news & trends
Everyone Active launches integrated You+ wellness memberships
Leisure facility operator, Everyone Active, has launched a new You+ membership offer, becoming one of the UK’s first operators to offer fully-integrated wellness support to its customers.
Developed in partnership with physiologist and wellbeing consultant Oli Patrick, the You+ membership focuses on six key pillars, which aim to provide people with “360-degree” health and wellness support, both in and outside centres. The six pillars are sleep, recovery, nutrition, brain health, social wellness and movement.
By signing up for the You+ membership, each customer will receive a consultation from a You+ coach across the pillars. The consultation provides insight to each customer’s current wellness and allows Everyone Active to benchmark their wellness through the ‘Everyone Active Age’. The ‘Everyone Active Age’ is
calculated against the customer’s current age, but aims to give a measurement of their mind and body’s ‘age’. This is relative to their overall well-being habits and how they respond to each pillar in the You+ questionnaire.
According to Everyone Active, the new membership is a response to an increased demand for day-to-day wellness support. It is also an upgrade to its Wellness membership, which the operator launched in 2023 and which received more than 25,000 sign-ups – and accounted for 25 per cent of all new fitness sales.
Everyone Active’s Regional Director, Duncan Jefford, said: “Our new Everyone Active You+ membership is another significant step towards providing our customers with a 360-degree health and wellness offering. With more than 240 facilities in the Everyone Active portfolio, this is an exciting opportunity.”
Each You+ member will receive a consultation from a coach across six wellness pillars
news & trends
Swim England’s strategy a “commitment to change”
Swim England has published its new strategy which has been shaped with the help of the aquatics community.
Titled One Swim England, the paper sets out the national governing body’s vision, which is “Great experiences in water. For all. For life”.
With a mission to “lead and serve an aquatics community to enable safe, enjoyable and successful experiences”, the strategy outlines four core values. These are:
l we include
l we are ambitious
l we collaborate
l we do what’s right Linked to the values are 18 goals, which set out the organisation’s roadmap for the future.
The 18 goals have been grouped under three headlines – foundations, enablers and community growth –and range from creating stronger clubs, connecting the sector’s digital ecosystem and environmental sustainability to tackling inequalities and increasing engagement.
The strategy sets out the national governing body’s vision for the next years
The strategy has been created following insight received from Swim England’s Vision and Values Roadshows – a nationwide tour attended by hundreds of participants, volunteers, club committee members, coaches and others involved in the aquatics sector. According to Andy Salmon,
Swim England Chief Executive, the strategy sets out a “bold, unwavering commitment to change”.
“The strategy signals a clear intent to support lifelong participation, making an even stronger case for the many health benefits associated with swimming,” Salmon said.
Less than half of children meet physical activity guidelines
Less than half (47.8%) of children in England are meeting the Chief Medical Officers’ guidelines of taking part in an average of 60 minutes or more of sport and physical activity every day.
The worrying figure comes from Sport England’s latest Active Lives Children and Young People Survey Report. The report paints a bleak picture of the activity levels among children. Nearly a third (29.6%) – or 2.1 million children and young people – currently do less than an average of 30 minutes a day.
There are also signs of a worrying deterioration in children and young people’s relationship with sport and physical activity.
Those currently in school years 3 to 8 (ages 7-13) are now less likely to have positive attitudes towards sports and exercise than their peers did six years ago.
Girls remain less likely to be active than boys
The report says city populations are more transient
Urban populations need more ‘targeted exercise interventions’
UK governments, both national and local – as well as the NHS – should consider “further targeted interventions” to get people living in the country’s cities more physically active.
The 2024 Health Cities report – an annual paper from Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty – shows that city populations are more transient and that health systems need to be flexible to better support people.
It identifies lack of green spaces, limited opportunities to exercise and limited healthy food choices as some of the persistent issues driving health inequalities in the UK’s areas of deprivation.
In his report, Whitty states that UK cities provide both difficulties and opportunities for citizens to build exercise and physical activity into their daily lives.
“Cities should be ideal places for enabling active travel with shorter distances to the things we need or want on a regular basis, including
supermarkets, places of leisure, work or healthcare,” he says.
“Making walking and cycling more practical and safer and access to green space easier and more equitable, would go a long way toward removing barriers to improving physical activity levels and could significantly improve the health of England’s increasingly urban population. Green space and sporting facilities are at a premium, but transport to them is usually good in comparison to rural areas. Areas of deprivation are often poorly served both for active transport and for sporting facilities.”
In his recommendations, Whitty says that more should be done to use exercise as a preventative health care solution, alongside programmes to improve diets and to get people to smoke and drink less.
“High smoking rates, obesity prevalence, air pollution, excess alcohol and lack of access to physical activity are more common in areas of high deprivation,” he writes.
Planning secured for Cleator Moor leisure project
Improvements to a leisure facility in Cleator Moor, Cumbria, have taken another step forward following the approval of a planning application and the appointment of a contractor.
Cumberland Council, which owns the Cleator moor Activity Centre, has been working with contractor Thomas Armstrong under a design and build contract. Now, with planning secured, contract works will start in January 2025 with an anticipated 13-month programme. To allow the works to get underway the main Activity Centre building will close to the public on 13 January 2025. The centre’s 3G pitch will still be operating during the works.
