What are the differences between soft and character skills? p30 PerformX at London’s Tobacco Dock p17
Interview: Dave Candler, STA CEO, on the challenges faced by the aquatics sector p24
Private fitness operators report 10% growth in memberships since 2022 p3
Active-net celebrates 10th anniversary p22
Egym acquires Hussle to grow its foothold in the UK market p27
The UK's largest annual trade event dedicated to physical activity, health and performance.
Privately operated gyms and leisure facilities across the UK have seen a 10.2% increase in memberships since the beginning of 2022.
Data collected quarterly from January 2022 to December 2023 shows that there has been an overall increase of 345,958 members among private operators.
The first annual Private Sector Benchmarking report, published by industry body, ukactive, and data and insight specialist, 4Global, shows that the private sector also saw an increase in the number of sites and membership revenues.
The increases come despite the rising cost of living and energy prices.
The report is based on data collected in 2022 and 2023 from 12 private operators, representing 1,089 privately operated fitness and
leisure facilities. The data shows the total number of clubs, number of members and membership revenue, as tracked each quarter.
Other key findings include:
• A net of 78 new clubs opened across the UK, representing a growth rate of 7.7%.
• The greatest quarterly growth in facilities was seen between Q3 2022 and Q4 2022, with a net of 27 new clubs opening.
• The number of members between Q1 2022 and Q4 2023 increased by 345,958 (10.2%).
• Membership revenue across the same period rose by 22.4%.
Huw Edwards, CEO of ukactive, said: “These findings provide irrefutable evidence that people want to be more physically active and are prioritising their health by using gyms and pools.”
Everyone Active has taken over the operations of six leisure facilities in Hertfordshire.
From 1 April, the company now manages North Herts Leisure Centre in Letchworth, Archers gym in Hitchin, the Hitchin Swimming Centre, Royston Leisure Centre, Fearnhill Sports Centre and the outdoor pools in Hitchin and Letchworth.
Everyone Active took over the running of the venues from Stevenage Leisure Limited (SLL) after securing a 10-year contract with North Herts Council – which owns the facilities – in December 2023.
Leisure centre staff who worked for SLL have been transferred to Everyone Active.
Councillor Steve Jarvis, North Herts Council’s Executive Member for Leisure, said: “We were determined to get the best possible deal for our residents, and I believe we have done that with our comprehensive partnership with Everyone Active. During the course of our partnership,
there will be some exciting improvements to look forward to, not least the building of a gym extension at Royston Leisure Centre.”
Duncan Jefford, regional director at Everyone Active, said: “We are delighted to officially begin our partnership with North Herts Council
and are looking forward to many successful years ahead. The fantastic centres within this contract are so important for health and wellbeing in local communities and, with plenty of exciting developments in the pipeline, we are incredibly privileged to be chosen to manage them.”
Corporate wellness and fitness tech giant, Egym, has acquired UK-based fitness marketplace, Hussle, for an undisclosed sum.
The deal will see Egym further expand its foothold on the European corporate fitness market and the integration of Hussle means Egym’s clients now have unlimited access to a network of up to 1,500+ gyms, pools, and spas covering 96% of UK postcode regions. According to Hussle, its corporate sales grew by more than 250% in 2023 and are “set to continue rising in 2024”.
Egym CEO Philipp Roesch-Schlanderer, said: “From our initial conversations, it was evident that Jamie Ward and Neil Harmsworth (Hussle cofounders) wanted to genuinely enhance an industry they’re passionate about when they founded Hussle 13 years ago (then called PayAsUGym).”
Franchised health club operator, Snap Fitness, has upgraded its free Snap App in a move designed to enhance members’ omnichannel fitness experience. Snap Fitness has more than 90 franchised gyms across the UK and Ireland and the app has been designed to help members reach their goals wherever they are. Through the app, users receive a personalised journey of on-demand workouts and programmes based on their preferences, lifestyle and individual targets.
With a refreshed user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design, Snap App 2.0 features several improvements to the platform. These include improved navigation and a reorganisation of content, offering users a more intuitive experience. The on-demand video player experience has been enhanced with subtitles, casting, and automatic workout completion. Content tracking has also been added, with users now being able to “add” their favourite
videos, allowing them to find them later. A full history of previously viewed content can also be viewed.
In addition to its sleek new look and feel, Snap App 2.0 introduces an advanced personal training feature. The tool empowers PTs to create and deliver custom workout programmes directly to members through the app.
Snap Fitness is one of the brands owned and operated by global fitness group, Lift Brands.
Rose Minar, Chief Marketing and Experience Officer for Lift Brands, said: “We launched Snap App in 2021 to provide our members with a customised digital fitness experience based on personalised goals. This upgrade will build on the app’s huge success by further enhancing the user experience and by adding elements we know members will appreciate.
“Snap Fitness launched as an industry innovator in 2003 and Snap App is an example of how we lead from the front and shape the market landscape.”
Bradford Council has secured nearly £14.5m worth of funding for Bingley Pool as part of the Government’s Levelling Up programme. The pool first opened in 1927 but has been closed since 2020 due to structural issues.
However, the council needs to now clarify the status of the Levelling Up funding – due to an emergency bail out that it also received to avoid declaring itself bankrupt. In March 2023
Bradford Council received an emergency funding boost from the central government worth £220m over the next two years.
Bradford was among several local authorities to be given Exceptional Financial Support by the government – in order to save essential services. In total, 19 English councils will share an extra £1.5bn of support.
Upon receiving the funding, the government handed Bradford Council a “best value notice” due to concerns around “financial resilience”.
This means the Council will need to undertake a full review of all capital spending projects as part of its plan to ensure the Council returns to financial sustainability and in doing so provides assurance to Government.
Cllr Alex Ross-Shaw said: “While we’re excited about the opportunity of using this money to invest in Bingley, we will clearly need to discuss the detail of it with the government.”
