S/Oct 2023 . £6 www.paf-media.co.uk also in this issue: Historic lido reopens The challenge of rebuilding the country’s oldest outdoor swimming pool MSK services – a fresh approach Exploring the delivery of musculoskeletal health hubs in leisure facilities The state of swimming Industry report offers valuable advice on maximising pool revenues
Welcome... paf-media.co.uk 3 leader Financially-sustainable swimming pools The State of the UK Swimming Industry Report 2023 includes insight and advice from Total Fitness, which warns pool operators not to let booming demand distract them from serving the learn-to-swim customer. (P31) Editor Jo Makosinski Sales director Julian Walter Production Nicola Cann Design Sandra Cid Managing director Toby Filby Publishers Stable Publishing Limited SBC House, Restmor Way, Wallington, Surrey SM6 7AH, England. t. 020 8288 1080 f. 020 8288 1099 e. info@stable-media.co.uk www.paf-media.co.uk The publishers do not necessarily agree with views expressed by contributors and cannot accept responsibility for claims made by manufacturers and authors, nor do they accept any responsibility for any errors in the subject matter of this publication. Government Sports Strategy sets the tone THIS is my first edition as the new editor of paf magazine, having recently taken over the reins from Vicky Kiernander, who has done a sterling job bringing you insights from the sector for the past 13 years. I am a journalist with 31 years experience in both local and national newspapers and magazines and have spent the past 12 years editing magazines focused on the healthcare design and build sector, including Stable Media’s healthcare design & management (hdm) title. I will be picking up where Vicky left off, continuing to bring you news and views from the leisure sector and I look forward to getting to know you in the coming weeks and months. In this edition, the big news is the launch of the Government’s Sports Strategy, which sets out a number of key objectives to drive increased involvement in physical activity among adults and children. A key part of this blueprint is recognising the role the estate plays in encouraging participation, and hopefully this will mean some additional funding and support for leisure providers across the country. You can read more about the document in our news section (p7), where you can also find out about a £600m pledge to support schools in offering PE to more children, ukactive’s Vision 2030 strategy, and the significance of engagement in grassroot sport for young girls. There is also a focus on swimming pools (p27), with details of Leisure DB’s State of the UK Swimming Industry Report 2023, coverage of the redevelopment of the country’s oldest public lido; and new technology which could help to revolutionise pool safety. And there are features on the importance of acoustics (p16), the latest fitness market news (p23), and an interview with Ben Wilkins, chief executive of mission-driven organisation, Good Boost (p14). Plus, you can find out how you can join us at our first paf forum to be held outside of the UK – taking place in Switzerland in February. I hope you enjoy reading this edition and I look forward to meeting you all soon! Jo Makosinski Editor jo@stable-media.co.uk SUPPORTED BY
paf-media.co.uk 5 contents paf-media.co.uk 07 News Government unveils its new Sports Strategy, which aims to get millions more adults and children active; and ukactive sets out a blueprint for the future 14 Interview: Ben Wilkins Ben Wilkins, chief executive of mission-driven organisation, Good Boost, on how its model of community-based therapeutic exercise and wellbeing programmes could help transform leisure centres 16 Acoustics Exploring how good acoustics are key to creating leisure facilities that work for all users 20 Event preview: paf Europe 2023 Join us as we take the popular physical activity facilities forum international, with the first European event to be held in Switzerland in February 2024 23 Fitness: Fitness roundup A look at some of the latest products to hit the UK health and fitness sector 25 Event preview: The SLNG Annual Conference The Scottish Leisure Network Group holds its 2023 conference, promising a stellar line-up of speakers and the announcement of winners of this year’s industry awards 27 Swimming Pools Leisure DB founder, David Minton, shares his thoughts on the newly-released State of theUK Swimming Industry Report 2023; plus we look at the redevelopment of the country’s oldest lido; and find out how technology is helping to improve safety inside this issue
VISIT COREHEALTHANDFITNESS.COM/SCHWINN ©2021 Core Health & Fitness LLC. All rights reserved. Schwinn is registered trademarks of Nautilus Inc. used under license to Core Health & Fitness LLC. WE DARE YOU TO KEEP UP REQUEST A QUOTE TODAY! Contact uksales@corehandf.com Inspired by the instructors who make group cycling worth the sweat, the next generation of Schwinn has been built so we can Ride As One. Driven to create the most versatile bikes in the industry, we’ve looked at our history of authenticity to design a series of group cycling bikes whose key touch-points, personalisation and connectivity are revolutionary. Each of these bikes were created to suit the personality of your studio. No matter which bike fits your members best, we’ve simplified our customer experience so you can focus on what you do best—Ride.
