The Conveners Podcast

David Joerring, founder of HealthKey.Health, joins host Andy King to explore how smarter health data, better habits, and accessible tools can transform long‑term wellbeing. A practical, energising conversation for anyone looking to take ownership of their health journey. Please note: this episode was recorded remotely, so audio quality may vary slightly.

Most personal trainers dismiss the potential of AI, but what if it could revolutionize your career? James shares a ground breaking prototype for AI-driven coaching that reveals dangerous overtraining trends and offers a clear blueprint for harnessing technology to scale your success. In this episode, you'll discover how AI can be both a threat and an opportunity in personal training, from diagnosing training overreach to creating tailored programs with real data. James breaks down how AI is already shaping PT models, the pitfalls of short-term online fixes, and the future of hybrid coaching. where high-tech meets high touch. We delve into the critical skills needed to thrive in an evolving sector, including soft skills, long-term health integration, and the importance of data-driven pathways from hospital corridors to gym floors.You'll learn about the innovative services James' network offers like, online mentorship, career pathways, and exclusive licenses, that are transforming the industry, and why your PT business might be the ultimate health intervention in the long game. If you're a leisure CEO, MD, or a personal trainer hungry for growth, this episode arms you with the insights and tools to future-proof your approach and turn disruption into opportunity.James is a seasoned leader at YourPT, with a passion for developing fitness entrepreneurs who are shaping the future of health. His vision includes connecting personal training more deeply with long-term health conditions, collaboration with NHS pathways, and pioneering new technology solutions for smarter operations across sectors. Perfect for fitness professionals, gym owners, or health sector innovators aiming to stay ahead of the curve. Hit play and discover how to leverage technology, talent, and training to elevate your impact and your income, in an industry on the brink of transformation.

In this inspiring episode of Andy King’s Conveners Podcast, Andy sits down with Matt Parker, fitness leader and CEO of Brio, to unpack Matt’s remarkable journey into the fitness space. From humble beginnings to becoming a driving force behind one of the industry’s most innovative brands, Matt shares the pivotal moments, personal challenges, and mindset shifts that shaped his path.Tune in for an authentic, energizing conversation that explores purpose, resilience, and the future of fitness through Matt Parker’s lens.

Most fitness pros focus on pushing harder. but Dave Wright, MyZone founder. reveals why effort, effort alone, is the secret to sustained results and engagement. His journey from Australian sports kid to tech innovator disrupting gyms worldwide will challenge everything you think about motivation, retention, and personalized training.

Discover how shifting from traditional instruction to lifestyle coaching is transforming the future of health and fitness. Guy reveals the powerful role of community, data, and empathy in driving real behavior change, bivocal results that go far beyond just increasing gym visits.In this episode, Guy shares his inspiring journey from a city career in banking and IT to founding GG Fit and leading innovative retention strategies. You'll learn how leveraging data like body composition and personalized interactions can boost member engagement, reduce attrition, and create lasting health outcomes. We break down practical interventions like effective induction processes, health checks in community settings, and the importance of thoughtful workforce development to turn staff into compelling coaches.You'll discover the extraordinary opportunities that arise when gyms align their purpose with empowering members, not just selling memberships, but nurturing healthier lifestyles. Guy discusses innovative programs like Health Seekers and how community outreach at places like fire stations and libraries can make health initiatives more accessible and less intimidating.This episode is essential listening for fitness professionals, community operators, and health innovators committed to making a tangible difference. Whether you're aiming to improve retention, embrace data-driven health strategies, or shift towards coaching mindsets, Guy's insights will motivate and equip you for the future. Real results happen when care, data, and community come together.

In this engaging podcast episode, Andy King and Craig Campbell delve into the intricacies of the fitness and leisure industry, sharing insights from their extensive careers. Craig recounts his journey from working at McDonald's to becoming a pivotal figure in fitness management, highlighting the importance of systems and processes. The conversation touches on Craig's innovative approach to operational excellence through his company, OpsPal, which provides real-time insights into organizational operations. They discuss the challenges and opportunities in the sector, emphasizing the need for continuous improvement and the role of technology in enhancing efficiency. The episode is a treasure trove of practical advice and thought-provoking ideas for anyone interested in the business of fitness and leisure.