Edinburgh Leisure has appointed Jen Holland as its new CEO. Holland, who has spent most of her career in public sector organisations, took over the role on 18 March.
A qualified accountant, Holland joins the leisure trust from Scottish Borders Council, where she is currently the Director of Strategic Commissioning and Partnerships. During her career, she has also worked at Fife Cultural Trust, NHS Fife and Live Borders.
Fitness technology and corporate wellness giant, Egym, has strengthened its top team with the appointment of former Technogym MD, Steve Barton, as its Country Director for the UK.
Barton – a seasoned industry leader who led Technogym in the UK as MDfor six years – will be tasked with elevating Egym’s operations in the UK to “a completely new level”.
Egym recently acquired UKbased aggregator Hussle.
Alliance Leisure has made a number of new appointments across the business to support its continued growth. Jonny Curley has been promoted to the Development Board as Director for Scotland, while Stuart Thornton has been appointed Financial Director. Jo Cameron and Steve Rose have been named Alliance Delivery Managers for Scotland and south east respectively, while Julia Goddard has been named Regional Director.
Holland will replace former CEO June Peebles, who retired at the end of February 2024.
“I look forward to working with colleagues, customers, partners and local communities,” Holland said.
“Edinburgh Leisure has an incredible track record for improving the wellbeing of people in Edinburgh through a huge variety of services and I am very proud to be able to lead the organisation.”
Digital fitness and engagement platform, Fitness On Demand, has strengthened its leadership team by appointing Nick Gustafson as Marketing Director as it prepares for another year of significant growth.
In his role, Gustafson will be responsible for strengthening Fitness On Demand’s position as a major innovator and leader in the digital fitness space while bringing awareness to its “dynamic product expansion and future vision”.
Study Active now owns the name and branding assets of
Fitness education provider, Study Active, has acquired the name Premier Global and select Premier Global branding assets from Assessment Technologies Institute LLC, part of US-based Ascend Learning.
Premier Global was a company which specialised in fitness and physical activity education, but ceased trading in 2022.
Study Active is a leading provider of personal training and gym instructor qualifications in the UK and won the prestigious ukactive Education Provider of the Year award 2023. Study Active’s acquisition of the Premier Global name and select branding assets includes the logos, class 41 trademarks, copyright, web domain, and associated goodwill.
According to James Luscombe, Managing Director of Study Active, the Premier Global brand has “always represented the gold standard in education within the fitness sector”. He added that Study Active’s acquisition of the brand marks a “significant development” in
the fitness education landscape. “We are thrilled to announce our acquisition of the Premier Global name and select branding assets,” Luscombe said.
“The Premier Global brand name has long been a trailblazer in the field of fitness education, and we are honoured to carry forward its legacy. This acquisition underscores our dedication to providing world-class education and training to our students both today and in the future.
“The acquisition means our learners can take comfort from associating with an instantly recognisable brand name while enjoying the advantages of Study Active’s modern approach to fitness education. Our goal is to empower fitness professionals with the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to excel in their careers.”
The move has been welcomed by the industry. Tara Dillon, CEO of CIMSPA, said: “We’re pleased to learn of Study Active’s acquisition of the Premier Global brand name and select branding assets.”
Leisure management company, Parkwood Leisure, and its subcontractor, Legacy Leisure, have agreed a five-year contract extension with North Somerset Council.
The deal means that Legacy Leisure will operate three venues – Hutton Moor, Scotch Horn and Backwell Leisure Centres – until 2032.
As part of the extension, Hutton Moor Leisure Centre in WestonSuper-Mare is due to receive a £335,000 investment in order to refresh its fitness equipment and swimming pool changing facilities.
Parkwood Leisure is putting £135k towards the project, with the rest of the costs being covered by Section 106 contributions from housing developers.
The fresh funding follows Parkwood Leisure investing £100k in new fitness gym equipment at the centre. The company will also invest an additional £100k into the facilities during the contract period.
Councillor Mike Solomon, North Somerset Council’s Executive
Member for Culture and Leisure, said: “Hutton Moor Leisure Centre’s wetside facilities are set to receive some much-needed investment.
“We know that many of our residents really value the swimming pool at Hutton Moor, but the changing rooms haven’t been updated for
more than 30 years. The fact that we can freshen up these facilities and hopefully expand them to make them more accessible is fantastic news.
“And gym-goers are also set to benefit, with an additional £100k promised for purchasing stateof-the-art fitness equipment.”
Surrey County Council has approved plans for a 7km cycle and walking corridor as part of a £6.95 million investment package.
The new active travel route, between Guildford and Godalming, will provide a continuous, more sustainable travel option and is one of five significant projects identified in the Surrey Infrastructure Plan.
Tim Oliver, Leader of Surrey County Council said: “I am pleased to be taking forward a scheme that will deliver a step change in the local transport system to prioritise pedestrians and cyclists, in line with our active travel policies and ambitions for Surrey. We have listened extensively to all views from the local community, including much support for various elements of the scheme but also legitimate concerns.”
Elevate’s educational programme features more than 200 speakers
Physical activity trade show, Elevate, has agreed a strategic partnership with Include Summit, the UK’s largest conference focussed on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in sport.
Through the collaboration, Elevate will integrate four exclusive sessions curated by Include Summit into its educational offering, with each session specifically focusing on EDI topics – including best practices, case studies and actionable strategies for fostering inclusive environments.
Lucy Findlay-Beale, Event Director at Elevate, said: “We’re committed to delivering the highest quality education by collaborating with experts from different fields.
“The presence of Include Summit’s curated sessions underscores our dedication to this and the importance of EDI.”
Include Summit co-founder, Jamie Hooper, added: “The partnership represents a
fantastic opportunity to drive EDI forwards across the fitness and leisure industry.