The improvements to the centre will include work on the four court sports hall, multi-purpose studio space and changing facilities. A new health and fitness suite will be added to the centre, while there will also be a new base for Copeland Occupational & Social Centre (COSC), which provides dedicated outreach support to disabled people and groups.
The Activity Centre project is one of four projects that make up the Cleator Moor Town Deal and aims to provide the community with a modern, multi-purpose and inclusive sports facility. Once open, it will be operated by GLL.
It is proposed that the new centre would deliver a broader programme of sports, physical activity and wellbeing services.
The works will take 13 months
PHOTO: PIXABAY.COM/ANDRZEJ
PHOTO: CUMBRIA COUNCIL
People news
Community Leisure UK appoints new board members
Community Leisure UK (CLUK) has appointed two new members on its Board of Trustees.
Stuart Lockwood, CEO of Oldham Active, has been appointed Honorary Secretary. He is replacing long-serving member and founder of CLUK, Mark Sesnan, who is stepping down.
Meanwhile, Ivan Horsfall Turner, CEO Freedom Leisure, will take the lead on a new board position representing national operators.
Working together with fellow board members, they will oversee the strategic direction of the organisation as well as raising the profile and benefits of the charitable trust model.
Stuart Lockwood said: “Given the challenges we will face from increased NI contributions and employer costs, we need to use our collective knowledge and experience to ensure our sector is able to continue to support individuals and the whole community.”
Fitness tech brand Myzone has appointed Tom Davies as its new Global Marketing Director.
Davies joins the wearable tech specialist from franchised fitness company, Anytime Fitness, where he spent three years as Director of Marketing for the UK market. Prior to his role at Anytime, Davies has worked in a number of roles in marketing and fitness, including a threeyear stint as Sales and Marketing Director at Parkwood Leisure.
Myzone CEO, Jay Worthy, said: “Myzone is at a pivotal moment in its lifecycle.
“Following the recent appointment of Vahid B. Zadeh as CTO, I’m so pleased that Tom is joining us to help evolve the business strategically and position the brand for its next stage of growth.”
Davies will report directly to Worthy, manage the marketing team and partner with the sales team to deepen relationships with gym operators, understand their pain points and explore opportunities for Myzone to support both existing and new customers.
Davies says joining Myzone represents an exciting chapter in his career. “I’ve always been a massive fan of the brand and the product,” said Davies.
Myzone has also expanded its marketing team with two new key appointments. Hannah Lewin, formerly International Marketing Director at Keiser, has joined as the International Distributor Marketing Manager, while Lauren Delahoy has been named CRM Manager.
Bridget Butler is also joining the Myzone support team, working closely with marketing, as Education and Training Manager.
1FitLife has promoted Jessica Overton to Managing Director. Overton will also take the helm of Fitter Stock, 1FitLife’s subsidiary specialising in B2B white-label fitness and wellness content.
Overton’s promotion comes as 1FitLife Founder, David Langridge, transitions from the MD role to focus on spearheading a new project. Although Langridge steps into a strategic role, he remains committed to the business, continuing to support Overton and the team.
1FitLife promotes Jessica Overton to Managing Director
Tom Davies joins Myzone
Ivan Horsfall Turner
Tom Davies
PHOTO:CLUK
PHOTO: MYZONE
Gym Group looking to accelerate its growth
The Gym Group has appointed Hamish Latchem as Chief Property Officer to drive its accelerated gym opening plans.
The Gym Group currently has 241 gyms nationwide, with four more openings planned before the end of 2024. The low cost gym chain aims to open 50 new gyms between 2024 and 2026.
Prior to joining The Gym Group, Latchem was National Store Development Director for supermarket chain ALDI, having spent 13 years in operational and property roles across the company.
In his new role at The Gym Group, he will be responsible for all property acquisitions, facilities and estate management, as well as gym format and design.
Will Orr, CEO at The Gym Group, said: “We’re delivering on our Next Chapter strategy growth plans and accelerating new gym openings is an important element.
“Hamish is coming on board to play a critical role
and will also be a fantastic addition to our Executive Committee team. He brings valuable experience which will be vital in rolling out our high value, low cost fitness proposition to more communities nationwide.”
Commenting on his new role, Latchem said: “It is an exciting time to join The Gym Group, as we deliver on strategic plans to accelerate the rollout of quality sites around the UK. I look forward to working alongside The Gym Group’s exceptional team to deliver on these plans and maintain the high standards in the gyms that our members expect.”
The appointment came as Gym Group said it had opened three new sites in Greater London in December.
The new sites are in Shepherd’s Bush, Elephant and Castle and Surbiton, with at least two more gyms planned to open in Greater London in 2025. As well as site expansion, The Gym Group has invested in its current Greater London estate with gym enhancements throughout 2024, including major refurbishments.
Latchem will be responsible for all property acquisitions, facilities and estate management
news & trends
Sector leadership ‘becoming more diverse’
The representation of disabled people and those from culturally or ethnically diverse backgrounds on boards of UK sports and physical activity organisations has increased in the past four years.
Figures from the Diversity in Sport Governance 2024 report – published on 19 December – shows that the percentage of individuals from culturally or ethnically diverse backgrounds on boards of sports organisations has increased from 7.9% to 15.1% since 2020.
