Workout Weekly December 23

ISSUE 1 May

WEEKLY

Issue 125 - 23 December 2022

YOUR REGULAR ONLINE UPDATE FOR THE UK FITNESS SCENE

ukactive and Sport England report charts sector’s progress on digital maturity – page 2 Work begins on pavilion at community sports hub – page 3

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WORKOUT WEEKLY

ukactive and Sport England report charts sector’s progress on digital maturity FITNESS and leisure operators are set to accelerate their digital strategies in 2023, after participation in the Digital Futures consultation doubled, ukactive and Sport England have revealed.

The Digital Futures 2022 report is based on consultation with 93 public and private operators (up from 44 in 2021), representing more than 1,800 sites across the UK (up from 1,300 in 2021) and serving an estimated 4.5 million members nationwide.

The report provides an updated review of the digital maturity and effectiveness of the UK’s fitness and leisure sector, with operators using ukactive’s free Digital Maturity and Effectiveness Index Tool to obtain their score and advice about the next steps to take.

Using more than 6,700 data points, experts from digital consultancy Rewrite Digital are able to provide a year-onyear measure of progress for the sector, benchmarked against other sectors.

Huw Edwards, CEO of ukactive, said: “We are hugely encouraged to see more operators engaged in our Digital Futures consultation and taking advantage of our free index tool to help improve their businesses.

“Our latest findings present the most comprehensive case yet for investment in digital strategies by fitness and leisure operators, providing them with the evidence and recommendations needed to drive improvements.

Huw Edwards

“Digital transformation will play a fundamental role in creating a first-class, inclusive fitness experience for every customer in the UK, helping us to get more people active than ever.

“With the support of Sport England and our strategic partners, we will continue to engage and support organisations from every level on each step their journey.”

Key findings of Digital Futures 2022: n The overall score for the sector’s digital maturity and effectiveness is 51 per cent in 2022 (down from 55 per cent in 2021). The index describes this level (40-59 per cent) as ‘Digital Experimenter’, typically meaning that operators are making great strides forward but missing the investment, goal alignment and rapid advances to yield a strong

performance. n Operators who participated in both the 2021 and 2022 consultations scored higher on average than last year, indicating a positive impact on performance. n Three operators reached Digital Leader status, scoring 80 per cent or more, compared to just one in 2021. n 24 per cent of operators scored less than 40 per cent, compared to just 11 per cent in 2021. n As with last year, private operators score higher than public operators for all areas of digital, with university operators scoring lower still.

The decline in the overall scores is attributed in part to higher participation among smaller operators this year, which commonly achieve lower scores, as well as the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic – with the reopening of facilities reducing dependency on digital.

Improvements in an organisation’s understanding of digital can also lead to lower scores, as the self-assessments become more advanced and critical.

The report provides a series of strategic and practical recommendations for operators of all sizes to improve their approach, from developing a digital strategy, to personalisation, gaining consumer insights, customer experiences, and digital inclusion.

The publication is the second annual report of its kind and is supported by

ukactive strategic partners Gladstone, Myzone, EGYM, Les Mills, Technogym and Xplor. It forms part of ukactive’s Digital Futures strategy, as well as Sport England’s Uniting the Movement strategy.

The aim of the strategy is to help improve the application of digital by all fitness and leisure operators, with the ultimate objective of creating a sector that can meet the needs and demands of everyone in the community, ensuring full digital accessibility and inclusivity.

As such, it also forms part of ukactive’s proposed shared ambition for growth with the Government and partners – helping gyms, pools and leisure facilities to reach more than five million new members by 2030. ukactive and Sport England will run the consultation for a third year in 2023, in order to further calibrate the measurement of the sector’s digital maturity.

A broader approach will also see the partners engage and support National Governing Bodies, the Active Partnership Network, and other organisations in the physical activity ecosystem, while continuing to provide practical resources on a number of subjects.