Join Andy King and David from Cornerstone as they delve into the transformative journey of Cornerstone Connect, a tool designed to integrate disparate systems in the leisure sector. Discover how this innovation is reshaping customer experiences, enhancing data integration, and supporting public health initiatives. With insights into future developments and the role of AI, this episode highlights the power of collaboration and innovation in marketing.

Join Andy King and guest Craig Jones from High Five Group. They delve into the dynamic world of sports and physical activity, exploring the booming interest among children and young people. From the challenges of integrating young people into fitness environments to the evolving role of family activities, this episode offers insights into the future of active wellbeing. Discover how community engagement and innovative strategies are shaping the next generation's approach to health and fitness. Tune in for an engaging conversation that bridges the gap between youth work and physical activity.

Join Glenda and Andy as they dive into the world of fitness and well-being, exploring Glenda's journey from fitness club operator to resilience coach. Discover how her passion for holistic health and resilience has shaped her career and influenced the industry. This engaging conversation covers the importance of well-being, the evolution of fitness, and the power of resilience in both personal and professional life. Tune in for insights and inspiration on thriving in today's world.

Join Andy King as he sits down with Emma Bernstein to explore the dynamic world of sports and community impact. Emma shares her journey from a sporty upbringing to a pivotal role at Sport England, where she leads initiatives like the Moving Communities platform. Discover how data-driven insights are shaping the future of public leisure facilities and the importance of social value in sports investment. Tune in for an engaging discussion on resilience, community engagement, and the evolving landscape of sports facilities.

Join Andy King as he welcomes Lucy Palfreyman to the Convenience Podcast. Dive into Lucy's inspiring journey from competitive swimming to her impactful role at Sport England. Discover how her passion for sport and systemic thinking is driving change in communities, and learn about her personal challenges and triumphs, including training for the London Marathon. This episode is a testament to finding purpose and making a difference through sport and collaboration.

Join Andy King and David Stalker as they delve into the dynamic world of fitness and wellness. In this episode, they discuss the relaunch of the Future Leaders program, the importance of mentorship, and the evolving role of UK Active in promoting health and fitness. David shares insights from his career, emphasizing the need for collaboration across sectors to drive positive change. Tune in for an engaging conversation filled with personal anecdotes and forward-thinking strategies for the industry.

Join Andy King as he sits down with Graeme Hine on the Conveners podcast. In this engaging episode, Graeme shares his unique journey into the world of active wellbeing, overcoming personal challenges, and building a thriving network that bridges sectors. Discover how Graeme's passion for people and his innovative approach to networking have made a significant impact in the industry. From personal anecdotes to professional insights, this episode is a testament to the power of collaboration and the human spirit.

Join Andy King and Ian Mullane as they explore the transformative power of AI in the fitness and leisure industry. Ian shares his journey from finance to founding Vander Sports Group and Banda Boxing Club, highlighting how AI enhances business operations. Discover the development of the Keep Me business, which uses AI to predict membership churn and improve sales processes. This episode delves into the challenges and opportunities of AI adoption, emphasizing the need for education and collaboration to fully harness its potential.

Duncan Kerr's journey is a testament to the power of passion and resilience. Starting as a squash player for Scotland, Duncan transitioned into leadership roles, shaping the future of sports and health integration.Today, as the Chief Executive of Wave Active and Hillbrow Health, Duncan is pioneering innovative health and wellness solutions, blending clinical and non-clinical services to enhance community well-being. His relentless drive to push boundaries and foster collaboration is truly inspiring.

In this episode, Aidan Gallacher shares his inspiring journey from a sports enthusiast to the founder of Actify, a social enterprise dedicated to improving health and well-being through physical activity. Discover how Aidan's experiences at Stirling University and his work in sports management led to the creation of a platform that consolidates resources for practitioners and organizations. Learn about the challenges and triumphs of building a digital repository of best practices and the role of AI in enhancing accessibility and efficiency in the sector. Tune in for insights on collaboration, innovation, and the future of physical activity initiatives.