Among those identifying with having a disability or long-term health condition the figures have gone from 13.0% to 16.1%.
Commissioned by UK Sport and Sport England, the report was conducted by Perrett Laver and provides a detailed breakdown of the makeup of more boards and senior leadership teams of sports organisations.
Among other key findings is that gender representation on boards is now 57.4% male and 40.8% female, compared to 56.2% and 43.2% in 2020, respectively. Meanwhile, there
Campaign
Gender representation on boards is now 57.4% male and 40.8% female
has been a marginal increase in those reporting as non-binary (0.3% compared to 0.1%) and those preferring not to say (1.2% compared to 0.1%).
Commenting on the report, UK Sport CEO, Sally Munday, said she “welcomed the insight” – but acknowledged that there is more to be done.
to encourage
people with Parkinson’s get more active
Parkinson’s UK and 1FitLife have launched an outdoor advertising campaign to encourage more people to enjoy an active life with Parkinson’s.
Called Together We Stay Active, the campaign uses donated advertising space from Clear Channel UK and is designed to show what an active life with Parkinson’s can look like. 1FitLife, a marketing agency specialising in wellness, has worked with Parkinson’s UK to create a library of photography
and videography assets which focus on a diverse and accessible range of physical activities. The campaign highlights six popular activities; walking football, table tennis, seated exercise, boxing, outdoor walking and home-based workouts.
It is hoped that, through the imaging, the campaign will give more people the tools and confidence to enjoy an active lifestyle with the condition.
“As our collective awareness of the barriers that some groups face in accessing sport and physical activity improves, it’s more important than ever to ensure that there are people with lived experiences in decision-making positions who are championing underrepresented groups,” Munday said.
PHOTO: SPORT ENGLAND
news & trends
Plans for new Thornaby leisure centre approved
Plans have been approved for a new leisure centre in Thornabyon-Tees, North Yorkshire.
Facilities at the new centre – the flagship project of the £23.9m Thornaby Town Deal – include a five-lane swimming pool, a health club with a large gym floor, sauna and changing facilities.
The two-storey building will sit on the former Phoenix House site and will connect into the existing Thornaby Pavilion with a link bridge.
A new entrance and car park, providing around 50 additional spaces, will also be created as well as improvements to the surrounding public realm. Enhancements will also be made to the internal layout and fitness spaces in the existing pavilion.
The centre will be operated by Tees Active Leisure and work on the building is set to begin later in 2025, with the facility opening in 2026.
It is one of a number of key projects being delivered with the support and endorsement of the Thornaby Town
Deal Board. The Town Deal Board is made up of local stakeholders from key public and private sector bodies, including Thornaby Councillors and the local MPs for the area.
Councillor Nigel Cooke, cabinet member for regeneration and housing at Stockton-on-Tees Borough
Council – which will own the facility – said: “This is a really exciting time for Thornaby and these plans will only provide extra opportunities for the town centre, bringing footfall and adding to its vibrancy. It will be a massive boost for residents from the town and further afield.”
Diss Swim Centre reopening set for January 2025
Diss Swim Centre will reopen on Monday 13 January following an investment of nearly £4 million.
The improvement and refurbishment work in the centre has included the re-shaping and re-tiling the swimming pool area, expanding changing rooms, improving the entrance lobby and reception and the creation of a new pool viewing area. Works have been funded by centre owner, South Norfolk Council, which secured a £1.2m grant from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. This will see the instalment of air source heat pumps, new building cladding and insulation and solar panels on the roof.
Councillor Kim Carsok said: “While other councils are being forced to cut back on their leisure provision, I’m very proud that we have recognised how important it is to help our residents stay fit and healthy.”
PHOTO:
The new centre will include a five-lane pool and a gym
The pool has undergone an investment of nearly £4 million
Software providers join forces for new exercise referral service
Two leisure software providers, Legend by Xplor and ReferAll, have partnered to improve leisure-based health programmes and make social prescribing and exercise referral schemes simpler. The deal will see Legend’s customers being able to integrate with ReferAll’s specialist data management platform to manage participant and member data for their health and wellbeing programmes.
Legend is a supplier of end-toend leisure management solutions, while ReferAll’s exercise referral platform helps operators manage and report on their wellbeing services and referral-based activity schemes. Thanks to the partnership, the two systems will now “talk” to each other in the background, cutting out the need for manual data entry.
Tasks that used to take up to 30 minutes – such as finding or creating participant records – will be handled instantaneously, freeing up valuable staff time to focus on what really
matters, supporting participants.
In addition, organisations can track participants’ progress and compare it with data from other membership sources, to help demonstrate the value and impact of their exercise referral programmes.
Alan Louden, Legend’s Commercial Director, said: “ReferAll’s platform enables health and wellbeing teams to manage referrals for multiple schemes, and report on outcomes in real time.
“This is particularly important to Legend, as we care deeply about providing a safe, frictionless user experience to our customers, especially with public sector leisure provision pivoting towards a health improvement model. Our customers will be able to seamlessly integrate the two platforms, saving hundreds of hours in admin per year. This integration will transform the time it takes to manage health-related services, helping them run more efficiently and focus on delivering excellent services.”
Grants of £3,000 will be available
New physical activity wellbeing grant for Worcester
Worcestershire County Council has launched a new small grants programme to encourage more physical activity and active travel across the county.