Plans are also underway to benchmark the sector with territories outside of the UK in order to achieve a wider perspective and to learn from global leaders.

NCFE acquires Active IQ to combine strengths of both organisations EDUCATIONAL charity NCFE has acquired awarding organisation Active IQ in order to combine the strengths of both organisations and offer a broader portfolio of qualifications for the benefit of all customers and learners.

Active IQ, an awarding organisation and apprenticeship end-point assessment organisation, focused on qualifications and career pathways in the physical activity and wellness sector, will continue to operate independently with all current colleagues retained, in recognition of their specialist expertise and customer relationships.

Jenny Patrickson

NCFE’s priority is to secure the future of the highly respected Active IQ brand, growing the influence of the organisation and ensuring its continued success so that they can positively impact the lives of more learners through education.

David Gallagher, chief executive of NCFE, said: “We’re delighted to add Active IQ to the NCFE portfolio.

We chose to make this acquisition because both organisations are aligned in vision and purpose.

“Active IQ, like NCFE, prides itself on exceptional customer service and high-quality, transformational learning experiences that lead to real career outcomes.

“NCFE was born in 1848 from the belief that no learner should be left behind. We’ve reimagined our organisation many times over our 170+ years, remaining true to this core purpose of promoting and advancing learning.

“As we embark on this next phase of our evolution with the inclusion of Active IQ, we’ll continue to be centred on making a difference for those who matter most – our beneficiaries.

“Through our combined portfolio, I believe we can better service a broader range of learners and fulfil current and future skills needs.”

Jenny Patrickson, managing director of Active IQ, added: “I’m delighted and excited that Active IQ has joined the NCFE portfolio.

“As we approach our 20th year of operation, I believe that this acquisition presents significant opportunities for Active IQ to continue its growth and reach, in its mission to change lives through education and to positively influence the wellbeing of individuals and society.

“There is much synergy between

Active IQ and NCFE in our core purpose, vision and values and I am confident that joining the NCFE group will enable Active IQ to build on everything we have achieved since we were established in 2003.

“Active IQ will continue to operate independently, with our customers at the heart of everything we do, and I’m very much looking forward to this next phase of Active IQ’s journey alongside our new colleagues at NCFE.”

WORKOUT WEEKLY

Operator invests more than £1million in its fitness equipment as part of wide-scale facility upgrades PARKWOOD Leisure has invested more than £1million over the past 12 months in new fitness equipment, as part of the operator’s plans to upgrade its leisure centres and improve its offering to members.

In partnership with Life Fitness, Parkwood Leisure has installed new gym equipment in more than 20 of its leisure centres across England and Wales.

This includes the new Tarka Leisure Centre, which opened in North Devon in June.

The 110-station gym is one of the operator’s largest fitness facilities, and forms part of the new £15million site which is also home to three group exercise studios, two pools, six indoor tennis courts and outdoor sports facilities.

More than £200,000 has also been invested in the Vale of Glamorgan’s Penarth and Barry Leisure Centres, with both facilities receiving full gym equipment upgrades in December.

Group indoor cycling studios at Rushcliffe Arena, Cardiff International Pool, Hengrove Park and Sidcup Leisure Centres were all upgraded with new ICG® bikes, providing users with a unique group cycling experience through ICG®’s Coach by Color training system.

The four facilities also saw upgrades across the gym floors, with new strength equipment, as well as cardio with the latest technology and entertainment

options, also installed.

Members at Bicester, Scotch Horn, and Erith Leisure Centres, alongside Parkwood Health and Fitness in Salisbury, have also benefited from new strength training equipment, whilst further equipment upgrades have been made to the gyms at Crook Log, Crosby, and Penzance Leisure Centres.