This episode takes an inspiring detour into leadership with Mark Tweedie. Mark introduces The Performance Blueprint. A fresh approach to leadership that blends science and the art of people skills to create environments where individuals and organizations thrive.We explore what high performance really means, how culture trumps strategy, and why breaking down barriers is key to unlocking potential at every level. From C-suite to the front line, Mark shares practical insights on purpose, mindset, and environment, while reflecting on his own journey as a CEO and beyond.If you’re in leisure, health, wellbeing, or simply passionate about leadership that empowers, this conversation is packed with wisdom, honesty, and tools you can use right away.

Join Andy King and John Oxley as they dive into the transformative power of physical activity and its impact on community well-being. From the Life Leisure Stroke GM Active State of Life Social Value Report to the challenges and triumphs of scaling health initiatives, this episode explores the intersection of social value and business success. Discover how strategic investments and a strong sense of purpose can drive both economic growth and social impact. Tune in for insights on leadership, collaboration, and the future of wellness in the UK.

Excited to share my conversation with Belinda Steward, a leader in the leisure and hospitality sectors! We explored the intersection of hospitality and physical activity, and how Belinda's journey from restaurants to leisure centers is reshaping customer experiences. Discover how her strategic vision is driving change, from enhancing customer service to leveraging technology for better health outcomes.Join us as we delve into the importance of collaboration, the role of technology, and the power of community in transforming lives.

Join us in this engaging episode of the Conveners podcast as we sit down with Kirsty Cumming, Chief Executive of Community Leisure UK. Kirsty shares her unplanned yet impactful career journey from translation to leading a national organization. We delve into the evolving landscape of public leisure, the challenges and opportunities within the trust model, and the innovative Active Kindness Project. Discover how physical activity and community engagement are shaping the future of public services. Tune in for insights, inspiration, and a fresh perspective on the role of leisure in our communities.

Join us as we dive into the world of fitness innovation with Cheryl, a trailblazer in integrating wellness into gym memberships. Discover how her collaboration with Health Hero is transforming the industry, offering groundbreaking services like private GP access and more. Tune in to learn about Cheryl's journey, her passion for business, and her vision for the future of fitness.

On this episode of The Conveners Podcast, we’re joined by Gareth Kirk, Senior Regional Director at GLL. From graduate trainee to leading GLL’s operations in Northern Ireland, Gareth shares his personal journey and insights into managing at scale while staying local. We discuss his experience navigating devolved governments, GLL’s role in promoting active well-being with 35,000 referrals a year, and why health contract bidding isn’t a current priority. Gareth also highlights innovative practices like MSK hubs in Cumbria and the organisation’s evolving approach to the agency model with council partners. A rare inside look at the UK’s largest leisure operator.

This week, host Andy King is joined by long-time collaborator and sector expert Duncan Wood-Allum, Founder and Managing Director of SLC, for a deep and thought-provoking conversation on the evolution of public leisure. Together, they revisit Duncan’s 2020 blueprint "A New Future", exploring how his ambitions for the sector post Covid hold up in 2025 and what still needs to change. From local government reform to health and social care integration, how sustainable active wellbeing services can enable a place-based approach to deliver real results,  this episode dives into the real challenges and opportunities facing the sector. Gain real insight into the challenges, opportunities, and future direction of the Active Wellbeing movement. 

Today on the Conveners podcast I’m delighted to welcome Andy Farr, the Strategic Director from Parkwood. As Andy goes on to explain, Andy was once-upon-a-time, the F in FMG - a  very well-known and highly respected consultancy known to probably everyone in the sector. Andy has had a fascinating time since leaving FMG, both at British Cycling and at Parkwood and is now the driving force behind w a revamped Parkwood who have managed to win some significant awards recently  and, as Andy explains , have done a great job integrating Parkwood Healthcare into the leisure division that Andy now leads.   Andy explained some of the benefits of that merger of healthcare into the division,  not least how the clinical understanding is helping to codesign referral programs and raise standards generally . So another fascinating insight into one of the national chains who are fully embracing the pivot to Active well-being in and all its guises including workforce development please enjoy

