Wednesday 29 September 2010

A Look Back on the Lim Dem Party Conference

Stephanie Creighton, Public Affairs and Policy Officer at The Fitness Industry Association looks back on the Lib Dem Party Conference.

On the first leg of my political relay I spent four days in Liverpool with the Liberal Democrats. This was a historic conference, the first in 65 years when the Liberal Democrats have formed part of the government. But of course it is not only a Liberal Democrat government but a coalition in partnership with the Conservatives, some of whom made history by coming to Liverpool and addressing the Liberal Party faithful.

Before this landmark conference we waited with baited breath in anticipation of the political fireworks which could explode before our eyes. Media speculation was rife about potential splits in the party and that conference would be the time for the left of the party to voice any anger they had over the coalition and its plans. But no such luck! Liverpool’s conference came and went with relatively little drama. Only a couple of motions and votes took a different line to the official coalition government position but who expected the Liberal party to vote in favour of the ‘coalition’s’ free schools policy?

The man of the moment, the Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP, roused the crowd on the third day of conference with his leaders speech. ‘Stick with us’ was his message to the party, take the opportunity to change politics and make history. A firm speech was delivered which was gratefully received by the conference floor although this led me to consider what he could have said which would have not resulted in a standing ovation?? A confession that he was secretly a Tory who had infiltrated the party years ago and had waited for this day to come? Disappointed this hadn’t happened, I left the hall to reflect on his words.

Luckily I had been sent the speech so I didn’t have to remember much but lo and behold! There was no mention of public health and sport in his address. How could this be? With a public health white paper due to be published in December, the increasing burden on the NHS due to the physical inactivity epidemic, and the Olympic and Paralympic Games being hosted in Great Britain in 2012, surely this should have been high on the liberal democrat political agenda?

But fear not! One Lib Dem Minister covered it. Speaking at a fringe event put on by the FIA in partnership with MEND, WSFF and PSNC, the Paul Burstow MP outlined his party’s commitment to tackling the public health crisis. Referring to a psycho-social-physiological approach to public health, he said that the government had no choice but to tackle the growing number of diseases which were becoming a burden on the tax payer. Announcing that the government would be prepared to use regulatory intervention to tackle public health issues, Mr Burstow highlighted government plans to work in partnership with the private sector to combat these issues with a shared responsibility.

Earlier in the week at the London 2012 fringe event, Don Foster, Chair of the Lib Dem backbench committee voiced his support for the need of a physical activity and sporting legacy from the games. The audience, which was full of local councillors, were supportive and eager to get involved and capitalise on the power of the games in their local areas.

Although we are still waiting for policy specifics, and tangible ways in which industries and local authorities can get involved and deliver, it is clear this is a party (and a part of the government) that is serious about these ambitions.

And so the journey conditions.  Next, I will be reporting in on a new labour leader stepping into the limelight and rallying the party for the very first time and a very busy conservative conference who are still basking in their new government position.

Stephanie Creighton
Public Affairs and Policy Officer

Thursday 16 September 2010

The FIA Welcomes Mark Talley & ‘Making a Difference with Better Variety!’

The FIA is please to introduce Mark Talley, Fitness Director at LA Fitness as one of its key speakers, and special guest bloggers in the lead up to the 'FIA Health & Fitness Conference at LIW 2010' (21st - 23rd September, NEC Birmingham). Welcome!

Everyone tells us we don’t do it well enough, so just how can we start interacting with and engaging our members more effectively? My session on ‘Member Interaction & Engagement - Making a difference with better variety’ will draw upon established research and my practical experience gained over the last 20 years.

As an operator, not an academic, I will provide you with some practical tools and advice to help you create and manage a more engaging experience for your members. In particular I will reveal the new LA Experience, designed to enhance the experience of existing members through increased meaningful interaction, increase engagement of its people and improve sales and membership yield.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Mark Talley

Mark’s session will be taking place on September 22, 11.30am at Leisure Industry Week 2010. For further information about LA Fitness please visit www.lafitness.co.uk.

Friday 10 September 2010

The FIA talks to Michael Crowe from Think Feel Know ahead of LIW 2010

With just over a week left until LIW, the FIA would like to introduce Michael Crowe, Director of Think Feel Know, who is joining us here as a guest blogger, and at the 'FIA Health & Fitness Conference at LIW 2010' (21st - 23rd September, NEC Birmingham) where he will be exploring the best ways to lead during the recession.



Michael's session will be taking place on September 22, 9.30am at Leisure Industry Week 2010. For further information about Michael Crowe and Think Feel Know please visit www.thinkfeelknow.com.

Wednesday 8 September 2010

Introducing TV Life-Coach Pete Cohen & ‘What It Takes to Be Exceptional!’

The FIA is please to introduce TV life-coach Pete Cohen as one of its key speakers, and special guest bloggers in the lead up to the 'FIA Health & Fitness Conference at LIW 2010' (21st - 23rd September, NEC Birmingham). Welcome!

