Andy Rushton
Founder & Principal Consultant

Andy Rushton

Elevating Operations Across Leisure — Slopes, Stadiums, Ice & Hospitality

Expert consultancy in centre management, staff development and operational efficiency.

Leisure industry specialist with over 35 years of hands-on operational experience spanning snowsports, stadium management, ice rinks and hospitality operations — including conference and banqueting for up to 400 covers. Based in Moray, Scotland — bringing a proven track record in leisure asset management and multi-site operational strategy to operators across the Highlands, Islands and beyond.

35+Years Experience
130%Revenue Growth
36%EBITDA Rate Achieved
6Sites Coordinated
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Meet Andy Rushton

A Personal Introduction

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· 1 Minute · Andy Rushton · Cairn Leisure Consulting ·

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What I Do

Core Services

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Hands-On Operational Reviews
Deep-dive audits of daily operations. Identifying bottlenecks, streamlining workflows, and getting facilities running at peak efficiency.
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Profitability & Turnarounds
Strategies built on proven success. Actionable roadmaps that revitalise sales, control costs, and turn around struggling leisure sites.
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Risk Assessment & Compliance
Ironclad safety frameworks. Comprehensive, UK-wide compliance management for indoor and outdoor activities, keeping operations safe, legal and stress-free.
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Business Tech & Automation
Smarter systems, less admin. Hands-on design and build of invoicing, ticketing, online booking forms, diary/POS systems and financial reporting dashboards.
See the full breakdown of all service areas ↓
The Cairn Philosophy

Sustainable Leisure Operations — Simple, Clear, Effective

"High-quality leisure operations shouldn't require high-stress management. I specialise in stripping away the operational layers that frustrate your customers and burn out your staff — replacing them with lean systems and clear, simple procedures that protect your margins and free your team to do what they do best."

Just as a cairn marks the right path through difficult terrain, Cairn Leisure Consulting guides leisure operators through the complexity of modern facility management. Whether you're streamlining booking systems, reducing front-of-house bottlenecks, or building a multi-site operational strategy, the goal is always the same: sustainable excellence that scales. From adventure tourism and snowsports facilities to stadiums and hospitality venues across the UK — the principles are universal, and the results speak for themselves.

Free Operational Health Check

Is Your Operation Running at Peak Efficiency?

Take the 5-Point KISS Check — Keep It Simple, Stupid:

If you're unsure about any of these, a quick independent operational stress test could unlock significant savings and revenue. Let's have a peer-to-peer conversation — no obligation, no jargon.

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Skills
Areas of Expertise
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Dry Ski Slope OperationsStadium ManagementIce Rink DevelopmentNew Venue LaunchRevenue GrowthMulti-Site OperationsRemote ManagementNational AccountsStreamlining Booking SystemsCorporate HospitalityStaff DevelopmentActivity ProgrammingPublic Sector LeisureOperational TurnaroundHealth & Safety ManagementRisk AssessmentDynamic Risk AssessmentOutdoor Activity Compliance ScotlandAdventure TourismLeisure Asset ManagementAutomated Invoicing & ReportingFinancial DashboardsWebsite Design & Build

A career spanning university placement through to senior multi-site leadership — across private operators, local authorities and charitable organisations. Deep expertise across the leisure industry, from outdoor adventure tourism and snowsports to stadium hospitality and ice rink operations, with a proven ability to grow revenue, launch new venues and drive operational consistency. An excellent health and safety track record across all sites managed, with extensive experience in both regular and dynamic risk assessments across indoor and outdoor operations in the UK and the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.