Voluntary and community sector groups can apply for grants to establish or maintain exercise groups or sessions –such as walking groups or Couch to 5k running programmes. Funding can also support fitness leader training, buying equipment or promoting exercise opportunities. Community organisations may bid for grants of up to £3,000. The money cannot be used for infrastructure projects and is only one-off funding. Therefore, applicants must indicate how they will ensure the sustainability of projects after the grant funding has been utilised. Applications close on 30 June 2025.
The initiative, led by the council’s Public Health Team, is aimed at encouraging more people to use local green spaces and infrastructure, such as the recently opened Kepax Bridge, to lead more active lives.
Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, David Ross said: “Incorporating physical activity and active travel into our daily routines is vital for building a healthier future. I’m thrilled to support these grants, which will help individuals and communities embrace active travel. By doing so, we can improve health.”
PHOTO: REFERALL
PHOTO: WORCESTERSHIRE
Legend’s customers will be able to integrate with ReferAll’s management platform
news & trends
Nuffield and Manchester Met to ‘rewrite
chronic health management’
Manchester Metropolitan University and Nuffield Health are partnering to launch a programme which uses fitness and movement to help people with chronic health conditions.
The partnership will deliver a clinically-assured, exercise-based approach to improving health outcomes for people living with a range of long-term conditions.
The pioneering, three-year research partnership will combine Nuffield Health’s – the UK’s largest healthcare charity – expertise in community-based rehabilitation with Manchester Met’s leading research in sports and exercise medicine. The partnership builds on existing research which demonstrates the significant role fitness professionals can play in managing health conditions. For instance, Nuffield Health runs a series of rehabilitation programmes for conditions including joint pain, long-COVID and cardiac episodes.
The initial pilot will operate from a community hub in Platt Lane,
Manchester – an area chosen to address health disparities linked to social inequality, enabling the programme to make a meaningful impact in an area with higher levels of deprivation.
A key feature of the programme will focus on sustained engagement through a peer-mentoring model, fostering long-term behaviour change and a sense of community.
Central to the programme’s success will be the use of personal trainers – which the partners describe as a “highly-qualified, huge and largely untapped workforce for supporting chronic conditions”.
To ensure consistent, quality delivery, the partnership will establish sustainable training pathways for fitness professionals, providing a standardised approach to upskill them in delivering community-based rehabilitation.
According to the plans announced recently, the partners aim to scale the new programme to a national level by the end of 2027.
“Game changing” programme expands to new venues
A wellbeing and exercise project featuring group sessions to help adults stay healthy and socially connected has been described as a “game changer”. As a result, the programme – hosted by Healthy Worcestershire – is expanding with new session venues. The groupbased sessions include exercises such as strength and balance and health advice, plus community safety information with links to a wide range of other health-promoting activities in the local community.
Councillor David Ross, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing at Worcestershire County Council, said: “We’re continuing to expand the Healthy Worcestershire programme, and we’ve got even more new venues for our group sessions coming soon. We want to help as many people across the county to have more opportunities to socialise and increase the amount of exercise they are doing.”
One of those to have benefitted from the scheme is called Astrid, who initially joined Healthy Worcestershire to increase her physical activities and socialising. She said: “I’ve never really exercised before, so I didn’t really think it was for me. But having got in here and doing it, it’s been really good. I now feel so much better, both my flexibility and my socialising have really improved.”
Central to the programme’s success will be the use of personal trainers
Staying ahead on GLP-1
Jenny Patrickson MD of Active IQ
As 2025 begins and resolutions are made, the yearly post-Christmas weight loss surge will commence.
This year however, with the growing popularity of GLP-1, I predict we’ll see a rise in people seeking support for complementary fitness programmes alongside their health journey. As a result, it’s more important than ever that the physical activity sector acts swiftly to address the change in approach and differing training needs, otherwise we could end up in a situation where physical activity professionals are unable to provide effective support due to a
Operators will be looking at how to attract customers on a GLP-1 journey into the gym, and this means physical activity professionals need to think about their training now, future proofing themselves
lack of training and education in adjusting fitness programmes for people using the medication.
In last month’s issue of Well Nation, The Fitness NED, Cheryl Hersey, wrote about the impact on our sector and said, “the real risk lies in ignoring the changing market and being left behind.” I couldn’t agree more.
Operators will be looking at how to attract customers on a GLP-1 journey into the gym, and this means physical activity professionals need to think about their training now, future proofing themselves to ensure they have the skills to cater to the new demands and effectively manage the safety of members.
Within Active IQ, we have been exploring how we can support our workforce, in collaboration with sector partners CIMSPA, ukactive and the Bodyline Clinic. Our aim is to raise awareness of the considerations needed when working with clients on GLP-1 medication to highlight the knowledge and understanding needed.
In December, we collectively delivered a webinar on weight management medication, moving quickly to share information with our industry professionals and highlight future development. This is just the start of our support as we explore how we integrate education on weight loss drugs.
We’re moving quickly but would urge the industry not to rush. Education needs to be of a high enough standard that it holds weight and provides benefits to operators and members for the long-term.
news & trends
Kingfisher Leisure Centre pool to reopen in February
The swimming pool at Kingfisher Leisure Centre in Sudbury will not reopen until February 2025.
