Workout Weekly August 25 2023

WEEKLY

Issue 149 - 25 August 2023

YOUR REGULAR ONLINE UPDATE FOR THE UK FITNESS SCENE

ukactive and partners ramp up plans for National Fitness Day – page 4

Last chance to enter the 2023 National Fitness Awards – details start on page 6

New partnership aims to harness the potential of emerging technologies

ALLIANCE Leisure has teamed up with Ollie Bell, an emerging technologies consultant and co-founder of Roster, a Web3 education business, to support the sustainability and growth of its business.

John Leaver, marketing and framework director, said: “The world is changing and its changing fast. Web3 and blockchain technologies are presenting opportunities to improve data efficiencies and securities at all levels of the supply chain whilst AI and machine learning are driving faster and more informed decisions that have the potential to reduce costs and improve delivery times.

“As a forward-thinking innovator within the leisure development space, it is vital that the Alliance Leisure team recognise the possibilities and understand how technologies might be applied to drive efficiencies and improve outcomes, both for our own business and for our clients.

“Working with Ollie and Roster, we are providing training and education to our teams that includes the exploration of practical examples of how these new technologies are already being used by other companies and industries to solve problems and improve efficiencies.

“For example, HM Land Registry is already working with a digital specialist to explore how smart contracts and blockchain technology could improve security and efficiencies at all stages of property and land transfer.

We want to learn from best practice and apply it to our own model and processes.”

Ollie is the former commercial director at the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity and graduate from the Oxford University Blockchain Strategy Programme. He added: “Digitalisation and new technologies offer tremendous opportunities but a lack of understanding and knowledge often hinders their adoption.

“Working with curious, industry leaders such as Alliance Leisure, we are demystifying these technologies and creating a trusted point of entry looking for anyone looking to harness the power of Web3.

“Through the application of unique learning models, we simplify what many consider to be an overwhelming field and empower people to step into the Web3 arena with knowledge and confidence, supported by a network of industry innovators.”

Alliance Leisure is no newcomer to innovation and the adoption of cutting-edge technology.

Commercial director Paul Cluett added: “We keep our finger on the technology pulse to ensure the services and products we recommend and integrate for clients take advantage of the latest advances.

“We were the first to install an immersive cycle studio in Scotland, we introduced TAGactive – the digitally gamified adventure play arena for all ages - to the public sector and we are currently working with FlareForm on the roll out of their immersive Future Studios.

“This new partnership with Roster is an extension of our commitment to innovate, learn and stay ahead of industry trends. By harnessing the power of emerging technologies, we will drive evolution within the leisure and leisure development industries to ensure ongoing exceptional service delivery to clients.”

Life Leisure brings summer fun to St Peter’s Primary School

PUPILS at St Peter’s Catholic Primary School in Hazel Grove have been enjoying some exclusive holiday camps thanks to a scheme by Life Leisure.

The activity sessions, which are run by Life Leisure’s Active Communities team, have been organised to provide children with activities and care throughout the year, particularly when St Peter’s school holiday dates differ to the rest of Stockport primary schools.

Around 35 children a day attended the camps to enjoy a range of activities organised by the leisure club, including treasure hunts, dodgeball, football, pickleball, dancing, bowling, giant Jenga, cricket, lacrosse and much more.

Sam Roberts, lead coach at Life Leisure, added: “We love running these activity camps and look forward to them each summer.

“Not only are they a huge help for parents, but we get to have a great time ensuring children in our community stay active and healthy.

“As well as the usual football, pickleball and dancing, we also enjoyed a beach day in the rain, where the children made mocktails and had ice lollies. It was a lot of fun.”

Director of Operations: Dominic Musgrave Tel: 01226 734407 dm@scriptmediagroup.co.uk

Studio manager: Paul Hopkinson ph@scriptmediagroup.co.uk

Assistant studio manager: Scott Firth sf@scriptmediagroup.co.uk

Sport for Confidence makes shortlist

SPORT For Confidence CIC has been shortlisted for a Public Health Champion Award, part of the annual, national Chief Allied Health Professions Officer Awards.

The awards programme, now in its seventh year, promotes the adoption and dissemination of good practice whilst celebrating the dedication, innovation, leadership and success of individuals and teams.

