Scotland's Sports Minister officially opened Oriam Indoor Tennis Centre on 7th February 2024, at Heriot-Watt University. One year on, lets take a look at how it is all going, and celebrate the successes so far.
At the official opening, we invited a group of approximately 100 children from local primary schools to celebrate with us and enjoy a fun-filled morning of tennis activities, led by Oriam's Tennis Manager, Danny Curtis.
Since then, we have welcomed over 300 individuals, to our Tennis Programme classes, aged from 3 years and up. The classes have evolved over the first year, adapting to meet the ever-growing demand! The class schedule has doubled in capacity in the first 12 months and there are more classes planned for 2025.
Funding partners on court with children from Currie Primary School. Left to Right: Forbes Dunlop, CEO sportscotland ; Prof. Richard A. Williams, Principle and Vice Chancellor Heriot-Watt University; Maree Todd MSP Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport; Blane Dodds CEO Tennis Scotland; Sophie Curthoys, Head of Facility Investment LTA; Ross Campbell Executive Director Oriam.
Work began on the Indoor Tennis Centre (ITC) in September 2022 and doors were opened to the public in December 2023. The initial construction project was funded in partnership between Oriam, Heriot-Watt University, the LTA, LTA Tennis Foundation, sportscotland and Tennis Scotland, through the Transforming Scottish Indoor Tennis (TSIT) fund.
Giving her reaction to the ITC, Maree Todd, Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport at the Scottish Government, said:
facilities such as this will help us achieve our vision of an active Scotland
Maree Todd, MSP for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport
I’m very pleased to mark the official opening of this world-class indoor tennis facility. It will have a positive impact on the local and student communities, providing more and better opportunities to play tennis all year round, in an affordable, inclusive space.
Being active has a positive impact on health and wellbeing, and facilities such as this will help us achieve our vision of an active Scotland where everyone benefits from sport and physical activity for their physical, mental and social health.
Through sportscotland, the Scottish Government has backed improvements in facilities with more than £235 million over the last 20 years – including a significant investment in the Transforming Scottish Indoor Tennis Fund.
Oriam Tennis Programme
In the first year of Oriam Indoor Tennis Centre, we have seen rapid growth in players of all ages, picking up a racquet and playing tennis at Oriam. From our ever popular Minis and Junior Tennis Programme, to weekly adult classes and our wider adult coaching programme, its been fantastic to see so many players on court.
Oriam Tennis Programme
Year One in Numbers
- Total hours on court - circa. 3,252 hours
- Average Weekly Participants - 325
- Weekly Classes Provided By End of Year 1 - 68
Heriot-Watt Tennis Club
Alongside the thriving Oriam community tennis programme, Heriot-Watt Tennis Club have returned to train and compete at home on the Heriot-Watt Edinburgh Campus. Since moving all activities into the Tennis Centre, the club has boomed, with new club members of all abilities, from absolute beginners to seasoned competitors.
We look forward to seeing what the club can do in their BUCS
competitions for the future.
HWU Tennis Club at Home
Year One in numbers
- Membership - Grew by over 50% to 140 members
Tennis Scotland
Tennis Scotland and LTA have played an integral part in creating this new Indoor Tennis Centre, right from its initial concept. In July 2024, we were thrilled to announce a sports partnership with Tennis Scotland, bringing in parts of their coach and athlete training programmes to our facilities. We look forward to working with them closely to further develop this new partnership for the future.
Tennis Scotland x Oriam Partnership
Year One in numbers
- Total hours on court - 3947
- Competition days - 34
- Coaching days - 47
There have been growing calls for Scotland to develop additional top-level tennis facilities to service the demand from players across the country. The arrival of Oriam ITC is helping cater to this need locally and encouraging participation in the sport.
The appetite for tennis has never been higher in Scotland"
Blane Dodds,
Chief executive
At Tennis Scotland
"The appetite for tennis has never been higher in Scotland, with national club membership at record levels.
That's why it's important there is investment in top-class facilities such as the new Indoor Tennis Centre at Oriam to grow capacity and ensure the sport is accessible to all.
We are delighted to have agreed a partnership with Oriam, providing a superb venue for coaching, competitions, performance and community programmes, as well as making sure more people across Scotland get further year-round opportunities to play tennis."
Oriam Indoor Tennis Centre
Oriam ITC is open seven-days-a-week from 6:30am - 10pm Monday to Friday, 8am-8pm Saturday and 8am-10pm Sunday. Courts are available for players of all ages and abilities on a pay-as-you-play (PAYP) basis, meaning membership to Oriam is not required and helping ensure as many people as possible can access the sport. These can be booked up to 14 days in advance online, on our Oriam App, or at Oriam's Reception Desk. Oriam members benefit from a 20% discount on all PAYP tennis bookings.
Summary
Celebrating the first anniversary of the grand opening the Oriam Indoor Tennis Centre.