In Search of Excellence

By Tim Webster, FIA Flame Conference programmer

Excellence is the unlimited ability to improve the quality of what you have to offer. Sometimes the improvement is just 1%, but that 1% is often the difference between winning and losing, between the good and the great. Blindingly obvious isn’t it?

This year’s FIA Conference is all about celebrating the fact that we have come a long way as a sector, indulging in a little “what-if” thinking, challenging what we currently do and asking if it could be done better, differently, more efficiently, more cost-effectively or not at all?

Eleanor Roosevelt said: “Do one thing every day that scares you.” This is of course much more difficult than it sounds but if we are to grow our sector we must challenge our own thinking and that of our colleagues each and every day.

As Tom Peters says: “Doing what worked yesterday is always the default option. Thing is, that doesn’t work anymore.”

In my opinion, in order to challenge our thinking we must look outside our own sector at businesses that are doing things differently and so this year’s conference features non-industry speakers from top-to-bottom. That’s a risk in itself, but there’s no point in challenging you to think differently if we aren’t prepared to do the same.

Over the coming weeks and months we aim to bring you some of the thoughts of our speakers at this year’s conference, starting with our keynote speaker, SAS hero Chris Ryan later this week.

‘Our Flame Award gave us the spark to build on our success’

Guest post by DC Leisure

As the deadline for entering this year’s Spark of Innovation Award rapidly approaches in less than a week, DC Leisure look back on winning the first ever Spark and how being recognised by the FIA and the sector for their innovation has helped them build on its success since then.

Last summer, William Gregg VC Leisure Centre, managed by DC Leisure in partnership with Amber Valley Borough Council, celebrated a fantastic win at the FIA & Matrix Flame Awards when we scooped the first Spark of Innovation award. 

As one of five finalists, we won the award for our Swim4Health programme - a simple, yet strong innovation based around original thinking and efficient use of resources.

The Swim4Health idea came about from DC Leisure asking the question of how we could get more people swimming and how we could address the potential barriers to participation that exist through what we have learned from a gym setting.

DC Leisure decided to enter the competition as we felt it was an innovative idea and a natural progression for the fitness industry to show diversification of fitness into non-gym areas such as a swimming pool.

After we won the award, Councillor Chris Short, Cabinet Member for Healthier Communities at Amber Valley Borough Council commented: "The Flame awards are the Oscars for the fitness industry, and the partnership achievement here cannot be underestimated.”

For Jackie Goacher, General Manager of William Gregg VC Leisure Centre, winning meant that the hard work of her and her team had been recognised but most importantly it was the recognition from the FIA (Fitness Industry Association) and the sector that their focus went beyond the gym.

The coverage gained since winning this award has provided DC Leisure with further opportunities to develop the programme and attract external partners such as Sport England who are funding the roll out of Swim4Health as well as Kelloggs and the ASA who have invested into a poolside instructor training session for regular swimmers.

In addition DC Leisure has now built links with Weight Watchers and used the Swim4Health programme and Spark of Innovation award as a pivotal point to move this relationship forward.  By tailoring Swim4Health and working in partnership with Weight Watchers DC Leisure are helping tackle the issues of overweight and obesity.

Winning the Spark of Innovation award really was the catalyst for the continued development and success of Swim4Health, and we would encourage any FIA members considering entering either the Operator or Supplier categories of the Award this year to bite the bullet and get their entries in; winning really can change the face of your business.

Entries for the Spark of Innovation must be received by 10^th April. Click here for more information on how to enter or call Pete on: 020 7420 8571