HEALTH & FITNESS


Use kids’ phones to get them exercising: report


The screens and handheld devices that today’s youngsters are ‘hostages’ to should be harnessed as tools to modernise PE and increase activity, suggests a new report. The report, conducted for the Youth


Sport Trust, warns that PE and school sport are at a critical crossroads and the subject should remain a key priority to avoid a physically and socially disengaged future generation, over dependent on technology, which will result in low physical, social and emotional wellbeing. It highlights how the ‘digital revolution’ can be used to bet- ter school sport, empowering kids to be responsible for their own activity levels. Details: http://lei.sr?a=N8N4S_O


SOFI 2015 shows strong growth


Technological innovation and an enhanced consumer expe- rience helped the UK health and fitness industry to gain more gyms, more members and a greater market value over the past year, according to the 2015 State of the UK Fitness Industry (SOFI) Report. Building on the gains


recorded in last year’s report, the twelve-month period to the end of March 2015 saw the industry make purposeful progress. Tere were increases across all three KPIs, as mar- ket value jumped 5.4 per cent to £4.3bn, the number of gyms increased by 3.3 per cent to hit 6,312, while membership grew an impressive 5.8 per cent to reach 8.78m. As a result, the penetra- tion rate nudged up half a percentage point to 13.7 per cent – its highest ever level. Continuing the trend of recent years, low-


Low cost chains like Humphrey Cobbold’s Pure Gym drove growth


to be forcing the other operators to innovate. David Minton, director of The Leisure


cost clubs played a key role in driving growth. Te low cost market now accounts for 9 per cent of all private clubs, but a huge 24 per cent of the private sector membership. Analysts noted the strong technology focus of low-cost clubs seems


Black will be a non-executive board director


PM’s health advisor Carol Black joins ukactive board


Respected government health advisor Dame Carol Black has been announced as the latest member of ukactive’s new board. Black, who is a regular advisor to Prime


Minister David Cameron, has enjoyed a distinguished career in public health which has seen her occupy several high-profile positions. Having been both president of the Royal College of Physicians and chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, she will now assume the role of non-exec- utive board director at ukactive. “We are delighted to welcome Dame


Carol Black to our board. Her experi- ence in the world of health is unrivalled. It takes our board onto yet another higher plain,” said ukactive executive director Steven Ward, who revealed the appoint- ment during his closing speech at last month’s Flame Conference in Telford. “Both Baroness Grey-Thompson


and I look forward to working with her to realise our mission of improv- ing the health of the nation by getting more people, more active, more oſten.” Details: http://lei.sr?a=u5d4t_O


4 Fitness First CEO Cosslett steps down


Fitness First CEO Andrew Cosslett – the man credited with leading the gym chain’s turnaround from the brink of bankruptcy to a resurgent business – has stood down. After three years in the


hotseat, Cosslett has stood aside to become chair of the Fitness First board, with cur- rent board member Oren Peleg to replace him as CEO. With a background in finance, Peleg’s appointment has sparked sug- gestions that he will move to cut costs and boost earnings ahead of a potential exit for the chain’s owner Oaktree Capital Management. Cosslett’s tenure has seen Fitness First


Database Company – the firm behind the SOFI report – told Health Club Management: “The results are great news for the indus- try and finally we have some innovation and fresh thinking coming through; the consumer obviously appreciates the new experiences, as shown by the sharp increase in member num- bers and the all-time high penetration rate.” Details: http://lei.sr?a=q8T6G_O


Andrew Cosslett (pictured) has been replaced by Oren Peleg


undergo a significant transformation as it bids to remain relevant in a fast-changing market place. Te rebrand has been rooted in moti- vational science, looking at what encourages members to enjoy exercise and stay lon- ger. Tis has entailed a comprehensive staff training programme, a retune of the gym space resulting in fewer machines and more


Read Leisure Opportunities online: www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/digital


interactive spaces, as well as what Cosslett describes as a “sense of arrival.” Te departure marks a new dawn for the


operator, at a time when communications director Mark Hutcheon also departs. “Aſter three years, and my responsibilities as chair of the 2015 Rugby World Cup now requiring more of attention, this is the right time to hand over my day-to-day responsibilities as CEO,” said Cosslett. Details: http://lei.sr?a=q3z5a_O


Twitter: @leisureopps © CYBERTREK 2015


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