Gladstone Sets Cybersecurity Standard for Leisure Sector

When you're responsible for managing multi-site leisure operations, juggling budgets, and ensuring smooth digital transformation, choosing a secure software partner isn’t just smart, it’s critical. At Gladstone, we’re proud to announce that we’ve achieved Cyber Essentials Plus, a milestone that speaks volumes about our commitment to data and cybersecurity and industry compliance.

Why Security Credentials Matter in Leisure Technology:

Cyber Essentials is a UK government-backed scheme that helps organisations guard against the most common cyber threats. It’s a strong start but Cyber Essentials Plus takes things further. While Cyber Essentials is based on a self-assessment, Cyber Essentials Plus requires rigorous testing by independent assessors, who verify that your security controls are not only in place, but working effectively in real-world scenarios.

This is the gold standard for operational cyber assurance and it's rare in the leisure sector.

Gladstone: Going Beyond Basics
Achieving Cyber Essentials Plus isn’t just a checkbox for us. It’s a tangible signal to our customers that we’re serious about safeguarding data whether it’s stored in our cloud environment or accessed through staff devices across your sites.

We’ve already set the bar high by aligning with international best practices like ISO27001:2022 and PCI-DSS 4.0.1. Now with Cyber Essentials Plus under our belt, we’re proving we don’t just talk about security we implement it.

 

Glen Pywell, Cyber Security & Compliance Manager at Gladstone, puts it best:

 

“For me, it's proving we're taking security seriously from the user devices we’re working on to the cloud environment where we host our products. We’ve got controls in place that have been independently validated by an assessor, proving we’re doing as we say. In a time when even big high street names are getting hit, it’s imperative that the leisure industry needs to keep up. This certification shows we're not only protecting our clients but also helping them mitigate risks from supply chain attacks.”

Why This Matters for Leisure Operators

Public sector operators, Leisure Trusts, and Universities are all under growing pressure to demonstrate cyber resilience, not only for internal compliance but to maintain funding and customer trust. In an industry that’s still catching up on digital transformation, choosing a software partner with Cyber Essentials Plus offers peace of mind.

Whether it’s protecting member data, processing payments securely, or reducing the risk of operational downtime, security isn't optional it’s foundational.

Looking Ahead

As we continue to evolve Gladstone Go and our suite of leisure management tools, we remain committed to being your secure partner in digital transformation. Our investment in cybersecurity is part of a bigger promise to lead not just in product innovation and client service, but also in building a trustworthy and resilient future for the UK leisure industry.