The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) just dropped two big moves that signal serious ambition for padel in Britain. On May 14, SEGRO was named the official partner of the LTA and the development partner for LTA Padel, with plans for a new grassroots initiative. At the same time, the organization is recruiting for four new dedicated padel roles to fuel growth across the board.
This comes at a perfect time. In the UK, Padel is growing from roughly 15,000 players in 2019 to over 860,000 six years later. Moreover, it is supported by more than 1,500 courts across nearly 560 venues. The LTA, as the national governing body for both tennis and padel, sees this partnership and hiring spree as key to turning that surge into something sustainable, inclusive, and community-rooted.
SEGRO Partnership
SEGRO, a major player in warehousing, industrial property, and data centers across Europe, brings more than just sponsorship money. Their long-running community investment programs align perfectly with the LTA’s goal of opening up racket sports to everyone, especially kids, women, and underserved groups.
The deal covers the entire 2026 season, supporting national events while pouring real effort into local levels. A brand-new grassroots padel program is the headline item, designed to tear down barriers and get more people active. James Craddock, UK Managing Director at SEGRO, put it plainly: “This partnership reflects our commitment to widening opportunity and supporting wellbeing through sport. By delivering a new grassroots padel program, we are helping to remove barriers to participation and open up the sport to more communities across the UK.”
Scott Lloyd, Chief Executive of the LTA, echoed the excitement: “We’re delighted to welcome SEGRO as an official partner. This partnership will help us extend our reach into new communities and accelerate the impact of our padel community initiatives, supporting more people — particularly young people and those from underserved backgrounds — to pick up a racket.”
Why This Matters for the LTA and UK Padel
Padel’s rocket-like growth feels unstoppable, but the LTA knows raw numbers aren’t enough. Without the right infrastructure, coaching, tournaments, and visibility, the sport risks stalling or staying in an elite bubble. These announcements show the LTA isn’t leaving things to chance. They’re building systems to match the demand.
The partnership taps into SEGRO’s expertise in community work around its estates. That local know-how could prove invaluable for placing new courts and programs where they’re needed most. It could be near housing, schools, and workplaces rather than just wealthy suburbs.
At the same time, the LTA is expanding its internal padel team. The four new roles, Social Media Content Producer, Performance Operations Manager, Tournament Manager, and Workforce Education & Support Manager, close on June 7, 2026. Head of Padel Tom Murray has been vocal about the need for fresh talent to shape the sport’s future.
Breaking Down the New LTA Padel Roles
Each position targets a different piece of the growth puzzle:
- The Social Media Content Producer will crank up visibility and engagement, helping turn casual scrollers into court regulars.
- The Performance Operations Manager handles logistics for national teams and high-level events, ensuring talent pathways actually work.
- The Tournament Manager will strengthen the competitive calendar.
- The Workforce Education & Support Manager focuses on coaches and officials. Hence, there are enough qualified people to teach the exploding player base.
These aren’t just desk jobs. They sit at the heart of the LTA’s 2024–2029 padel strategy, which includes ambitious targets to dramatically increase the number of courts, coaches, and diverse participation.
Padel’s Rapid Rise in Britain
It’s worth stepping back to appreciate how far things have come. A few years ago, padel was still a niche import. It is fun for those who discovered it on holiday in Spain or Sweden. Now it’s mainstream. Venues are popping up everywhere, clubs are adding courts, and private operators are investing heavily.
The LTA has been playing catch-up while trying to lead. They’ve launched instructor qualifications, volunteer programs, an advisory group, and a clearer tournament pathway. But scaling coaching and operations fast enough has been the challenge. That’s why these hires feel urgent and overdue to many in the community.
SEGRO’s involvement adds credibility and resources from outside traditional sports sponsorship circles. Their focus on “places and communities” matches the LTA’s vision of transforming neighborhoods through sport. It’s not just about elite players. Instead, it’s about school programs and inclusive sessions that get people connecting.
Long-Term Planning
Padel’s social, accessible nature makes it a powerful tool for tackling inactivity. If the grassroots program delivers, we could see measurable boosts in physical and mental health in target areas.
There are hurdles, of course. Noise complaints at some venues, planning permission battles for courts, and the constant need to train more coaches. The new Workforce Education role should help ease that last one. Meanwhile, the Tournament Manager will need to balance fun local events with pathways that nurture the next generation of British talent.
Operators and clubs will be watching closely. The LTA’s push, backed by corporate muscle such as SEGRO, could encourage greater investment and collaboration across the private and public sectors.
What Comes Next for LTA Padel
Applications for the four roles close on June 7. Expect the LTA to move quickly on onboarding so the new team can hit the ground running for the rest of 2026. On the partnership side, look for the first concrete outputs from the grassroots initiative later this year. It could be pilot programs near SEGRO sites or targeted community days. The 2026 grass court season and beyond will offer plenty of opportunities to showcase the collaboration.
For anyone passionate about padel, whether player, coach, or operator, this is an exciting moment. The LTA is clearly all-in, building the backbone the sport needs to go from boom to lasting fixture in British sport. If you’re interested in the roles or want to get involved at a local level, check the LTA’s jobs board and padel section. The court is open, and now, it’s about filling it with more people than ever.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the partnership between the LTA and SEGRO?
Under the partnership between the LTA and SEGRO, SEGRO is the LTA’s official partner. They are also the primary partner of the LTA Padel.
2. Why did the LTA choose SEGRO for this initiative?
SEGRO has a huge name in the warehousing industry and can manage community investment programs.
3. What are the internee roles created by LTA to support padel in the UK?
There are four internee roles. Social Media Content Producer, Performance Operations Manager, Tournament Manager, and Workforce Education & Support Manager.
