate health and safety training.

See also: Health and safety guidelines for rural businesses

• Ensuring that all equipment used in connection with the business is suitable for its intended use, regularly inspected and properly maintained.
• Ensuring that all participants in potentially dangerous sporting activities use suitable protective clothing and equipment (such as lifejackets when participating in a watersports activity or hearing protection during a clay pigeon shoot).