A North Staffordshire-based entrepreneur hopes a £1 million investment into two padel courts in Stoke-on-Trent will help to turn the area into a hub for the sport.
Ace Padel plans to open its first centre in Cobridge in December, boasting three double courts and one single.
A £500,000 investment is being made into creating the facility at the old Magnet showroom at the junction of Elder Road and Waterloo Road, where a new roof is currently being installed.
Padel is a fast-growing racket sport with over 30 million players globally.
Entrepreneur Jamie Reynolds, who grew up in the city and is currently based in Endon, founded the company last year and plans to open 30 courts by 2027.
Another padel facility with three double courts is due to open at The Hardman Football Centre in Milton, Stoke-on-Trent, by February next year. Others are planned for Warrington, Birmingham, Merseyside and High Wycombe and there are ambitions for others in Staffordshire as well.
Jamie told Daily Focus: “Part of our ethos is to help the communities where we are situated, to make padel accessible and affordable for those who live nearby.
“Padel is the fastest growing sport in the world and is in the early stages of maturity in the UK. It is easy to pick up as a racquet sport compared to tennis and brings the whole community together.
“The fitness benefits speak volumes but we also hope our centres will create friendships and become somewhere where people can work and have a cup of coffee.”
Jamie, who has a degree in business management from University of Staffordshire, has over 23 years’ experience in the facilities management and recruitment industries and describes himself as a ‘council estate boy done good.’
After dropping out of college he started on the Youth Training Scheme at GSH and left 17 years later as the CEO.
Today, he leads a multi-million-pound turnover business, mentors others and is an ambassador and fundraiser for suicide bereavement support service Suicide&Co.
He added: “We have got a good, experienced team of professionals within Ace Padel and our plans have turned into something quite significant very quickly.
“My nephew Lewis Woolley, a co-founder, is very passionate about the sport, is the founder of one of the businesses I acquired 18 months ago and used to play padel for Great Britain. We have brought that passion and market knowledge together.
“We will offer whole generational support with the hope of youngsters getting involved and seeing it as a sport they can build a career in, much like what has happened in darts.”
Up to 10 jobs will be created at the Cobridge centre, with a handful of others expected in Milton.
Anyone interested in applying for a job should email james@acepadel.uk