The awards are open to all members of the allied health professions community and nominations are made by peers or individuals themselves.

into a whole system approach to adult health and social care.

the shortlist for this prestigious award.

www.workoutuk.co.uk

Lindsey Barrett, founder of Sport for Confidence, said: “Even just being shortlisted for this prestigious award is an amazing achievement for the team.

“Our application was focused on the work we delivered as part of a groundbreaking Prevention and Enablement model that embedded physical activity

“The project was a test and learn Local Delivery Pilot in Essex and delivered by us in partnership with Adult Social Care at Essex County Council, Active Essex.

“The project outcomes, independently evaluated by the University of Essex and State of Life, evidenced a £58.72 return in social value for every £1 invested.

We are extremely proud to have made

“Doing so not only helps us promote the success of PEM, it also recognises and rewards the dedication and hard work of every coach, occupational therapist, participant, volunteer, supporting partner and leisure centre team member involved in the project delivery.”

Award winners will be announced at a virtual awards evening on October

ukactive and partners ramp up plans for National Fitness Day

NATIONAL Fitness Day 2023 will kick-off with a special event in Manchester, ukactive has announced, as the countdown begins with just one month to go.

On Wednesday, September 20 the sector will unite, under the theme of ‘Your Health is for Life’, to help millions of people from all communities and backgrounds celebrate the power of physical activity and the lifelong benefits of being active.

This year, for the first time, ukactive will be hosting the National Fitness Day kick-off event in Manchester, alongside GMActive and its Prehab4Cancer programme.

A live Prehab4Cancer workout will be held with patients at Salford Sports Village, helping to showcase a powerful example of the role of physical activity in our lives. Since its launch in 2019, the programme has supported more than 4,000 people affected by cancer before, during and after their treatment, improving their chances of recovery and their mental health at the same time.

The programme is one example of the way physical activity is helping to improve the population’s health and wellbeing.

This, in turn, can reduce pressure on the NHS and help those people out of work get back into the workplace – two of the Government’s

biggest challenges.

Jack Murphy, Prehab4Cancer’s programme manager, said: “We often hear how an exercise regime is the last thing on a patient’s mind when they’re referred to us, but the vast majority quickly see the benefits that mean they’re likely to spend less time in hospital, have a shorter recovery period and adopt a more active lifestyle in the future.

“This National Fitness Day, we’re proud to be able to put a spotlight on the programme and further support the message on the day of the real importance of keeping active for everyone – especially for people affected by cancer that have so much to gain.”

This year, National Fitness Day is also partnering with men’s mental health charity, Movember, and the world’s largest sports reward platform, Endurance Zone, to encourage millions of people to take the first step in their health journey.

In what has been another challenging year for the sector following the energy crisis and the pandemic, National Fitness Day is also a reminder of the essential role of the physical activity sector in supporting our health, happiness and productivity.

The campaign now represents the UK’s most active day of the year and is powered by thousands of gyms, swimming pools, leisure centres,

sports clubs and other providers, hosting a huge range of free activities for people to try.

Huw Edwards, CEO of ukactive, added: “This year’s theme for National Fitness Day is the perfect reminder of the importance of prioritising our health and wellbeing across our lifetime.

“Physical activity is key to this, and we are really excited to be hosting our kick-off event in Manchester, showcasing an example of how our sector is supporting cancer patients.

“With just one month to go, plans are well underway and we’re looking forward to seeing the great events our members will be hosting – inspiring as many people as possible to get involved and become more active all year round.”

Schools and workplaces across the UK are encouraged to take part, whether by hosting a ’10@10’ with 10 minutes’ of physical activity at 10am, or by putting on a group activity to encourage pupils and employees to celebrate the day.

The National Fitness Day Location Finder can help people to find their nearest venue simply by entering their postcode.

Activity providers also have access to the Digital Campaign toolkit, which is filled with useful resources and suggestions on how to promote the day and the events that they will be holding, both in-person and online.

Adam opens second gym in collaboration with PRIMAL

FITNESS expert and Love Island star Adam Collard has launched his second fitness centre in the north-east in collaboration with celebrity-favourite UK strength brand, PRIMAL.

The first Sculpt Fitness site opened in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 2018 to rave reviews.

The second site, Sculpt Ashington, opened recently at Hedley Trade Park in North Seaton, Ashington.