“By bringing a flavour of our content to Elevate this year, we hope to offer some EDI awareness to Elevate attendees and to encourage them to come and join us at the Include Summit at London’s Lee Valley VeloPark from 8 to 9 of October.”
Featuring over 200 thought leaders and experts, Elevate’s speaking programme is one of the UK’s largest learning opportunities for the physical activity, sports and fitness industries.
The CPD-accredited sessions cover subjects ranging from future trends, best practices, data, training, retention, inclusivity, wellbeing and first aid to innovation and mental health.
Elevate takes place on 12-13 June at ExCel, London. The event includes a large exhibition floor, a wide-ranging educational programme and several networking opportunities.
The launch of CIMSPA’s new strategy, Releasing the Power of our Profession, marks an exciting new chapter for the sport and physical activity sector and the delivery of what is, arguably, its biggest ask of the chartered institute to date: greater professional recognition for our sector and its workforce.
Individuals want to be valued as trusted, ethical and credible professionals who are committed to their ongoing professional development. At the same time, the sector needs increased professional recognition among the public, government and allied professions such as health and social care to fully acknowledge the contribution it makes to the health and wellbeing of society.
Our new strategy for 2024-2030 sets out how we can achieve this vision. Developed in collaboration with professionals, employers, education providers, sector partners, governing bodies of sport and allied professions, it builds
Collaborating with employers, educational partners and stakeholders, we will guide individuals along their unique career paths
on the strong foundations we’ve put in place over the last 10 years. These include the creation of employer-led professional standards, educational partnerships and endorsement and a robust quality assurance framework.
This work will continue to ensure that training, qualifications and opportunities for skills development maintain a high standard and align with the evolving demands of the sector. This commitment means employers and sport and physical activity professionals will have the necessary skills and solutions to meet local, place-based needs as well as the confidence and expertise to work effectively with colleagues from allied professions.
Earning professional recognition is a continuous journey, and once achieved, it requires ongoing commitment. That’s why are dedicated to keeping the bar high. Collaborating with employers, educational partners and stakeholders, we will guide individuals along their unique career paths through professional recognition.
This collective effort will not only boost professional acknowledgment for the sport and physical activity sector but will also enhance its standing in the eyes of the government, the public and our system partners. It will also help to attract a more diverse workforce to represent the people it serves.
By making professional recognition a tangible achievement for our workforce and our sector, we will unlock the true power of our profession.
Balanced Body Education has launched a professional training programme to cater for the increasing demand for qualified group reformer Pilates instructors.
The new training aligns to Balanced Body’s incumbent Pilates reformer instructor programme and delivers certification equivalent to the completion of Levels 1 and 2 (out of 3). If instructors complete the new group reformer education and feel they want to extend their knowledge and learning, they can seamlessly join the reformer pilates instructor Level 3 to explore more creativity and put their own stamp on signature moves.
“Our new group reformer programme teaches all the fundamental Pilates techniques, skills and progressions needed to deliver engaging and results-driven group reformer classes, whilst also encouraging a degree of instructor creativity,” said Joy Puleo, Director of Education for Balanced Body. “Created with fitness professionals in mind, our
aim was to develop an accessible and flexible education programme, without sacrificing the quality of movement, that would hold relevance to the instructor’s wider work with clients.
“Some Pilates education has a reputation of being long, expensive, rigid, and esoteric. We are breaking
down those barriers whilst maintaining our exceptional education standards.”
The new Balanced Body Education offering was created in direct response to global market demand. As consumer interest in Pilates continues to rise, the availability of ‘oven-ready’ qualified instructors has lagged.
GLL has partnered with national charity, Carers UK, in support of its Carers Active April campaign. The month-long initiative aims to raise awareness of the importance of physical activity and highlight the benefits of moving more to the huge number of people who are carers.
The campaign has been designed to increase and improve the opportunities for carers to be and get active, with support available along the way.
By signing up to Active April, carers will receive weekly online physical activity sessions, the opportunity to participate in a mass walking event, information on staying active and more.
GLL has created a membership offer for Carers UK members and those in receipt of Carer’s Allowance, providing full access to its facilities for £30 per month.
Eleven gyms and leisure centres in south west London will pilot the ‘Ask for Angela’ campaign which allows people who feel like they are in an unsafe or vulnerable situation to ask staff for help covertly.
Originally designed for bars, clubs and other licensed businesses, the campaign allows people who feel like they are in an unsafe situation to ask staff for help by discreetly using the code word “Angela”. A trained member of staff will then look to support and assist them. The pilot is the result of a collaboration between ukactive, Safer Business Network, the Metropolitan Police Service, Sport England’s This Girl Can campaign and the Mayor of London.
The campaign aims to help promote safety and wellbeing for anyone who feels vulnerable or who feel they are in an uncomfortable situation. The organisations behind it want to explore its use in other public settings, starting with the fitness and leisure sector.
Launched in March, the pilot will see an external evaluation agency capture the impact and learnings to help determine how well the campaign works in fitness and leisure facilities and whether it is suitable for adoption more widely within the sector.
Staff at each facility, including those on the front desk, gym floor and management, have been provided with a range of training tools to ensure they can best support users if they ask for ‘Angela’.
It builds on recent work from ukactive and This Girl Can as part of ‘Safer Spaces to Move’, a two-year funded project that aims to address sexual harassment and intimidation by supporting more fitness and leisure facilities to improve their services for women and girls.
Harriett Jones, ukactive, said: “The fitness and leisure sector is determined to play its part in creating a safer nation, where everyone feels confident and comfortable in our communities.”
The new park opened in March
Bolton’s town centre’s first new park in over 120 years has officially opened to the public.