The pool was initially forced to close on 23 August after damage was identified to a glass roof panel directly above it. There were hopes it would be a quick repair, but further investigations revealed other roof panels – made of specialist safety glass – were also showing signs of delamination, presenting a more complex problem than first thought. It was then hoped swimmers could return on 11 December. However, Babergh District Council, which owns the leisure centre, has been taking the opportunity to carry out additional repairs and surveys on the pool while it is empty. This has revealed a new problem which requires additional structural work to the pool. This further work is expected to be finished by mid-February, with a new opening date to be confirmed as soon as possible.
Councillor Laura Smith, Babergh’s cabinet member for Thriving
The pool was initially scheduled for a December reopening
Communities, said: “We’re devastated that we’ve had to delay the pool reopening, and we are sorry for the additional disruption.
“We announced a reopening date with full confidence, and it was unexpected when the survey said this additional work was needed.
While it is deeply frustrating that we now have a delay, it is unavoidable. We want the pool to reopen as soon as possible, but we have to put people’s health and safety first.”
The additional work will mean the wave machine is temporarily out of action when it reopens.
CoverMe Fitness app goes live for Australian fitness market
CoverMe Fitness, the on-demand management and cover solution app for fitness professionals, is set to go live in Australia this month.
The app connects qualified fitness professionals with local clubs and studios and has been designed to help health clubs, gyms and studios manage and reward their teams, as well as scout for fresh talent.
Chelsea Clifford has been appointed Vice President of Sales Australia & New Zealand. Clifford owns a women’s strength and conditioning gym on the New South Wales Central Coast and her 20year career has spanned health, fitness and business.
“Exercise as medicine is a core value of mine,” said Clifford, who is a registered nurse. “I want to help group fitness and operational managers navigate their staffing challenges so we can keep the right people in our industry.”
PHOTO:
CoverMe’s VP of Sales for Australia, Chelsea Clifford
Without our partners, much of what we do on behalf of the UK’s fitness and leisure sector would not be possible – the time and resources we dedicate, away from any commercial agenda, to share data and knowledge to inspire industry growth.
In return for their valued support, we place our partners centre stage.
■ At our events – via speaker slots, marketing and hosted roundtables
■ In our communications – from newsletters and website to our flagship reports
■ In our data analysis – with sponsored audit questions and bespoke reports
■ In our relationship-building – brokering new connections and opening new doors
■ In our mission – as we bring partners together to shape the sector’s future
Find out more about our Partnership Programme. Contact dan@leisuredb.com
Physical activity and the NHS –a perfect marriage (after all these years)
Mike Farrar Chair of ukactive
Ok, hands up if you’ve been part of a conversation, in your working life, to help the country and the NHS understand and exploit the benefits of a physically active nation on our economy and the demands for health and care? As I thought, not a soul reading this has their hands down!
So why haven’t we managed to get the perfect marriage we all know from the evidence we should have? Naivety, misplaced trust in common sense, inability to influence priorities, the wrong level of connection, an NHS culture of treatment over prevention, lack of visionary leadership from government and its agencies? I could go on and on.
But instead, I will give you some hope. Recently in Sheffield, ukactive convened a unique group of senior leaders from the NHS, the Government, the physical activity sector, active partnerships, political advisors and system suppliers at the Olympic Legacy Park to help design the first ever ICS blueprint for the relationship between the NHS and the physical activity sector.
This was no talking shop but the opportunity to establish the platform for a comprehensive ICS approach to embedding physical activity into their health and care strategy and priorities for expenditure. The ‘blueprint’ (see the box out to the right) is designed to articulate the ‘how’ to underpin and actually deliver, in practice, Wes Streeting’s commitment to shift the NHS from sickness to prevention – at least with respect to physical activity.
So, watch this space. The leaders who discussed these areas at our meeting in Sheffield have agreed to work together to drive this shared blueprint. This work, once implemented will emerge and inform the
Blueprint: The components of the optimal relationship
1. Coordinate governance and oversight at the most senior level.
2. Establish effective partnerships and networks at place and local neighbourhood level (to supercharge opportunities such as social prescribing).
3. Establish routine data sharing between the sectors.
4. Deliver evidence-based physical activity programmes in prevention, and treatment and care pathways (in mental, physical and social care – standardised and delivered reliably).
5. Deliver specific support to the elective recovery programme (working with both public and private sector providers).
6. Create opportunities for productivity/economic/ workforce growth and employment opportunities (including return to work and reduction in short- and long-term sickness absence).
7. Commit to a shared approach to physical activity promotion, communication and campaigning.
8. Develop existing small and partial interventions into comprehensive, financially sustainable programmes available and accessible to the whole ICS population.
Government’s 10-year vision for the NHS, support growth in the economy through reducing sickness absence, and longer-term economic inactivity, creating local jobs, reducing waiting times for care and improving health outcomes within existing budgets.
A perfect marriage that we’ve seen a glimpse of in Sheffield? Get your new hats ready!
A new era for independent fitness
The 2024 Independent Gym Conference, held on Thursday, 5th December at Cranmore Park, Solihull, was nothing short of a game-changer
With record-breaking numbers in registrations, exhibitors, and attendees, this year’s Independent Gym Conference set a new benchmark for the fitness industry’s independent sector.