It is bigger, better and designed to be a blueprint for future franchise plans, offering personal and group training sessions, infrared saunas, and state-ofthe-art premium PRIMAL equipment.

Adam said: “This is a fitness hub that will provide strength training, body building, functional fitness, and classbased training with state-of-the-art equipment. I want it to provide the best hour of everyone’s day.

“The team at PRIMAL has been amazing. They’ve been there every step of the way, from helping us to find the best location, advising on the sizing and positioning of every aspect of the gym and even helping us to design our membership software and entry systems.

“They truly left no stone unturned when it came to their holistic approach of designing the space.”

The new site has been completely designed and fitted out by PRIMAL, whose other clients include Gary Barlow, Tom Stoltman (World’s Strongest Man

champion), as well as professional football clubs such as Burnley FC and Chelsea Women’s.

PRIMAL has been key in every aspect of Sculpt Ashington’s design, from concept to creation. Strength training equipment and cardio machines, light fittings to

flooring, every inch of this fitness space has been curated with PRIMAL passion. The gym floor has been strategically planned to offer a seamless flow and maximise efficiency throughout, with dedicated zones that cater to every aspect of your workout.

From a spacious and fully equipped strength training zone to a cuttingedge cardio zone that boasts the latest in fitness technology, each area is thoughtfully arranged to provide ample room for movement and exploration. State-of-the-art equipment has been carefully selected to deliver exceptional performance and versatility.

From advanced cardio machines that transport you to virtual landscapes to a comprehensive range of free weights and resistance machines that cater to every muscle group, the space promises to empower fitness fanatics to push their boundaries and achieve remarkable results.

Alongside the innovative technology, the centre boasts unlimited access to expert-delivered classes, saunas for recovery and flexible membership plans.

Steven Rinaldi, founder and CEO of PRIMAL, added: “This is the second facility we have worked with Adam on and represents the strong partnerships that we have with our commercial clients and exhibits our commitment to helping them grow their business long-term.

“The gym space is something special and a place that I know the people of Ashington are going to love.

“Sculpt’s ethos and vision to empower everyone, no matter their ability, to achieve their full potential really aligns with the PRIMAL story, and so we are incredibly proud to be supporting Adam on this latest opening.”

Adam Collard

Outdoor Fitness Concepts partners with Omnigym for new initiative

OUTDOOR Fitness Concepts, the turnkey outdoor gym equipment and solutions provider, is launching a new, National Outdoor Fitness Initiative in partnership with Omnigym, offering the brand’s state-of-the-art outdoor strength equipment for free to councils, local authorities and leisure operators, for installation in parks and other public spaces.

The new initiative is based on a six-week free trial aimed at promoting active lifestyles and improving health and wellness in UK communities, with access to outdoor strength training equipment which is certified EN 16630:2015 compliant and has been scientifically proven to be as good as or better than indoor gym equipment.

Steve Perrins, founder and chief executive officer of Outdoor Fitness Concepts, said: “From day one, Outdoor Fitness Concepts’ goal has been simple – to create incredible outdoor gyms and fitness spaces that inspire people to become more active, and help them manage health conditions and improve long term health outcomes.

“Many European countries have already seen the benefits from this initiative, and we firmly believe that there is great potential in the UK to transform public spaces into hubs of wellness, providing a convenient, accessible space for communities to

come together, engage in physical activity, and prioritise their health.

“By collaborating with local authorities, councils and leisure operators, we aim to create vibrant, accessible outdoor fitness environments for all abilities that promote healthy living within

communities.”

According to research analysis from 32 countries around the world, only 17.3 per cent of individuals meet the recommended guidelines for both aerobic exercise and muscle strengthening activities.

The National Outdoor Fitness

Initiative provides a unique opportunity for UK councils and leisure trusts to introduce the world’s leading outdoor strength equipment from Omnigym, for free, to outdoor spaces in the heart of local communities.

Outdoor Fitness Concepts will install up to nine pieces of variable load strength equipment, including wheelchair-accessible pieces, all mounted on moveable platforms and able to be placed on any level surface.

The equipment will be installed with Omnigym SMART data sensors to measure a range of usage statistics.

During the initial six-week trial period, Outdoor Fitness Concepts will share data and detailed feedback from users to support future health and fitness strategies and potential funding opportunities.