Elizabeth Park – named in honour of Queen Elizabeth II – is located on the site of a former Odeon cinema and is set to become a popular green space at the heart of an area that is being extensively regenerated. As well as an urban green space, the park features a public performance space which will host a programme of events and activities.
Funded by the government’s Towns Fund, Elizabeth Park is a key piece in the regeneration of Bolton town centre.
Blu Leisure is celebrating a 5-year milestone in its ongoing partnership with Macdonald Hotels. Blu Leisure has partnered with Macdonald Hotels since 2019 as the brand’s sole provider of leisure retail apparel and accessories. It stocks all 21 of the brand’s health, fitness and spa clubs, working with each individual venue to tailor the collection to their specific needs.
“Blu Leisure is our perfect retail partner”, says Dave Heap, Leisure and Spa Director, Macdonald Hotels. “Each of our health, fitness and spa clubs is unique in terms of its design, layout and clientele.”
Empowered Brands has more than 80 énergie clubs
Customer engagement platform, Keepme, has secured a strategic partnership with fitness franchise specialist, Empowered Brands.
The deal will see Empowered Brands integrate Keepme’s datadriven solutions, with the aim of optimising acquisition strategies and elevating member experiences across its fitness clubs.
Empowered Brands’s portfolio includes énergie Fitness – with more than 80 franchised clubs globally –and UBX, a rapidly expanding boxing and strength training provider with around 80 locations across Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.
Through its platform, Keepme will offer Empowered Brands’ énergie-branded clubs AI-driven insights, hyper-personalized prospect engagement strategies and operational efficiencies. By tapping into Keepme’s analytics, the clubs will be able to gain a better understanding of member behaviours and
preferences, enabling the creation of more customised engagement plans.
Abbey Little, Empowered Brand’s Head of Consumer Marketing, said: “At énergie Fitness, we are always striving to provide the best experience and tools for our franchisees and their teams.
“This new partnership will allow our network of énergie Fitness franchisees to streamline the operations of their business, automate and enhance the efficiency and volume of sales performance and deliver an even more personalized fitness journey for each and every member.”
Ian Mullane, CEO and Founder of Keepme, added: “Our mission is to drive the adoption of new technologies within the UK fitness industry. With our data-driven solutions integrated into Empowered Brands’ ecosystem, we are confident that we can help drive acquisition for the 70+ UK based énergie clubs, helping them to thrive in today’s competitive market.”
The roadshow will run until July
Cotswold District Council is working with Freedom Leisure and One Gloucestershire to organise a Health and Wellbeing Roadshow.
As part of the Active Cotswold programme, the roadshow looks to support residents to get more physically active.
The roadshows will offer residents the opportunity to speak to health and wellbeing professionals about how to live a healthy lifestyle and be more active.
Running from April to July across eight locations, the roadshow will feature basic exercise demonstrations, while social prescribers from the Gloucestershire Rural Community Council will be on hand to speak to residents. Those attending can also have their blood pressure checked.
Jason Evans, from Freedom Leisure, said: “This roadshow is all about getting people moving and being more active!
“It’s been great to work collaboratively with Cotswold District Council to put on this roadshow and we’re hopeful it will benefit many local people.”
Councillor Paul Hodgkinson, Cabinet Member for Health, Leisure and Culture, added:
“This is an exciting opportunity for residents to come and speak to the experts about everything health and wellbeing. “
Fitness data and insight specialist, Leisure DB, has launched two new entrylevel reports for gym operators.
The new Membership Hotspot Report has been designed to offer gym, club and studio operators a detailed understanding of where their members are travelling from, allowing marketing to be focused on areas of maximum return.
Alongside it, the new Membership Hotspot Profile Report builds on the Membership Hotspot data, showing not only where members are but – using Experian’s Mosaic profiling system – also who they are. The new launches are part of Leisure DB’s strategy to make its services more accessible.
“Most operators believe they have members coming from a much larger area than is the case, at least in any significant numbers,” says Natalie Gibson, key accounts and insight manager for Leisure DB. “The new Membership Hotspot Report
provides absolute clarity on where members live and how far they travel to reach the gym – a vital first step in fine-tuning marketing strategies and achieving maximum bang for every buck invested.
“Armed with this knowledge, operators can create marketing campaigns that say the right things to the right people at the right time, attracting more customers who look like their existing loyal members.”
Alongside the two new reports is an expanded Latent Demand Report, which now comes with a Mosaic map and age report as standard.
“Leisure DB’s Latent Demand Reports have always offered the most accurate possible forecast of demand, predicting how many more members a gym can attract, broken down by Mosaic type for precise targeting,” says Gibson.
“Including a Mosaic map and age report as standard was something we really wanted to do, empowering operators to act on their forecasts with real precision.”
A total of 325 swimming pools and leisure centres in England have received grants from Phase II of the Swimming Pool Support Fund (SPSF).
The £60.5 million funding is aimed at helping facilities boost their energy efficiency and keep running costs down.
Grants handed out during Phase II ranged in size from £3,000 to nearly £1m and have funded projects such as installing solar panels, pool covers, LED lighting and improving insulation.
With the increase in energy costs over recent years, the Government announced the fund a year ago (in 2023), with the intention of both helping keep pools open in the face of financial challenges, as well as funding longer-term projects to help reduce future energy bills.
Successful applicants needed to outline why their planned interventions were both appropriate and deliverable, while other criteria included an assessment of the expected energy saving, distance from other pools and the strategic importance of each site at
a local level. Examples of the successful applications include that of The Pulse leisure centre in Gloucestershire, which received £300,000 to remodel its changing areas and install an air-handling unit to improve energy efficiency. Elsewhere, South Woodham Ferrers Leisure Centre in Chelmsford
received £233,000 for a new gas boiler. Lisa Dodd-Mayne, Sport England’s Executive Director of Place, said: “Many pools have faced a real threat to their survival as they battle the challenge of increased energy and wider costs, weakened reserves and difficulties with retaining staff.”