It was the second event of the year organised by Independent Gyms and among highlights was a collaboration with Dr Paul Bedford, which brought back the Retention Convention, in person for the first time since lockdown.
“Independent Gyms is built on partnerships, and this one saw our largest-ever event turnout, with a dynamic mix of gym owners, managers, and industry professionals coming together for a day of learning and networking,” says Robert Handy, Founder of Independent Gyms.
“The exhibition hall was packed with the latest in gym equipment, software, and services, offering attendees the chance to discover new tools that could elevate their businesses. Exhibitors showcased innovative products designed to enhance the member experience, improve operational efficiency and drive growth.”
Educational content
The event’s speaker lineup covered a broad spectrum of topics – from marketing strategies to membership models, industry trends and inclusivity. The sessions were aimed at equipping attendees with fresh ideas and practical solutions to stay ahead in the competitive fitness landscape.
Networking is a key component of the annual event, with attendees exchanging ideas, forming new relationships, and discussing the future of the fitness industry. The energy was palpable.
“In all, the 2024 Independent Gym Conference was a resounding success, setting the stage for future events and solidifying its position as the must-attend event for independent gym professionals,” Handy says. “In 2025 we will see a change in our event schedule as we merge our Summer and Winter conferences into on huge two-day event in November 2024.”
David Minton’s dog, Pinot Noir, was a star turn
“Retention guru” Paul Bedford (left) with Independent Gyms founder, Robert Handy.
UK Spa Association continues dynamic growth strategy
Bobby Griffiths General Manager UK Spa Association
After a phenomenal year in 2024, we have outlined our continued growth and development strategy for 2025. The year (2024) saw the key role of General Manager given added vigour as it was developed into a full-time position. This meant that extra time and resources could be added into developing new work streams and subsequent benefits for the association and its members.
In 2024 the we delivered three successful networking events across the country, surpassing previous attendance records and taking on a significant number of new members, both from group operators, suppliers and hotel spas. A quarterly Regional Spa Leadership meeting was added, to discuss fundamental operational challenges in a neutral environment, building a community of support & engagement. Dates are already in place for the whole of 2025 and operators are keen to contribute and become involved.
After a truly fantastic 2024, we are keen to keep up the momentum as we enter 2025
After a previous lack of any UK Spa Industry data, for a number of years, the UK Spa Association initiated a large Spa Industry Survey. The resulting figures were hugely welcomed by both operators and suppliers and the survey will now become a yearly fixture to assist the industry to benchmark effectively. More latterly, in November 2024 we revealed the results of an industry salary and benefits survey. These statistics had never been harvested within the UK Spa Industry and create a crucial starting point for an industry that has long struggled with recruitment and retention, one which has been especially precarious since covid times, resulting with many abandoning the industry altogether.
As we start the new year, the UK Spa Association is keen to continue the successful growth trajectory. Plans include more of the same, with additional strides into education, encompassing getting people into the industry, the qualifications and standards within the industry and how employers can understand these simply. A series of monthly webinars talking to not only industry greats but also a diverse selection of specialists in their own fields, who are not necessarily from a spa or hospitality background but who can still teach and pass on valuable knowledge and nuggets of wisdom.
As more insight is gained through this increased engagement with the industry via regional groups and ongoing survey results, we plan to initiate meaningful conversations to create open debate and ultimately pave the way for significant change and progress for the industry as a whole.
After a truly fantastic 2024, we are keen to keep up the momentum as we enter 2025 and we look forward to contributing towards the growth and development of the sector.
through innovation TACKLING HEALTH INEQUALITIES
Durham County Council is using exercise to improve public health by investing in affordable, inclusive fitness facilities that cater to the diverse needs of its residents
To support communities and address heath inequalities, Durham County Council is investing in Move Hubs, power-assisted exercise studios strategically located across the county.
Through this innovation Durham is leading the way in rethinking how local authorities can champion health and wellness in their communities.
“The ethos behind the Move Hubs is to create an affordable entry level resource which can be used by anyone, whatever their physical activity levels,” says councillor James Rowlandson, Cabinet Member for Resources, Investment and Assets at Durham Council Council. “The Move Hubs are also social spaces where people make friends and enjoy time together in the café afterwards, helping to improve their mental health.
A county-wide initiative
The Move Hubs are a vital part of the council’s leisure transformation programme, which looks to modernise leisure offerings and support health and wellbeing across the population. The hubs also form a key element of the council’s Move initiative, stemming from the successful 2021-22 ‘Move’ behavioural change campaign, launched to combat declining activity levels among key groups identified by Public Health
England research after Covid-19. Target audiences include older adults, individuals with disabilities and those with long-term health conditions.
“We developed the ‘Move’ brand to connect with residents and encourage them to introduce some more movement or increase their mobility,” says Rowlandson. “The programme has been designed to offer a range of leisure activities that suit all ages and fitness levels.”
The council collaborated with Alliance Leisure on its transformation programme, working with its marketing agency, TA6, to create and deliver the campaign. The goal was to educate communities on the benefits of active lifestyles, improve mental health, prevent ill-health and promote healthy, sustainable communities.
Among the successes of the campaign were 3,058 funded memberships, with 354 converting to full paid memberships, and an increase of 2,730 leisure centre memberships across the county.
