Case Study

Galleon Club at George Watson’s College

Building a Modern Member Experience with Gladstone & Clover

The Gladstone Solution

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In late 2023, the Galleon Club at George Watson’s College embarked on a full migration to Gladstone to modernise its Leisure Management System. Their goal was to implement a future-proof digital platform that could support:

  • Cloud-based membership and bookings management
  • A seamless online experience for their diverse community of members and visitors
  • Reliable, secure payment processing across all channels
  • Operational efficiency for staff, reducing manual work and admin

They were looking for a trusted technology partner to guide them through this transformation and provide a long-term solution.

Challenge

While the Gladstone transition went live smoothly, payment processing proved to be more challenging. The Club’s existing payment provider was unable to deliver a reliable integration with the new platform, leading to delays and frustrations for the team.

For a club with a strong focus on customer service and community engagement, it was essential that payments be quick, reliable, and easy to manage - both for members and staff. The team knew they needed to find a better fit.

Solution

Throughout the project, the Galleon Club had close support from their Gladstone account team, who recognised the payments issues and recommended a Gladstone Marketplace partner, Clover.

The solution offered:

  • Seamless integration with Gladstone Go and the Go Learn online portal
  • Clear, transparent processes and pricing
  • Dedicated contacts both at Gladstone and Clover, providing reassurance and consistent communication throughout the project

The team particularly valued the hands-on support during the transition, including clear explanations for stakeholders and decision-makers, and the ability to speak directly with named contacts.

Results & Improvements

Reliable, Integrated Payment Processing

Payments are now processed seamlessly across PDQ terminals, over the phone, and online through Go Learn, all fully integrated with their Gladstone platform. This consistency has brought much-needed stability to the Club’s cash flow and a smoother experience for members.
Reliable, Integrated Payment Processing

Enhanced Member Experience

Members can now book and pay online with ease, reducing friction and improving satisfaction. The team highlighted how the online booking journey has been transformed through Go.
Enhanced Member Experience

Operational Efficiency for Staff

With fewer payment issues and a more reliable system in place, staff are spending less time troubleshooting and more time delivering excellent service. The hands-on guidance from Chris, Naveed & the Clover team made the transition smooth for the entire team.

Operational Efficiency for Staff

Ongoing Trusted Partnership

The Club continues to value the responsive support they receive from both Gladstone and their Marketplace partner, with Ian noting that having named contacts like Naveed and Chris on hand has given the team real peace of mind.
Ongoing Trusted Partnership

By completing their digital transformation with Gladstone, the Galleon Club is now well positioned to serve their community with an excellent, modern member experience.

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Why Choose Gladstone & Marketplace Partner, Clover?

For the Galleon Club, the combination of Gladstone and Clover provided exactly what they needed:

  • A modern, cloud-based LMS that delivers efficiency and flexibility
  • Secure, fully integrated payments that support a great member experience
  • Confidence that they have the right technology partner for the future
  • Responsive, expert support through both Gladstone and the Marketplace partner network

By completing their digital transformation with Gladstone, the Galleon Club is now well positioned to serve their community with an excellent, modern member experience.

Learn more about our Marketplace partners →

Company Profile

The Galleon Club is the sports and leisure facility of George Watson’s College, one of Scotland’s leading independent schools. It serves pupils, families, alumni, and the wider local community, providing a welcoming space for fitness and wellbeing.

Facilities include a 25-metre swimming pool, gym, sports hall, and a variety of exercise classes. The Club also delivers a popular learn-to-swim programme via its Go Learn portal.

With a strong focus on community engagement, the Galleon Club supports members of all ages and abilities, encouraging lifelong participation in sport and fitness.

Learn more →

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Payments taken for swimming lessons in 2025

What really stood out for us throughout this project was the support from the Gladstone team. Chris, Naveed and the Clover support team were fantastic at every stage, helping us navigate challenges and guiding us to a payments solution that really works for our club. Having that level of personal support made all the difference.
Ian McDonald

Centre for Sport Manager

Moving to Gladstone's partner, Clover, has transformed how we manage payments. It's reliable, fully integrated with our Gladstone system, and gives both our members and staff a much better experience. We haven’t looked back since making the change.
Ian McDonald

Centre for Sport Manager

Our move to Gladstone was about creating a modern, efficient experience for members and staff. Adding Clover was the final piece of the puzzle -  everything now works together seamlessly. The combination of technology and great support from the Gladstone team means we’re in a strong place moving forward.
Ian McDonald

Centre for Sport Manager

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