It might not just be the fact that I’m turning 60 in a couple of months time, but over recent months and years I’ve personally had much more interest in the topic of longevity and living a longer and healthier life. So, I was delighted to catch up with a former colleague from many years ago and somebody who is really blazing a trail, in darkest Milton Keynes -  Neil King with his Longevity branded Health and Wellbeing Studio. Neil is an industry legend, someone who has led franchise operation Energie Fitness as well as 1Life and has always been innovative in roles with Fitness First and especially Everyone Active.  I hope you find this as fascinating a discussion as I did as we touch on the increasing need to bring the 'health' element back into 'health and fitness'.  Neil gives us a real interesting and insightful look into this world of metabolic health, longevity and personalisation and quite frankly what he’s doing is providing inspiration for the rest of us to seriously consider how we can support people in a much broader wellness spectrum than we currently do. 

On the Conveners today we focus on the topic of Children and Young People’s mental health and wellbeing. Martin Yelling can tell a fascinating story not only of his own incredibly successful athletic career, or his internationally renowned podcast called Marathon Talk, or even the fact he is a qualified teacher and Doctor – today we focus on the fact he is a founder of an incredible charity doing some great work with children and young people.  The charity Martin founded is called Stormbreak and Martin describes why he set it up and the great work it does predominantly within schools. He also explains how he sees the opportunity for our sector to get more involved and contribute to this area of work. Quite frankly, there’s a tsunami of mental health issues our CYP are facing, exacerbated by the pandemic as we will discover during this conversation, and there’s a lot more that we, as a sector, could do. So hopefully Martin will inspire some of you to get in touch and see what you can do to contribute more to this vital cause. 

Leadership development, and in particular, GM Active's Transformational Leadership program is a real hot topic currently. As I travel around the country meeting various 'leisure professionals' and council's,   there’s a realisation that the leadership required from our Physical Activity managers and workforce generally, needs to be different if we’re really going to make some headway on working with health, addressing inequalities and engaging with communities. So I’m delighted that today’s episode on the Conveners podcast we welcome Claire Tomkinson  - another from the Greater Manchester stable.  Claire is the Strategic Lead, People and Leadership at GM Moving (the Active Partnership) and has been a tremendous support for GM Active, as we have developed our Transformational Leadership program which is now available to others across the country via Future Fit.   Claire‘s involvement in leadership more generally across Greater Manchester is a fascinating story with some real insights into the issues that Claire is experiencing and addressing in various programs across GM and what might be coming in next.  Claire suggests that organisations might need more support in terms of organisational leadership and organisational development.  So a real topical conversation today for you to enjoy and find out more about Claire and the work in GM generally on leadership and particular GM Active's transformational leadership program thank you

'You can’t build a reputation on what you plan to do' - So says my guest on this weeks episode of the Conveners podcast, Martyn Alison.  Classified by himself on LinkedIn as 'observer and critical friend', others might say 'influencer'. Martin's story is incredible. His articles over the years have been and continue to be, the most thought provoking on our sector and never fail to educate, inform and challenge us all.  So if you haven’t read his work, go onto LinkedIn and uncover his article and definitely give him a follow. Martin is a leadership guru as he’s run the LGA / Sport England Leadership Essentials program for many years and continues to do so working with the likes nowadays of Ken Masser from Miova and others, on the roll out of the Place expansion work.  He is also heavily influential on Sport England, as you can see with proportional universalism and addressing inequalities in Uniting the Movement strategy document. Martyn is very well versed on the politics across local government which is also very topical as Local Government Reorganisations gathers pace across the country. Martyn certainly doesn't shy away from discussing  the really thorny issues and even the sort of existential question of why should public leisure exist in the future? What’s our purpose? What should it be? And are we making progress on that front? So, a fascinating discussion I know will stimulate further debate.

As Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) is being pushed hard by the Government, and some Local Authorities are considering setting up Local Authority Trading Companies (LATCO’s) possibly along with the new ‘agency model’ it would be topical, would it not, to talk to someone who has just recently gone through elements of all of the above?  Well we have! Today we speak with Rob Wilks who is the Managing Director of a new local authority trading company, MyActive, which is owned by Staffordshire Moorland’s District Council and High Peak Borough Council. With the likelihood of more Council’s looking to work together across boundaries one way or the other this is a very relevant conversation with a really thoughtful and inspiring leader. We explore the reasons why this option was taken with Rob and how things are going to date. Lots of nuggets of information here for operators, councils and others to take away.

Who better to talk to about the hottest topic, not just in our sector but in society in general, the GLP-1 weight loss medications, than friend of the Conveners, Dr Hussain Al Zubaidi. Hussain is working with UK Active and CIMSPA on the guidelines for our sector so Elaine and I were keen to get his take on the opportunities these medications present and how best we can assist the NHS.  Future Fit are also working with Hussain on the educational resources that our sector absolutely requires in order to safely and effectively support people who are on these drugs. This is a fascinating interview, that will inspire you I’m sure as well as answer some of your questions on these drugs more generally.  Hussain sees these drugs as the gateway for the physical activity sector to really work with health and he explains why and how he sees that happening. We also discuss how we need to continue to focus on workforce development, quality standards, the use of technology and to exhibit empathy n our approach to not just these drugs but to people’s circumstances and build on our strengths to support the NHS as they need to like never before! A fascinating discussion that I know you will enjoy.

Today on the Conveners I have a conversation with someone I have been looking forward to getting on the pod for some time, Duncan Jefford from Everyone Active. Everyone Active, as Duncan explains, is now heading towards a £400 million turnover company, with over 230 centres across the UK. Duncan and Everyone Active have been at the forefront of the recent drive to offer more than just fitness through the core membership offer - initially with the Health Hero supported membership, that saw private GP appointments being offered amongst other services, and then in January Everyone Active made the bold move to launch their You+ membership option which Duncan will describe in a lot more detail. He explains thinking behind it and the preparation over many months to lead to this point. We also talk about the rise or not of local authority trading companies and how a large national company strives to deliver a place-based approach. We also consider GLP-1’s ones and what the future may hold as they gain in popularity, so lots covered in a very enjoyable discussion that I hope you find informative.

I’m delighted to say that today on the Conveners podcast we have another fascinating guest from Greater Manchester and this is a very important cog in the machine because today we get to speak to Warren Heppolette. Warren is the Chief Officer for Strategy and Innovation NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care, so it’s a real pleasure and privilege to spend time with Warren. And I have to say this is one of my most enjoyable and informative episodes out of all that we’ve done so far. Warren‘s insight into the NHS, both in Greater Manchester and nationally, and how he is such an advocate of physical activity playing a strategic part in prevention has been evident over the years and comes shining through during this interview. I would suggest that it is no coincidence that GM gets a fair few plaudits for our efforts with PA and health and Warren's tenure on the GM Moving Board since 2018.

Today on The Conveners, I spoke with my good friend Hayley Lever, CEO of GM Moving and a key leader in Greater Manchester's progress. As Chair of GM Active and a member of the GM Moving Partnership Board, I work alongside partners like Transport for Greater Manchester, NHS Greater Manchester, the GM Combined Authority, and Sport England to deliver the Greater Manchester Strategy and Integrated Care Partnership strategy. Since the 2015 Blueprint for Change and a 2016 collaboration with Sport England, we’ve been transforming how national and local systems work together. Our evolving Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), recently refreshed, reflects this progress, highlighting shared stories from communities like those in Wigan and Leigh. In interviews with leaders like Eve Holt, Warren Heppolette, Andy Burnham, and Hayley Lever, we explore why and how Greater Manchester is doing things differently. Today’s episode features Hayley, a true system leader, as we discuss leadership, collaboration, and lessons from our journey—blended with the feel of two friends chatting over a beer.