“To sustain the campaign’s success, we rebranded the entire wellbeing offer to Move, incorporating initiatives like Move Walking and Move Classes,” Rowlandson adds. “Move Hubs were central to inspiring non-traditional exercisers to embrace physical activity in a welcoming, supported environment.”
Many view it as a social event as well as a way to improve their physical fitness
Safe and sociable exercise options
The Move Hubs are more than gyms. Equipped with specialist power-assisted exercise machines from Innerva, they offer safe, supported and social wellbeing spaces where people can improve their mobility and manage chronic health conditions. Staff work with local GPs, the NHS and charities to encourage client referrals into each Move Hub.
“Customers like to attend at the same time each week and with the same group of people, as many view it as a social event as well as a way to improve their physical fitness,” explains Rowlandson.
To date, the council has invested £750,000 in three Move Hubs. Access to the Move Hubs are included in the council’s Thrive Move membership, a noncontract option giving members unlimited use of any Move Hub as well as other facilities and programmes at its leisure centres. Membership costs £17 per month (concession) and £26 per month (standard).
A model for public leisure?
The Move Hubs are positioned across the county to address the unique needs of each community. The first hub, at Abbey Leisure Centre, Durham, opened in July 2023 with 12 pieces of Innerva’s power-assisted equipment. Membership reached 300 in the first year, prompting plans to add a MOTOmed bike and extend opening hours to meet high demand. Most users are aged 55+, with 77 per cent aged over 66 and 14 per cent aged over 81. The oldest customer at the Abbey Leisure Centre Move hub is in their 90s.
The second Move Hub opened at the Louisa Centre in Stanley in July 2024, and reached 140 members by October. “We’re already seeing different types of members at this site - 11 per cent are under 55,” says Rowlandson.
The third hub, which opened at Teesdale Leisure Centre in Barnard Castle in November, targets a 55+ population with 21 per cent experiencing
In general, Move Hub users are 55 and over –but most customers are aged 66 and above
limited daily activity. The existing gym had a 26 per cent take up among those aged 55+ and the council aims to transition some of these to the new hub, while working with local groups to engage those most in need of increased activity.
“In general, Move Hub users are 55 and over but most customers are aged 66 and above. These are new customers who are unlikely to use a traditional gym,” Rowlandson says.
Durham County Council is committed to providing sustainable and inclusive health and wellness solutions for its residents. Its pioneering Move Hub model demonstrates how local authorities can tackle health disparities to build healthier and more connected communities.
Most customers are aged 66 and above. These are new customers who are unlikely to use a traditional gym
WHAT DO THE USERS SAY?
CHRISTINE – 69
“Following an accident while out on a dog walk I suffered a broken leg, shattered shoulder, ruptured axillary artery and broken kneecap. This led to me needing a shoulder replacement and suffering complex regional pain syndrome type I. I no longer need a wheelchair and am able to walk without sticks and a limp and have gained 70 per cent use of arm and shoulder.
“I am more independent as my husband had to do everything for me, including dressing and showering me. I can now do that by myself. The main challenge was that I had got as far as I could at the physio. The fact that I made friends here made it easy to attend. Seeing improvements is so enjoyable and we often treat ourselves with a coffee!”
TONY – 64
“I really enjoy the company, everyone has made me welcome, including the staff. This is the only ‘gym’ I have consistently attended in my entire life. I have had a hip and knee replacement and a fused foot following an old sports injury and in March 2022 I suffered a stroke.
“The GP recommended exercise, my neighbour is a local councillor and had been to the Move Hub when Abbey re-opened and recommended I come and give it a go. I now have better movement, especially in my lower limbs in the last three months.
“I can now bend down and walk better. I live nearby so walk here to help get my steps in. I worried about retiring and having too much time but this has been a great routine. Sometimes I was in pain when I woke up and didn’t want to come – but I did and found the pain eased once I started exercising. I was considering moving to the main gym as I am fit enough to do so now, but I really like the social aspect of the hub and have made friends here.”
SUCCESS LONG-TERM
Longwell Green Active Lifestyle Centre in Bristol, operated by Circardian Trust, was one of only four UK facilities to have achieved Outstanding Quest rating in 2024. Centre manager, Martyn Hinam says the accreditation demonstrates the Trust’s progress
Circadian Trust, a social enterprise which operates five Active Lifestyle Centres on behalf of South Gloucestershire Council, has been part of Sport England’s Quest continuous improvement programme for more than two decades. This year (2024), Longwell Green Active Lifestyle Centre, which joined the programme shortly after its opening in 2007, achieved an Outstanding rating in its most recent Quest assessment.
Assessing excellence
The accolade is no small feat. It was one out of only four leisure centres in England to receive this prestigious honour. The centre’s manager, Martyn Hinam, admits even he was surprised but very pleased by the news.
Longwell Green recently underwent a £750,000 gym refurbishment
PHOTO: CIRCADIAN TRUST
“The assessor explained that only 12% of centres achieve excellent for their mystery visit, and even fewer score excellent on both the mystery visit and the two-day assessment,” Hinam says.
“It’s a pretty impressive achievement and a testament to the hard work of the entire team.”
To achieve Outstanding, a facility must not only score excellent in the Quest Plus two-day assessment, but also in the mystery visit assessment, and pass the compliance declaration (health and safety) module on the day of the assessment. However, for Hinam and his team, this recognition is not an endpoint but a marker on their ongoing journey of improvement.