Cantley in Norfolk has become a Mindful Village after eight local people undertook training held by the local council. The free training – organised by Broadland District Council – provided the participants with mental health awareness education and the skills and resources they need to support people suffering with mental health issues.
As well as equipping people with the tools needed to help others, the training is designed to challenge the associated stigma around the illness, with Wellbeing Champions encouraged to have open conversations about mental health in the community.
Cantley is the latest to benefit from the Mindful Towns and Villages programme, which is delivered by South Norfolk and Broadland District Council with Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust.
This year’s PerformX took place at London’s Tobacco Dock from 21 to 22 March. WellNation attended the much-anticipated event, which attracted a large number of physical activity and fitness sector professionals.
The theme for this year’s event was “The Epicentre of Fitness Evolution”
The proposed new designs
Delivery of the new Halifax Leisure Centre is a step closer, after the latest designs were submitted for planning approval.
Calderdale Council said it has “refined the designs” to ensure the project is financially and environmentally sustainable, as well as accessible and affordable.
The revised plans means that the facility will now include a six-lane swimming pool with spectator seating, a learner pool with a viewing and seating area, a refurbished eight-court sports hall, a 120-station fitness suite, two multi-functional studios, a dedicated cycling studio, a children’s soft play and adventure area, a tag game arena and a café and community area. There will also be a wet changing village and a Changing Places facility for disabled people, as well as separate dry change facilities for sports hall and gym use.
The centre will include several environmentally-friendly design and operational elements in order for it to contribute to Calderdale’s Climate Action Plan – and the borough’s target for net zero carbon emissions by 2038. These include air source heat pumps to provide energy-efficient, low-carbon heat.
Calderdale Council was awarded £12.2 million from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund towards the new Halifax Leisure Centre.
Women and girls face distinctive health and physiology-related barriers
A cross-party committee of MPs has said that sports and physical activity ‘must do better’ to provide kit and equipment that has been properly researched and designed for the specific health and performance needs of women and girls.
The Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) published its latest report – titled Health Barriers to Girls and Women in Sport – on 5 March.
In it, the WEC said women and girls face distinctive health and physiology-related barriers to participation in, and enjoyment of, sport and physical activity, from early years to post-puberty.
It also claimed that existing programmes “do not yet go far enough” and are “yet to reverse alarming downward trends in girls’ enjoyment of PE”.
To tackle the inequalities and “health barriers”, the WEC report makes a series of wide-ranging recommendations to tackle the issues.
These include setting out key priorities for research, actions to increase availability of suitable, female-specific sportswear/ equipment and steps to achieve equal representation of women, as authors and study participants, in the field of sports and exercise research.
One of the major calls made by WEC was for the DCMS to establish a taskforce to develop a long-term strategy to tackle sportswomen’s health and physiology-related issues. On the taskforce, the WEC wants to also see UK Sport, the UK Sport Institute, women’s health and fitness experts – including The Well HQ – sport and exercise research institutes and the UK divisions of leading sportswear and sporting goods brands.
As an example of the issues faced by women, WEC chair, Caroline Nokes MP, highlighted the “slow response” to the high number of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries suffered by female footballers.
The sports and physical activity sector has described the Conservative government’s latest budget –announced on 6 March – as a “missed opportunity to improve the health and productivity of the nation”.
The National Sector Partners Group (NSPG), which is made up of some of the sector’s leading organisations, accused the government of failing to meet its own ambitions of supporting more people to be physically active.
In a strongly worded statement, the NSPG said: “Delivering his Budget, the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, said there can be no ‘solid growth without solid finances’, but we know there can be no growth without improved health too.
“The announcements will do little to move the dial on physical activity levels nor unlock the potential of our sector.
“Yesterday’s Budget was a missed opportunity to improve the health and productivity of the nation by supporting more people to be active.
“Given the Budget’s focus on increasing productivity, workforce
and NHS efficiency, further measures designed to support our sector to achieve these priorities – such as tax and regulatory reforms and investment – should have been more prominent.
“More broadly the Government’s own Get Active strategy sets targets to get 2.5 million more adults and one million
more children active by 2030. And there remain very serious financial pressures on local government with cuts already being made to non-statutory services such as sport and leisure in many areas.
“These targets are therefore at serious risk given the lack of measures in the Budget to help achieve them.”
A free, 12-week physical activity course is being rolled out across Cambridgeshire, following a successful pilot which “positively changed people’s lives”.
Called Active for Health, the course is being run by East Cambridgeshire District Council (ECDC) with support from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care Board. It is being offered to people over 18 who struggle with exercise and have a body mass index (BMI) of over 25.
The course is designed to help people improve their fitness, learn new skills, meet new people and ultimately improve overall wellbeing.
Once signed up for the 12-week course, each participant will receive a free 12 week offer to use the associated leisure facility subject to eligibility criteria.
Coventry City Council’s Disability Action Equality Partnership (DEAP) has developed and launched a Sports and Leisure Charter, designed to guarantee inclusive sport and leisure for all residents.
The charter sets out a range of commitments designed to improve the experience and opportunities for people with disabilities and their families in Coventry to access sporting and leisure activities in the city. It follows similar initiatives led by the DEAP, such as the Shopping Charter and Transport Charter.
Councillor Christine Thomas, Chair of the DEAP, said: “This is such an important charter. Coventry is a fantastic sporting city, and a city that believes in equality for all, and in making these pledges, we show our commitment to ensuring that everyone can enjoy sport and leisure in the city, whether that is through taking part or watching.
Kamran Caan, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Sport, added: “This Charter will give people of all ages the power and confidence to enjoy sport and leisure in their many forms and will see partners across the city and region take a good look at how they support people with disabilities – visible and non-visible.”