Today on the podcast, I’m really pleased to have James McInerney joining me. James is the health improvement manager at OHID, the office for health improvement and disparities. I’ve made no secret of my personal opinion that if our sector is truly going to be integrated as part of the health and well-being of the nation and contributing to address inequalities etc, we would be better placed to be part of the Department of Health rather than the DCMS, and specifically formally linked to the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. I was particularly keen to speak to James and find out a little bit more about both him and his personal mission and how his physical activity background has led to hm being part of the OHID set-up, but also to find out more about OHID and how we could potentially link more effectively with them going forward. A different perspective again and one I think you'll find interesting. Please enjoy.

Today on the Conveners podcast we have another luminary from Greater Manchester, Eve Holt. Until recently Eve was the GM Moving Strategic Director and has recently moved over to be part of Andy Burnham‘s team as head of Policy and Implementation at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. So who better to talk us through how PA is playing a part in helping advance the wider strategic objectives across the region, following on from the episode where we interviewed Andy Burnham the GM Mayor himself. Eve will expand on what Andy said about prevention and the Live Well project one of Andy‘s big manifesto commitments as well as provide insight to the way GM Moving has succeeded over recent years.

Here is a little additional festive episode of the Conveners just to finish off 2024 and take a brief look ahead to 2025 with my friend and colleague Mr John Oxley, CEO of Life Leisure and fellow board member of GM Active. It’s been a fascinating year for our Sector, and even more fascinating meeting so many interesting people on the Conveners. I have learned so much and feel honoured to have the opportunity to meet so many people doing such great work across our system. With ongoing support from the incredibly supportive team at Future Fit for Business, we have some really exciting developments lined up for 2025 that I can’t wait to get stuck into. So, John and I took the opportunity for a natter about some of the highlights of 2024 and what we know will be an even more incredible 2025 coming up. Merry Christmas folks and best wishes for a stomping 2025!

Today’s guest on the Conveners is Helena Jopling, a public health consultant at West Suffolk Foundation who works with Abbeycroft Leisure and Warren Smyth around Bury St Edmunds. So today you’ll hear a perspective from one of the commissioners who has been working with Warren and his team so successfully for some time. Helena will specifically talk about about the evaluation of the integrated health care pathway that was carried out last year and in fact will be presented in November at the European public health conference. The results are that good! Helena is just the sort of advocate our sector needs more of and she has some real nuggets of information and advice around how best to work with health too.

Kate Vaughton is our guest today on the Conveners. Kate is the Chief Officer for Strategy and Partnerships at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough ICS. Kate collaborates with Warren Smyth at Abbeycroft Leisure, and listening to Kate, you can understand why the collaboration has been so successful over the years and continues to be so. There's some really good insights into how to approach a relationship with an ICS and health colleagues here. Why it's important to spent time to understand the priorities of the ICS that you’re looking to work with and what this might mean in terms of the NHS 10 year plan going forward and the renewed focus on prevention. These discussions with health colleagues are always full of learning and relevant pointers for us all and this is no exception. The insights here, coming from Kate, who has clearly been instrumental in creating a nationally important example of how leisure and health can really create meaningful partnerships - should be welcomed. Please enjoy.

This week on the Conveners my guest is Michelle Roberts from the Richmond Group of Charities. Michelle is the physical activity and health program lead. The Richmond Group of Charities are a coalition of health and care charities working together to help people living with long-term, multiple or complex health needs to live well and thrive. As our sector talks a lot about addressing inequalities and supporting those that need the help to be active we really should be listening to Michelle and her colleagues I would suggest. They have delivered the award winning We are Undefeatable campaign which has really been successful and recently released a report called 'Millions More Moving - Tackling inactivity by supporting people with long-term conditions to move more' in which they put forward three proposals for policy change that Michelle talks through here. Michelle is very knowledgeable and passionate about a subject and made for a superb guest, please enjoy.