“There are always areas we can improve upon. I’m a firm believer in continual improvement,” Hinam notes.
“This result is definitely recognition, but my team and I are of the mindset we can always do better.”
Continuous improvement
Circadian Trust’s commitment to constant enhancement is clear. Recently, Longwell Green underwent a £750K gym refurbishment, which has already drawn positive feedback from customers.
However, as Hinam points out, the team also welcomes constructive criticism. “We’re grateful when people tell us where we haven’t done as well, because it means we can take action to improve. We try to
step away from the emotion, look at what’s really happening, and focus on finding solutions,” he explains.
While each of Circadian’s five centres has its own management team, they all share insights from their Quest assessments, fostering collaboration and improvement across the board. “If you do Quest in isolation, you might get some good results, but when we share feedback and ideas between centres, we see a positive difference overall,” Hinam says.
This collective approach has led to impressive outcomes, and it’s one of the reasons Circadian has chosen to engage in the more comprehensive Quest Plus assessment. This two-day evaluation delves deeper into various aspects of the centres’ operations, providing a more detailed and thorough analysis of performance. “The two-day assessment gives us more depth. It helps us focus on improvements and hold ourselves accountable,” Hinam explains.
Proactive preparation
Over the years, Circadian Trust’s teams have also consistently improved in gathering evidence to support their progress. This proactive approach puts them in a stronger position, both in terms of centre performance and during Quest assessments. For example, the team monitors swimming lessons closely, tracking attrition rates, average yield and other metrics.
The centre first opened to the public in 2007
By the time the Quest assessment comes around, they already have the necessary information at their fingertips, ensuring they can effectively demonstrate the centre’s achievements and progress.
Quest Plus covers six compulsory modules, including Customer Journey, Operational Management, Managing the Team and Compliance Declaration. The latter focuses on legislative checks for running a leisure centre. Additionally, two further modules, Tackling Inequalities and Environmental Management, help centres create more inclusive and environmentally friendly operations.
On the second day of the assessment, centres can choose from various optional modules. One of these is Exercise Referral Standard, which aims to enhance the consistency of exercise referral schemes. Another is Accessible Facilities, which focuses on conducting a physical audit of the centre from the perspective of inclusivity. A compulsory module, Planning to Improve, helps centres establish clear, measurable business objectives to guide their future progress.
Learning from feedback
Hinam credits the Tackling Inequalities module with having a particularly significant impact on how he and his team approach their work. “Several years ago, one of the Quest assessors advised me to step back and consider our partners, our environment, and the local community,” Hinam recalls. “That advice has had one of the most positive impacts, especially at Kingswood Leisure Centre.”
Hinam took this guidance to heart and began reaching out to different people and organisations in the local area. One particularly successful initiative came about through collaboration with the local council and police.
The result was free weekly football sessions for children aged seven-to-16, held during off-peak times. The council provided the equipment, the police ran the sessions and Circadian offered the sports hall. “The sessions became really popular and we had a lot of positive feedback. It brought new people into the centre who might not have come otherwise,” Hinam explains.
This proactive approach to community engagement has shaped how Hinam operates today. He regularly works with local community leaders to gain insights into what’s happening in the area and identify where Circadian can make a positive impact.
Additionally, Hinam is a school governor at a specialist school for social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs and speech, language, and
PHOTO: CIRCADIAN
The Quest Plus inspection covered every aspect of the centre’s operations
communication needs (SLCN). He’s also a Tai Chi instructor. “Being involved with the school not only allows me to share my experience but also raises awareness of what we offer at the centres.
“It’s given the school the opportunity to use Kingswood’s facilities for swimming lessons, and the positive impact on the local community is clear,” he says.
A positive partnership
Hinam is grateful for the support and advice Circadian has received over the years through its participation in Quest. He describes the Quest assessors as highly experienced professionals who provide practical recommendations in a supportive, non-judgmental way.
“The assessors are really clear – they’re not telling us we have to make certain changes, they’re offering suggestions. And those suggestions have been invaluable,” Hinam says.
He believes the Quest process has helped Circadian focus on continuous improvement, which in turn has had a positive effect on customer satisfaction and retention. “Improving standards leads to happier customers, which ultimately increases retention. It’s a win-win,” he claims.
Sharing the knowledge
With a career that spans David Lloyd, Holmes Place, Fitness First and Marriott, Hinam has plenty of experience to draw from. Now, he’s preparing to take on a new challenge – becoming a Quest assessor himself. “I love working for a leisure trust and giving back to the community. The work we do makes a real difference to people, and that’s why it’s so important to get it right,” he says.
Hinam says he is passionate about mentoring the next generation of managers, helping them develop the skills needed to carry on the work Circadian has started. “I train, coach and develop my managers so they can, in turn, train the next set of managers. That’s how we continue to improve – by passing on our knowledge and always looking for ways to do things better.”
As he prepares to take on Quest assessments across the country, Hinam is eager to share his expertise with other leisure centres. He says: “I’ve learned so much from my own Quest assessments, and I hope I can help others benefit from my experience. Ultimately, it’s about creating environments where people feel supported, engaged and part of a community – that’s when the real magic happens.”