The DEAP has been tasked with identifying issues that are significant in order to meet the needs and of disabled people.
The winners of the eighth London Sport Awards have been announced, with an app promoting physical and mental wellbeing and an initiative to improve access to football for girls among those picking up gongs.
The annual London Sport Awards celebrate volunteers, organisations, companies, charities and individuals who have gone above and beyond to improve the lives of Londoners through sport and physical activity.
Among the winners was the LSBU Black Students Mental Health project, which won the Digital and Tech Innovation Award.
A collaborative effort between London South Bank University (LSBU), NHS GoodThinking, Univarsity and The Office for Students, the initiative aims to address mental health disparities among black students in higher education.
Through the creation of the You + mobile application, co-developed with LSBU students, the project
provides culturally competent resources, physical activity programs, and mental health support to proactively manage well-being.
The full list of winners:
•Volunteer of the Year Award in association with Sport
England: Allan Cockram
• Health and Wellbeing Award in association with Sid Lee: Mind in Croydon – Active Minds
• Lifetime Achievement Award in association with BBC Radio
London: Simone Laidlow
• Supporting Young Londoners Award in association with Play Innovation:
Featherstone School Sport Partnership
• Business Contribution Award in association with the City of London
Corporation: Nike & Jordan
• Enhancing the Sporting Workforce
Award: LTA Serves – Level Up London
• Uniting London Award in association with Opinium: Sports Fun 4 All
For more information on the awards, visit: londonsport.org
A programme looking to empower a new generation of female leaders in sport has launched in Northern Ireland.
The Rise programme, funded by Sport Northern Ireland, will provide tailored support for female coaches, officials and sport administrators working in clubs, governing bodies and local sports forums across the region.
The 18-month programme will see 19 women participate in the programme, representing 13 different sports, from camogie and athletics to lawn bowls and Olympic weightlifting.
Throughout the programme, the group of officials, coaches and board members will delve into a range of different topics including selfconfidence and assertiveness, leading in a male dominated environment, crisis management, communication skills and building a team and leading change in an organisation.
The interactive, blended programme provides participants with the opportunity to work and focus on their own development while also
learning from others and hearing about their experiences of leadership.
Statistics show women are less likely to have taken part in sport at least once within the last year, 55%, than men, 62%. At post primary school level of those who never participated in sport outside school 45% were girls
compared with 31% boys. This gap gets wider on “the sidelines”, with women representing less than a fifth (just 19.5%) of the overall sports and physical activity coaching workforce. The figure drops to just 10% for those who coach in World, Olympic or Paralympic athletes.
Manchester Metropolitan University and the UK Sports Institute have joined forces to launch a global hub for research, education, and applied practice for female sport.
The new Centre of Excellence for Women in Sport will support women’s sport and exercise, bringing leaders in sport, academia and industry together.
Described as a first of its kind in the UK, the centre will look to support both elite athletes and wider public health initiatives. The aim is to inform policy and practice in relation to the public health agenda and use education and the development of new resources to share the latest knowledge in the area of women’s sport and exercise health.
Professor Kirsty Elliott-Sale said the centre will provide “high-quality, credible, hands-on research” and practice-based evidence.
WellNation attended the physical activity sector’s leading networking event, which this year celebrates its 10th anniversary
March 2024 marked the 10th anniversary of Active-net. The event was set up to assist the formation (and strengthening) of partnerships and relationships, while offering insights into enhancing the consumer experience through quality speakers, registered CPD, debates, informal networking and curated meetings.
This year’s edition, taking place on 27 and 28 March, was a great success, having sold out for the second year running at Eastwood Hall in Nottinghamshire. The theme for Active-net 2024 was aimed to address the challenges faced in recruiting and retaining quality team members and the data that sits behind these decisions and outcomes.
The opening keynote session featured Huw Edwards, CEO of ukactive; Spencer Moore of CIMSPA and Jack Shakespeare of 4Global. The panel discussed the importance of recruiting and retaining great team members.
“It’s well documented that we have record numbers of people on NHS waiting lists and/or are signed off sick from work,” Edwards said. “As an industry we can help with this but one of the challenges in rolling out successful initiatives and pilot schemes such as Prehab4Cancer and MSK hubs is having enough appropriately qualified staff.
They highlighted how, despite all the government funding for training and apprenticeships, recruitment remains an issue for the sector. They questioned whether the sector was being best served by universities – which offer lots of sports science and equivalent degrees – when there are so few jobs available. The message was that a focus on other areas might better serve the industry – as the physical activity sector doesn’t even appear in any career maps or guidance.
Other topics discussed included how a CIMSPA workforce survey revealed that people value recognition over pay (though pay still ranked highly). This mirrors
the industry’s view that it has a highly skilled workforce – but there need to be more opportunities to flourish.
There were a number of parallel sessions, before delegates broke off to their one-to-one meetings (allowing operators to meet suppliers). One of the sessions, chaired by Active Insight’s Julie Allen, focused on the importance of data driven insights.
The panel offered delegates a few key points for using data efficiently and accurately in decision making:
● Ensure your data is accurate, reliable and up to date
● Include consumer insights about what people want, so that you can best understand trends and opportunities
● Avoid bias – do not only look at the data that you want to or that suits you.
The panel also highlighted that the current industry data around usage and trends shows that the sector is “heading in the right direction”.
“It is now about scale,” Huw Edwards said. “There is a richness of collaboration and innovation that supports how the sector is evolving.”
The next Active-net event will be held at the Crieff Hydro in Scotland on 29 September 2024. That will
Active-net events were set up as a “buyer and supplier event” for the physical activity, health and fitness industries. Each year, they attract buyers and suppliers from all aspects of the industry to meet with one another and aid each other’s expansion and progression.