Today on the Conveners I’m incredibly delighted to welcome Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, who is a huge advocate for physical activity generally and a long-time supporter of GM Moving and GM Active.  Andy is a passionate believer in getting people moving for health benefits, not just since becoming mayor of Greater Manchester, but previously as a former health secretary in the previous labour government. His personal passion for physical activity is well known as he competes in a number of events and stays active generally for his own mental health, and he often talks about the positive impact physical activity has on people's mental health. For this episode, I was joined by Hayley Lever from GM Moving, a good friend of mine who we interview later in the series too so look out for that along with other key players in GM that are all part of the GM movement for movement initiative.  In this episode, you’ll hear why Andy believes physical activity is central to any prevention strategy and why he believes physical activity has been mis-sold over the years.  Also, hear why physical activity will be positioned to drive the wider aims of the Live Well campaign across Greater Manchester and what he wants the government to do to support his vision for improving lives across GM. Plus find out why Andy doesn’t follow Everton for the football!

Our guest this week on the Conveners is Warren Smyth the chief exec of Abbeycroft Leisure. Warren has been blazing a trail for well over a decade now with Abbeycroft leisure working with health, and so it was a fascinating day that we recently spent with Warren and two of his commissioners who were on earlier episodes of the pod if you want to go back and listen. Warren has a fabulous way of bringing people together, to collaborate effectively and work on that common purpose that is often spoken about. Warren clearly knows how to create the conditions for success, how to utilise his assets including his people wonderfully well and in many ways the team at Abbeycroft has created a template for the sector as we seek to work effectively with health, address inequalities and make a dent in population health outcomes.

Our guest on the Conveners this week is Helen Jaggar, a wellness consultant and WELL accredited practitioner (Helen explain all) who has a fascinating backstory. Helen has created her company, Thriveologie, that is arguably about to take off massively, as the explosion of interest in offering additional services other than Fitness to customers based around well-being and wellness is all around us. Helen has been connected to our sector for some years on and off and also spent time in related fields that gives her a good grounding in offering complementary services.  A really enjoyable discussion that presents a number of opportunities for the listener I would suggest

Today on the Conveners I interview Dr Coral Hanson following a knowledge exchange event at Edinburgh Napier University where Coral was presenting learning from the Scottish Activity Referral Standards study that she has been leading. The study is looking at ways the standards can be applied to inform, enhance and improve physical activity referral schemes, known as PARS. The standards were developed by the Napier team and are applicable across Scotland. This study is helping to increase the understanding around what works best to help participants increase activity. Public Health Scotland and the Scottish Government are involved and both presented at the event which was great to see. Dr Coral Hanson has worked with the likes of North Country Leisure, Blyth Leisure and Mark Tweedie and others south of the border on referral schemes over the years but more recently has been working on this project. Her extensive experience and knowledge around the subject is fascinating, and during this interview Coral raises some interesting, and sometimes challenging, conclusions. I couldn’t help but feel that Scotland are undoubtedly leading the way on the issue of PARS with these standards and around collaborating effectively to collate best practice. Surely, we need to learn from Scotland south of the border and collaborate effectively to ensure that across the UK and beyond we are really upping the levels of quality across all of our referral schemes as we strive to work more effectively with health and social care? I’d love to know what you think.

Today on the Conveners podcast I am delighted to welcome probably one of the most intelligent people in our sector (if you can class him as being from our sector) and that is Ben Wilkins from Good Boost. I’ve got to know Ben quite well over the last year or so because we sit on various groups not least the Alliance leisure Health group that I have the pleasure of Chairing, and his insight and perspective is always interesting and engaging. We cover a variety of topics, obviously we talk about the award-winning Good Boost and the lessons that he and his company have learnt integrating a brand-new service into our sector including the conditions that lead to the best chance of success. Good Boost uses Ai and we talk about technology and how a blended approach might be the opportunity for our sector; plus we talk about the Darzi report, the MSK hubs and the work Ben has been doing with UK Active and Escape Pain and a lot more besides. So, another interesting and insightful episode of the podcast for you to enjoy, thank you.

Today I’m really pleased to welcome another old friend to the podcast, industry legend Dave Stalker. Dave is always good value - inspirational and his sense of purpose and passion for our sector - in fact for people generally - is infectious. There’s a lot of talk about convening and bringing people together to agree a common purpose and work better with health etc, and for me Dave Stalker epitomises that ability. Call it leadership, call it strength of personality - whatever it is - Dave manages to bring people together and he’s a type of leader that you would follow over the top in the trenches. It goes without saying that this is a very enjoyable conversation, but I would urge you also so listen to the passion and sense of purpose that Dave exudes. I have no doubt you will be inspired afresh, on our ongoing mission to utilise physical activity to improve peoples health and well-being. Please enjoy.