In a 2022 initiative conducted by Omnigym across eight European countries, 99 per cent of the respondents wanted the outdoor fitness area to remain a permanent fixture, and 83 per cent of the respondents considered the equipment to be “as good” or “better than” indoor equipment.

Data from three outdoor gyms that took part in the initiative in 2022 also counted nearly 100,000 visits and 11 million reps over a 12-month period.

Mytime Active welcomes Deputy Mayor to its Primetime Summer Soiree

SOCIAL enterprise Mytime Active hosted a special Summer Soiree for its Primetime and MyClub members at Orpington Golf Club.

Attended by the Deputy Mayor of Bromley, Councillor Keith Onslow, and the Deputy Mayoress, Sara Onslow, the event welcomed more than 100 people who enjoyed an afternoon filled with fun, friendship and an afternoon tea.

Deputy Mayor of Bromley, Councillor Keith Onslow, said: “We were absolutely delighted to come and support this important event, which really brought residents together for a fun and active summer afternoon.

“Events like this always make me proud of Bromley, as they are so important to our communities and ensuring residents have supportive groups and networks they can rely on.”

The Primetime and MyClub members were entertained by local singer Mikey, who had everyone up on their feet singing and dancing by the end of the afternoon.

Mytime Active’s Primetime programme has been offering recreational activities, events, sports, dance and keep fit classes for over 60s since 2008.

Activities are designed to help people to move more every day, socialise and make new friends. MyClub is for adults with special educational needs or disabilities, and offers functional

exercises delivered in a fun way, dance parties and Zumba, golf, multi sports and bowling in fun, sociable and supportive groups.

Mytime Active runs several fully inclusive events each year for members to come together, catch up and celebrate their successes alongside them.

This fully inclusive event welcomed people from across Mytime Active’s diverse community, many of whom would not have had the confidence to attend the event without the support

of Mytime Active’s extended team of instructors, volunteers and friends created within the classes.

Jason Stanton, CEO of Mytime Active, added: “Our Primetime membership goes above and beyond for older adults, and this event was no exception.

“The success of the Primetime and MyClub Programmes lies in our understanding of the fact that starting exercise and meeting new people can be challenging.

“We passionately advocate for our

inclusion initiatives and we’re thrilled the Deputy Mayor chose to support this wonderful event.”

Managed by Ann Wilbourn, Primetime has expanded to offer more than 90 physical activity sessions each week, including specialised programmes for those with limited mobility and fitness. Primetime memberships have grown from 80 in 2008 to more than 2,500 today.

The MyClub programme was initially funded by Community Links to encourage special educational needs groups following the pandemic. The programme now attracts around 110 attendees every week and has been self-funded for more than a year. It will be celebrating its first birthday on 1 September.

Mytime Active is working in partnership with Bromley Council to reduce loneliness and isolation in the community, supporting its loneliness strategy, championed by the Mayor of Bromley, through events such as the Summer Soiree.

Ann added: “The Primetime and MyClub programmes are not all about fitness and activity. The social side of things and being able to meet with likeminded people in a safe and supportive environment is just as important. One of our key phrases is no one is alone at Primetime and MyClub.”

NOMINATION FORM

Category entered:

Gym name:

Gym opened: Postcode:

Full address:

Telephone number: Job title: Mobile number:

Main contact:

Email:

Total size (in sqm) of the gym/centre (including pool, studios etc):

What is the total of your current membership:

What is the total number of staff (Full Time):

What is the total number of staff (Part Time):

How many studios (if any) do you have:

Facilities provided: (tick all that apply)

Gym facilities Sports hall Pool Creche Restaurant/cafe Spa facilities

Do you offer any other facilities? Please specify:

Do you offer any classes? Please specifiy:

Person making nomination:

Telephone number of person making nomination:

Email of person making nomination:

Supporting information must be sent to via email to events@scriptmedia.co.uk (tick if evidence sent)

Please see overleaf for the rest of the form

Please return to: Megan Prince, Script Events, Script Media Group LTD, 47 Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S70 2AS

NOMINATION FORM

Please state, in 300 words or less, why you are entering the category indicated and why you think that your gym/centre/individual should be shortlisted:

Please see overleaf for the rest of the form

Please return to: Megan Prince, Script Events, Script Media Group LTD, 47 Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S70 2AS