HEALTH & FITNESS


Dr William Bird becomes Slimming World advisor


Physical activity expert Dr William Bird MBE has been recruited to Slimming World’s specialist advisor panel as the weight loss company seeks to combine exercise, nutrition and behaviour change experts to promote healthier lifestyles. Bird, who is CEO and founder of


Intelligent Health and one of the UK’s leading experts on physical activity, will advise on the company’s work with health professionals and its physical activity programme. Slimming World currently provides lifestyle and weight management service to around 800,000 members across the UK and Ireland in community venues each week. Details: http://lei.sr?a=5F8m6_O


JD targets ‘organic’ expansion


JD Gyms is aiming to crank up the rollout of its gym concept, with plans to open up to three more sites nationwide by the end of the year. Having launched


its inaugural site in Hull at the start of 2014, the gym divi- sion of JD Sports recently unveiled its second location in Liverpool. The eye- catching health club – within a Grade II listed three-sto- rey property – was innovatively designed to retain the DNA of JD’s retail stores and is on course to reach its target of 5,000 members. Te next phase of growth will see the third


JD Gym open in Preston this August, with aims for another two by the end of the year. “Obviously with the scale of our brand,


there’s potential for rapid growth, but we’re looking for more organic growth with a view to longevity,” managing director Alun Peacock told Leisure Opportunities.


Last year’s event reached 27 million people


Major operators to provide National Fitness Day classes


Major operators such as Fitness First, Parkwood Leisure and Places for People Leisure have signed up to offer free health and fitness sessions to members and non-members alike across their sites as part of National Fitness Day. Tis year’s National Fitness Day – which


is the largest celebration of physical activ- ity in the UK – takes place on 9 September. It will see thousands of people don their exercise gear and flock to gyms, health clubs, leisure centres and parks around the country to take part in free ‘Power Half Hour’ exercise events. Last year saw nearly 2,000 venues open their doors to run free exercise sessions – reaching 27 million people – and more than 800 sites have so far signed up for this year’s event. “To already have these major operators on


board is a testament to the importance and value of National Fitness Day, because when we all come together on a single campaign we can more effectively raise our sector’s profile in the eyes of the public,” said ukac- tive operations director Geraldine Tuck. Details: http://lei.sr?a=k4F8m_O


4 Ray Algar to examine mid-market at LIW


Fitness analyst Ray Algar will deliver a keynote session at Leisure Industry Week (LIW) 2015, exploring what the future holds for the ‘squeezed middle’ of the gym market. Algar, whose attendance


underlines the new LIW owners’ commitment to pro- viding quality educational sessions, will outline his lat- est research in a presentation called “What is the future for clubs that operate and believe in the mid-market?” Having documented the


JD Gyms recently unveiled its second location – a Grade II listed site in Liverpool “The gyms will obviously be different to


the stores but we’re eager for them to retain the stylish ‘JD feel’ which has served the retail side so well. Similarly, we’ll be looking for locations in major urban centres.” As has been the blueprint so far, the


clubs will generally be 15,000 to 35,000sq ft sites, utilising a wide range of gym equipment from varied suppliers, with mem- berships costing between £15 and £20 a month. Details: http://lei.sr?a=2j9y6_O


Algar will explore how mid-market brands are redefining themselves


inexorable rise of low-cost gym brands over the past decade and sub- sequent emergence of high-end specialised boutique gyms, Algar is well-placed to examine the impact of this pincer attack on traditional mid-market clubs like Fitness First and soon- to-be-sold LA fitness. In his session, the MD of Oxygen Consulting will explore how mid- market brands are redefining themselves to remain relevant in an evolving industry and trying to safeguard a sustainable future.


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


According to Algar, the session will cover: • Insights into how the health club industry


is forking along two distinct pathways – self- service and supported propositions. • How to understand strategic implications


for club brands operating in the mid-market. • How some of the mid-market clubs


are managing to achieve growth while fac- ing intense competition from budget gyms. Details: http://lei.sr?a=S2k8v_O


Twitter: @leisureopps © CYBERTREK 2015


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