Thanks to the accompanying seminars and talks, Active-net events also allow delegates to keep up to date with the latest developments within the sector – as well as broaden and strengthen their professional network.
Since Active-net’s launch in 2014, more than 1,000 sector professionals have attended one of its Public, Private and Scottish sector events, while they have also facilitated a total of 6,200 face to face meetings.
then be followed bu the Active-net Private Sector event on 27 January 2025, held at the Radisson Blu Stansted. The main Active-net event will then return to Nottingham’s Eastwood hall on 26 and 27 March 2025.
For more information (and to register) on future events, visit: www.active-net.co or contact davidmonkhouse@active-insight.org
There is a chronic shortage of swimming teachers
The CEO of the Swimming Teachers’ Association talks to WellNation about the challenges faced by the aquatics sector – and how the STA plans to tackle them
In June 2023, it was revealed that 660,000 children could be missing out on swimming lessons due to a shortage in swimming teachers. The data, published jointly by the Swimming Teachers’ Association (STA) and Swim England, also showed that there were almost 12,000 vacant roles across the aquatics sector, leading to 65% of learn to swim providers not being able to grow their programmes. Worrying findings, considering that almost one in three children now leave primary school unable to swim.
Shocking as those figures are, they would have been much worse without a ground-breaking initiative launched in 2022 to tackle the shortage in swimming teachers. STAnd Up for Swimming, a campaign funded and delivered by the STA, trained a total of 930 new swimming teachers during the year. What made it special was that the training was offered free to everyone.
It is estimated that, in 2023, up to 660,000 children could have missed out on classes
The campaign was the brainchild of Dave Candler, STA’s Chief Executive, who, by his own admission, had had enough. “We launched STAnd Up for Swimming because we recognised that the industry couldn’t afford to wait around any longer,” Candler says. “There was a group of industry bodies, us being one, who desperately wanted to alleviate an issue which was crippling aquatics. We had lots of great conversations on what could be done, but I kept hearing ‘we need to lobby the government’ a lot. The problem is, that takes time and there’s no guarantee that the government will listen. My view was that we’re the ones that can – and need to – try and improve things, so let’s just get on with it and do it.
“By pledging our own funds, we showed our commitment and support to all those involved in grassroots swimming. As an organisation, we
spent more money on STAnd Up for Swimming than we had in the bank when I started in this job in 2016. But we had to do it to ensure we don’t have a lost generation of young swimmers.”
As well as making it free, STA wanted the campaign to have an immediate effect. To achieve this, it offered learners the opportunity to gain an accredited Level 2 Award in Teaching Swimming qualification, making sure that those who qualified could get on the poolside and gain employment quickly. The results were impressive.
Of the 930+ new swimming teachers that STA trained up in the 12 months, 86% found employment as soon as they had qualified.
“UK swim schools had lost 50% of their teaching staff during the pandemic,” Candler says. “So STAnd Up for Swimming came just at the right time; a time when swim schools were struggling to find qualified swimming teachers to meet
the post-pandemic demand for swimming lessons. It was a critical issue for our members and swim school partners – and for us equally.
“Yes, there are still teacher shortages, but in just a short time we made a solid positive contribution in helping to close the skills gap.”
The lack of swimming teachers, however, is just one of many challenges faced by the aquatics industry – a sector which has been hit particularly hard in recent years. The pandemic closures, the everincreasing energy and utility prices, inflationary pressures and the cost of living crisis have had a double impact – affecting both the operating costs of facilities and the ability of people to pay to use pools and leisure centres. Spending cuts at local authority level have also had a devastating effect on facility investment. Ageing venues deemed too expensive to redevelop are often allowed to close without replacements. As a result, Swim England estimates that more than 1,000 publicly accessible pools have closed since 2010.
“It’s worrying, the rate at which we are losing pools,” says Candler. “It’s creating huge pressures on waiting lists for children to get into swimming lessons and also changing the facility landscape.
It is worrying, the rate at which we are losing pools
Smaller-size, private pools and swimming schools are popping up everywhere. That’s great, but as smaller pools have smaller capacities – yet still relatively high running costs – it means that private operators have to charge more than large, public facilities. A leisure centre might charge £5 per lesson, while private pools can charge up to £15 or more. That creates a huge barrier for many.”
Yet, when listing the strengths and opportunities of the sector, Candler remains optimistic and predicts that aquatics in the UK has a bright future. “Demand for swimming has never been higher,” he says. “I’ve been working in aquatics since I was 16 and I’ve never known anything like it.
“What the pandemic did was make people realise how important physical fitness is. The message that underlying health issues would make COVID-19 worse changed how many people saw exercise. It also made people realise how great physical activity was for mental health.”
He also sees huge opportunities in the way the wider physical activity sector is increasingly making a case for being included in health policies and planning.
“Ukactive has done a very good job on this, highlighting how getting people more active could save the UK economy up to £17bn a year through easing pressures on the NHS and cutting on working days lost to sickness. Swimming has
The STAnd Up for Swimming campaign trained more than 930 new swimming teachers
a big part to play in that too, not least through GP referrals and activating people who might find other forms of exercise demanding.
“I also see huge opportunities in getting under-represented communities active through swimming. For example, we’re currently talking with Black Swimming Association (BSA) and seeing how we can work together. In England, 96.5% of Black adults and 95.8% of Asian adults do not participate in swimming activities regularly, so there’s definitely work to be done there.”
There remain areas in which Candler says the aquatics sector needs to improve itself, as well as those in which it could do with a bit of help from the government. One of the former, he adds, is the way staff contracts are handled.
“When I first started in swimming, as a 16-yearold lifeguard, I was earning more than my friends who worked the tills at supermarkets,” he says. “That has now completely turned on its head.