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Track Record
Key Achievements
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£1.3m
Annual Turnover Achieved
Grew Chatham Snowsports Centre revenue from ~£560k to £1.3m through activity diversification and operational improvements.
36%
EBITDA Rate Achieved
Sustained a 36% EBITDA rate over five years, generating over £2M — significantly above the leisure industry average of 10–20%.
25
Years at Chatham
25 years as Centre Manager and Group Coordinator at John Nike Leisuresport — the UK's leading outdoor snow sports operator.
2
Major Software Rollouts
Helped design and build two diary management and POS systems, including AI-driven automation that simplified front-of-house operations across multiple sites.
400
Cover Banqueting
Managed high-profile hospitality at the National Hockey Stadium for politicians, sports personalities and TV broadcasters.
1991
Career Started
Over 35 years of progressive leisure industry experience from university placement to senior multi-site leadership across the UK.
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Experience
Career History
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Current Role
2002 – Present · 25 Years
Centre Manager & Group Coordinator
John Nike Leisuresport — Chatham Snowsports Centre, Kent
  • Grew annual centre turnover from ~£560,000 to £1.3 million over 8 years
  • Full operational responsibility for skiing, snowboarding, Tobogganing and snow tubing
  • Group Coordinator across John Nike Leisuresport's 4-centre national portfolio
  • Remotely managed Bristol Ice Rink for ~2 years, achieving a 33% sales uplift
  • Led two major software implementations (diary & booking systems) across group sites
  • Consolidated and managed national accounts across the group
  • Maintained an excellent health and safety track record, including regular and dynamic risk assessments
2000 – 2002 · 2 Years
Centre Manager
John Nike Leisuresport — Plymouth Ski Centre
  • Rejoined John Nike Leisuresport to manage the Plymouth ski centre
  • Established operational systems and grew the commercial programme
  • Relocated to Kent after 2 years to take on the Chatham Snowsports Centre
1997 – 2000 · ~3.5 Years
Deputy General Manager → Acting General Manager
National Hockey Stadium, Milton Keynes
  • Part of the founding management team that opened the UK National Hockey Stadium in 1996
  • Progressed from Deputy GM to Acting General Manager within the first year
  • Managed a 400-cover corporate banqueting suite hosting politicians and sports personalities
  • Delivered multiple international hockey events broadcast live on national television
  • Managed transition to new operator Sodexo through the handover period
~1995 – 1997 · ~2 Years
Leisure Facility Manager
Lewes District Council — Dual-Use Leisure Facility, East Sussex
  • Managed a council-run dual-use leisure facility in East Sussex
  • Gained valuable public sector operational and stakeholder management experience
~1994 – 1995 · ~1 Year
Operations Manager — Ice Rink Launch
Milton Keynes Ice Rink (Charity-operated)
  • Recruited to open Milton Keynes Ice Rink from scratch on behalf of a charitable organisation
  • Established all operational systems, staffing and public programming from day one
1991 – 1994
University Placement & Graduate Role
John Nike Leisuresport — Bracknell (John Nike Complex)
  • Joined John Nike Leisuresport on university placement in 1991 whilst studying for a BA in Business Studies
  • Returned post-graduation for a further 18 months based at Bracknell head office
  • The John Nike Complex comprised an ice rink, dry ski slope and gym — a major multi-activity facility
  • Gained foundational experience across all aspects of leisure facility operations
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Consultancy
Services Offered
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01
New Venue Launch
End-to-end sports facility consultancy from feasibility through opening day. Proven track record opening an ice rink from scratch and forming part of the team that launched the National Hockey Stadium.
02
Operational Review & Turnaround
Hands-on leisure facility safety audit and operational assessment with clear, prioritised recommendations. Demonstrated by a significant sales turnaround at Bristol Ice Rink, managed entirely remotely over a 2-year period.
03
Revenue Growth & Diversification
A demonstrable track record of more than doubling centre turnover through activity mix optimisation, group sales, corporate hospitality and seasonal programming across the leisure industry.
04
Multi-Site Systems & Efficiency
Reducing front-of-house bottlenecks and admin time through AI-driven automation — diary and POS systems, automated sales invoicing, ticket printing and online booking forms — plus financial dashboards and reporting tools built to save time and cut costs.
05
Remote & Interim Management
Proven ability to manage leisure facilities at a distance — successfully overseeing Bristol Ice Rink remotely for two years while simultaneously running a second centre.
06
Health & Safety Management
Extensive experience in health and safety compliance across indoor and outdoor leisure activities in Scotland and the UK. Strong track record in both regular and dynamic risk assessments, ensuring safe environments across all activity disciplines.
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Education
Education & Qualifications
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BA (Hons) Business Studies
Completed whilst on industrial placement with John Nike Leisuresport (1991), returning to finish finals before rejoining the industry full-time. A business-grounded academic foundation directly applied throughout a 35-year career in leisure management and sports facility consultancy.
Get In Touch

Let's Talk About Your Operation

Based in Moray, Scotland — working with leisure operators across the UK. Send a few details and I'll get back to you directly.

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© 2026 Cairn Leisure Consulting · Andy Rushton Moray, Scotland · UK-Wide · Andy.cairnlc@gmail.com