Operations director Alex Godfrey said:

“The gyms are at the heart of many of our leisure centres and it’s vital that we keep up to date with industry trends, and continue to evolve our offering to make sure we’re catering to our members’ needs. Fitness equipment is also only one area that we’ve invested in, and with more than £1million spent in our gyms this year alone, we’re helping to encourage even more

people to get healthy and active within the communities that we serve, with further plans underway for investment in a number of sites over the next six months.”

As well as the new facility upgrades already planned, next year will also see the launch of the new £16million Bingham Arena in Rushcliffe, which is set to open in early 2023.

Work begins on pavilion at community sports hub ALLIANCE Leisure has been appointed through the UK Leisure Framework to design and build the new pavilion as part of a £13million investment to create a community sports hub in Barking Replacing an old building deemed no longer fit for purpose, the new Pavilion will support 16 new, natural grass pitches and three full-size 3G artificial grass pitches already in place.

Housing a gym, a studio, changing and shower facilities, a food and beverage provision plus several multipurpose meeting and education rooms, the new Pavilion will become the heartbeat of the sports hub, creating a much-needed community 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 Sales: Tony Barry Tel: 01226 734605 tb@scriptmediagroup.co.uk

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facility in the east London borough.

Greg Walker, business development manager at Alliance Leisure, said: “Once complete, this purpose-built sports facility will become an integral part of community life, creating a permanent home for May and Baker FC whilst also providing a first-class facility for a range of another sports club.

“The inclusion of the Pavilion not only supports players but also provides a venue for schools and grassroots sports clubs to hold meetings and education sessions, whilst the gym and studio, along with the food and beverage facilities, present income generating

opportunities to drive commercial sustainability.

The project is being funded by a £6.2million grant from the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation, supported by a £6.1million investment from Barking and Dagenham Council. Further contributions have also been donated

by London Marathon Charitable Trust and Greater London Authority.

Once operational, the Sports Hub will be operated by the charity, Leisure United.

All surplus income will be reinvested back into grassroots football in the borough creating a sustainable future for the sport.

Reach Wellness with FIVE Concept at Third Space Moorgate REACH Wellness has recently installed innovative fitness and wellness solutions at the new Third Space Moorgate Club.

“We are delighted that Third Space Clubs London continue to return to Reach Wellness to procure cutting edge technology for their UK clubs,” said Jeff Davis, managing director of Reach Wellness.

Third Space Canary Wharf was the first UK Club to install a comprehensive line of FIVE Concept Equipment six years ago, subsequently adding multiple Fascial Stimulator Machines at their other clubs located at London Bridge, Soho, City, Islington and Mayfair.

In a first for the UK, Reach Wellness has also installed the Mescan by Cardioscan (Germany).

“Mescan has a stunning design that

intrinsically demands attention and is a perfect fit for Third Space Clubs,” added Jeff.

The Mescan is the “self check of the future” combining BIA – Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis and PPG – Photoplethysmyography to measure body composition, heart rate variability, oxygen saturation levels and stress levels.

When used in conjunction with the Vicoach App, and after an initial consultation with a personal trainer, members can determine their recovery status, fitness status, survey their nutritional parameters and manage their fitness/ training plan.

“Recovery and Regeneration are becoming an increasingly important part of a member’s training plan,” added Jeff.

In addition to FIVE Concept and Mescan, Third Space Moorgate has a dedicated recovery room that includes compression sleeves, percussive therapy guns and recumbent relaxation chairs.

“We are delighted to include Reach Wellness products at our latest site to open at Third Space Moorgate, “ said fitness director Rob Beale.

“A key brand value at Third Space is innovation.

“We continue to include FIVE Concept in our product offering including two Fascial Stimulator Machines.

“In addition we are delighted to include the Mescan (by Cardioscan); providing a state-of-the-art solution on the gym floor with a 360 degree view of members wellness and readiness to train.”

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PHOTOGRAPHY Thanks to everyone who attended the event, it was a wonderful evening and we’d like to congratulate all our winners plus those runners up who were all worthy of being winners, there was a lot of tough decisions for our judges!

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