“Part of the reason we lost so many of our swimming teachers and lifeguards during the pandemic was that they were on casual contracts or self-employed contracts – so there was no help for them through furlough. It also highlighted a wider issue on how pool operators and leisure centres manage staff contracts.
“I’m not going to make many friends among the operators for saying this, but I’d like to see staff at every level given that job security and recognition and this requires a change to the way contracts have been traditionally handled. One of the initial worries we had with the STAnd Up for Swimming campaign was that we’d train all these teachers, for them then to be given contracts that wouldn’t entitle them holiday pay, sick pay or any other rights or perks that they’d get in other sectors – and we’d end up losing them again.
However, I do believe positive lessons have been learned from the pandemic, and that the tide is starting to turn for the better. It was never going to be an overnight fix, especially considering
Make swimming teaching VAT-free for all and we would be able to, overnight, tackle the huge waiting lists of kids wanting to learn to swim
how leisure operators have been hit from every angle over the last few years, and they have had a lot to do and plan for to simply survive, but the tide is turning, and we are starting to see some really positive ‘recruit and retain’ strategies being implemented by our leisure operator partners.
For the other major change he’d like to see in the sector, Candler makes a call on government.
“Please get rid of VAT for every swim school - including the private ones.” he says.
“Services directly related to delivering education in line with the national curriculum – such as swimming – qualify for VAT exemption, but only for public and ‘not for profit’ operators. So large, nation-wide leisure centre operators which operate as charities don’t pay VAT, but a small pool teaching kids to swim in a village does. The problem with that is that most of those small pool operators stay under the VAT threshold
because if they’d start charging VAT, the prices would become too high for everyone. So even if they could teach more kids, they won’t, because they’re worried they’d have to start charging VAT.
“Meanwhile, 90% of the larger private swimming school operators – who already do pay VAT – said they would pass the saving directly to their customers if VAT was cut.
“For me it is a no-brainer. The government isn’t getting VAT from those small swim schools anyway, so it’s not like they’d lose out. Make swimming teaching VAT-free for all and we’d be able to, overnight, tackle the huge waiting lists of kids wanting to learn to swim. In the meantime, we hope the new higher VAT threshold coming in April will make a difference for a few.”
You never know. As it’s a general election year, Candler’s call might just find a favourable ear or two somewhere.
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Wellness business consultancy, Pocket Rocket Group, outlines the differences between soft skills and character skills
There is a profound difference between soft skills and character skills. Understanding the significance of nurturing both sets of skills for personal and professional growth is paramount to our success in the workplace.
Pocket Rocket Group is passionate about this subject, weaving values and character skills into both its academy and marketing workshops across the health, fitness and wellness industry for over six years.
While the terms “soft skills” and “character skills” are often used interchangeably, it is essential to recognise the fundamental difference between the two.
Soft skills encompass a range of interpersonal abilities and attributes that facilitate effective communication, teamwork, and adaptability. These competencies include communication skills, emotional intelligence, problem-solving
abilities, and leadership qualities. They are vital for establishing rapport, collaborating with others, and achieving professional excellence.
On the other hand, character skills delve deeper into our very nature, reflecting core values, virtues and qualities that shape our behaviour and actions. These attributes, such as integrity, empathy, resilience and accountability, are at the heart of one’s character. Character skills guide our decision-making, ethical conduct, and interactions with others - playing a pivotal role in establishing trust, fostering meaningful relationships and leaving a lasting impact on those around us.
While soft skills are vital for navigating the professional landscape, character skills provide the foundation upon which effective soft skills are built.
Without character skills, soft skills lack authenticity and sustainability. Nurturing both sets of skills allows individuals to exhibit the highest level of competence while fostering an environment of trust, respect and collaboration.
By cultivating character skills alongside the more widely spoken about soft skills, individuals can differentiate themselves as authentic, compassionate, and accountable professionals.
Character skills can be developed
In a recent poll conducted by Pocket Rocket Group across social media, the number one characteristic that people valued the most was integrity - the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. This insight, compared to the other options given; courage, confidence and compassion, stood for a massive 83% vs 6% each, respectively.
Broken down further, integrity presents itself as the following values; reliable, trustworthy, honest and respectful - to cultivate these values through your business is to ensure that stakeholders are aligned as much as possible.
Nick Mennell, Director at Pocket Rocket Group says “Whether in the workplace or personal life, the development of character skills empowers us as individuals to embrace challenges, overcome adversity, and maintain our personal integrity in all situations. Let’s be honest, how often do you consciously think about your personal or business values and assess the character skills required to take appropriate action?”
In a recent Diary of a CEO podcast with best selling author and organisational psychologist Adam Grant, it is suggested that the key to a motivated, driven and productive workforce lies
The development of character skills empowers us as individuals to embrace challenges, overcome adversity, and maintain our personal integrity in all situations
in aligning 3 out of 5 core values - this allows for slight differences in opinion and creates a positive environment for healthy debate and decision making.
Adam Smithers, Talent Partner at Follow The Oak recruitment specialists says “Aligning personal values with those of a business is essential for creating a cohesive, motivated, and effective work environment. Personal values shape our character, influence how we make decisions, our approach to work, and how we interact with others. When our values align with those of the company, it not only boosts our job fulfilment but also helps create a more productive, purpose-fuelled workplace. Candidates are increasingly prioritising companies that align with their values, so it’s crucial in today’s world that a business understands its core identity.”
To summarise, the distinction between soft skills and character skills is crucial for personal and professional growth. While soft skills enable effective communication and collaboration, character skills establish the foundation for authenticity, integrity and ethical behaviour. By nurturing both sets of skills, individuals can lay a solid groundwork for success, happiness and meaningful relationships in all aspects of life.
WellNation is the only news magazine and online platform dedicated to the health, wellness & physical activity sector. Published monthly and supported by a weekly email newsletter, WellNation will keep you up to date with the latest news, trends and analysis.
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