Today’s guest on the Conveners is a personal friend of mine and someone who has been involved with GM for some years before moving back to his original roots up in North Ayrshire in Scotland. The one and only Malcolm Mcphail. Today we can hear how the Council are taking a whole systems approach in a really pragmatic way to bring partners together across North Ayrshire to really push forward the integration of physical activity with health and social care. Interestingly, the backdrop in Scotland as highlighted in the excellent report by Community Leisure UK, is incredibly challenging and I think it’s fair to say Malcolm and the work that he and his team and stakeholders are doing is providing some hope and I would say ‘a blueprint’ for others to learn from and replicate. In fact, more than that, the fact that this is being done by the leisure operator with Malcolm leading this approach on behalf of the Council is really fascinating in itself. I would suggest we can learn from that approach, so as ever Malcolm gives us plenty to think about in a very inspirational, pragmatic way so I urge you to give this serious consideration when listening, thank you.

Today’s guest on the Conveners podcast is Adrian Leather. Adrian is CEO of Active Lancashire -  the Active Partnership for Lancashire and the Pennines -  and someone who’s influence reaches way beyond Lancashire or even the north! Adrian is highly intelligent with fingers in many pies, including being a NED in health organisations. Adrian is an advocate and practitioner of utilising physical activity to address some of society’s pressing issues and for taking what is now known as a ‘place-based’ approach to these challenges including inequalities. Adrian tells us why he is sure that physical activity is the best way to address mental and physical inequalities and how it can help people get back into work, support the NHS workforce and contribute to managing a range of long-term health conditions. A thoroughly enjoyable chat with a really inspirational leader. 

Today our guest on the Conveners podcast is Sarah Le Brocq.  Sarah is a patient representative on the Royal College of Physicians Advisory Group on Weight & Health, a Novo Nordisk Disease Experience Expert Panel (DEEP) member, a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Obesity Strategic Council, and a member of the Obesity Global Patient Advocacy (GOPA) working group. Sarah also recently become a lay member on NICE weight management guidelines committee and a trustee for Association of Study of Obesity (ASO).    You would’ve seen Sarah if you attended Elevate as she was on the stage with Dr Giles Yeo and Tanya Hall from e-gym, talking about her personal story with managing her weight and her experience of using the new weight loss drugs called GLP-1’s. Sarah is passionate about reducing weight stigma and raising the awareness of the complexities of obesity.  So we dive further into Sarah‘s inspirational story. We discussed the fact that despite the WHO recognising obesity as a chronic disease in 1997, we still tend to treat it as an acute disease with 12 week plans etc. We also discussed that if obesity is a disease, how does the environment and taking personal responsibility play a role and what are the implications for our sector? So, a fascinating story that is inspirational and offers many lessons for us -  if we are listening?

Today I’m delighted to welcome Craig Blain from Move Consulting to the Conveners. I was particularly keen to get Craig on to the pod sooner rather than later for a couple of reasons as we will explain during the episode. Craig is leading what could genuinely be termed one of the most important projects in our sectors history and there is a 'call to action' from everyone who will listen to the podcast, to support the project. So, please enjoy Craig‘s back-story including his physical challenge he is undertaking for a deeply personal cause, and once you’ve listened to the podcast, I would urge you to take action and get involved in this remarkable project that Craig is leading on behalf of the Active Partnerships network. As you will hear Craig explain, this could be a real watershed for our Sector but we must get involved. Please enjoy. If you wish to find out more about Craig Blains work or to donate towards his challenge you can do so using the links below. Move Consulting website: www.moveconsulting.co.uk Physical Activity for Health Pathways Project: //www.moveconsulting.co.uk/pathways The Joshua Tree: www.thejoshuatree.org.uk Giraffe to Giraffe Ride JustGiving page: https://shorturl.at/8L8lk