During my session at the ‘FIA Health & Fitness Conference at LIW 2010’ I will be looking at ‘What It Takes to Be Exceptional!’.

Research now shows that the lack of natural talent is irrelevant to great success. So what are the secrets of exceptional people?

Talent has little or nothing to do with being exceptional. You can make yourself into any number of things, and you can even make yourself great or even exceptional.

The first major conclusion I will look to draw during my session is that nobody is great without work. It is nice to believe that if you find the field where you're naturally gifted, you will be great from day one, but this just doesn't happen. There's no evidence of high-level performance without experience or practice.

The best people in any field are those who devote the most hours to what the researchers call "deliberate practice." It is activity that is explicitly intended to improve performance that reaches for objectives just beyond one's level of competence, provides feedback on results and involves high levels of repetition.

But how do we translate this into business? Many elements of business, in fact, are directly practicable. Presenting, selling, negotiating, delivering - you can practice them all!

Maybe we can't expect all people to achieve greatness, it’s just too demanding. But the striking, liberating news is that being exceptional isn't reserved for the few. It is available to you and to everyone, and this is what I will be exploring with you at the ‘FIA Health & Fitness Conference at LIW 2010’.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Pete Cohen

Pete’s session will be taking place on September 22, 11.30am at Leisure Industry Week 2010. For further information about Pete Cohen please visit www.petecohen.com.

Monday 6 September 2010

The FIA talks to Georgina Jupp from CK Academy ahead of LIW 2010

As the FIA continue to count down the days until Leisure Industry Week 2010 (21st - 23rd September, NEC Birmingham), it has invited some of its key speakers at this years 'FIA Health & Fitness Conference at LIW 2010' to provide an quick taster of what to expect from their seminars.

The FIA is pleased to be joined this week by Georgina Jupp, Managing Director at CK Academy. Georgina is here to provide an insight into her background and forthcoming customer care session at the 'FIA Health & Fitness Conference at LIW 2010'. 



Georgina's session will be taking place on September 22, 10.30am at Leisure Industry Week 2010. For further information about Georgina and CK Academy please visit www.ckacademy.co.uk.

Thursday 2 September 2010

The LIW Countdown….

Guest blogger Hayley Bevan, The FIA's Events and Sponsorships Manager, counts down the days until Leisure Industry Week 2010 (21st - 23rd September, NEC Birmingham)

The biggest gathering of the health and fitness sector is just around the corner and we at the FIA can’t wait to get back to the NEC!

After over a year of research, debate, consultation and industry-wide feedback, Dave Stalker and the TwentyTen Commission Panel will be announcing the industry’s five year strategy on Tuesday morning in the opening keynote. Something we at the FIA feel very strongly about, it will provide vision and recommendation around the 5 key cornerstones: Community Hubs, Work Place Activity, Data and Consumer Insights, Exercise as Medicine and Up-skilling the Workforce. Devised to generate positive outcomes and direction for the industry, we hope you will join us at the start of the industry’s new journey. How exciting!

Expertly delivered education will of course be on the agenda this year, with something for every single one of us.

The largest gathering of Independent Operators ever has dictated the provision of a specially tailored day of seminars, looking at various topics, all in response to the challenges that independent operators have voiced they face.  Following the age-old “work hard, play harder” life motto – the FIA/IOU members will be found sipping cocktails and chilling out at a rather exclusive bar in the evening - let it not be said that those CFM boys don’t know how to party!

Following fantastic feedback on speakers at the Flame Conference earlier this year, we’re bringing some of them back for follow-on education at LIW!  Personally I can’t wait to hear what else Pete Cohen has to share – his wisdom on happiness was well received in Cheltenham and this time he’ll be looking at how to become ‘exceptional’ – I wonder what that entails!  Joining Pete are Sue Anstiss, Keith Burnet, Georgina Jupp, Michael Crowe and Mark Talley who will each provide insight and debate from their field of expertise.

The FIA has also teamed up with Sport England to host a day of seminars which will look at our industry’s crucial contribution to the Olympic legacy – less than 2 years and counting, the partnership couldn’t have come at a better time…..  Our expert panel will advise on how we can position ourselves as a KEY Olympic partner and what this means for the industry.

Those of you who attended the Ball of Fire in July will understand the sheer competition and motivation that fuels the prestigious annual Flame Awards – and the tension and anticipation that finalists feel as Dave utters those promising words “and the winner is…”.  I am delighted to announce that Flame 2011 will launch at LIW this year and that gruelling (yet enlightening) process of excellence can build again for all who enter! 

As always we assume that everyone else takes as much pleasure in social opportunities as we do, which is why we will be buying everyone a drink after the first day of the show!  Matrix and Active IQ have graciously sponsored the FIA Drinks Reception this year, giving members the chance to debrief with colleagues, peers and a special celebrity guest….

As you can see, it’s an action-packed LIW this year, so whilst you get to work planning your itinerary, so shall we! 

For more info on the FIA’s schedule of events visit our website, otherwise I look forward to seeing you there!