paf-media.co.uk 7 news THE Government’s £600m pledge to support schools in offering a minimum of two hours of physical education to children every week appears to be falling short of its targets, according to new figures. The Youth Sports Trust (YST) this week expressed its concern after figures released by the Government show that 4,000 hours of physical activity were lost in state-funded schools in the last academic year. The figures reveal that 326,277 hours of PE and sport were delivered in secondary schools in England in 2011/12. But that fell to 290,033 in 2021/22 and then to 285,957 over the last 12 months. There has also been a 12% drop since the 2012 London Olympics. And this is despite the Government offering £600m over two years to encourage greater involvement in sports and to ensure equality of access for girls and boys. YST chief executive, Ali Oliver MBE, said: “Fewer than half of children in the UK currently meet 60 minutes a day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, which is the chief medical officers’ minimum recommended level. “This is contributing to a nation where too many children are missing out and have poor wellbeing and lack a sense of belonging. “The evidence is clear: unhappy and unhealthy children do not learn and just this week we are seeing proof of this as high levels of persistent absence and mental ill health have been cited as undermining pupils’ GCSE results.” In December, funding agency, Sport England, said children and young people’s activity levels had recovered to pre-pandemic levels, with 47% of children meeting recommended activity level. But, in April, it also revealed there were nearly half a million fewer active young people aged 16-34 than six years ago. School pupils are missing out On course for success A WEST Midlands golf club has invested £1.6m in refurbishing its clubhouse to secure the future of the venue for its members. Supported by a £500,000 loan from Lloyds Bank, Walmley Golf Club in Sutton Coldfield has improved facilities, with a full refit of the main building, the refurbishment of changing rooms, and the creation of new bars. The balcony has also been extended out and around the end of the building to provide views across the course and New Hall Valley. And the addition of modern energy-saving measures, including sensor lighting, a new boiler, and insulation, will reduce the club’s maintenance and operational bills; while a lift and refurbished disabled toilets will make the space more accessible. Image by Jan Haerer from Pixabay
8 paf-media.co.uk news UKACTIVE has published the latest chapter in its Vision 2030 strategy, setting out an ambition to get more than five million new users active in its members’ facilities, drawn from a greater diversity of backgrounds. The latest milestone report provides a review of progress across the past financial year, including updates on how ukactive has supported digital transformation, grown health-related projects with recognition from government, sourced and represented sector data and insight, undertaken major research projects, and piloted a new industry standard. It also details a range of activity for the coming year, in line with ukactive’s three areas of purpose: to support, protect and inform; to represent and champion; and to help members grow. This includes projects to support members through better data and insight, improved standards and inclusion, and continued digital growth. ukactive is also working to ensure the sector can play its fullest role in the nation’s economic growth, supporting the workforce and integrating with the NHS and wider community services. This includes engaging political parties to influence a range of policy areas ahead of a General Election. Another key area of interest within the document is a focus on supporting members to improve their buildings in line with the Government’s tough carbon net-zero targets. And relationships with the NHS and health agencies will be further strengthened through the creation of MSK hubs offering personalised services for exercise, leisure, and rehabilitation within leisure facilities. Huw Edwards, chief executive of ukactive, said: “It has been another challenging year for our sector due to the cost of living and energy crises, but we supported our members through this and saw huge determination from them to achieve our shared ambition for growth. “These clear milestones will ensure we continue to support our members to further develop high-quality, inclusive services; to lobby the Government for the best-possible operating landscape; and to work with our partners to drive the change we seek.” www.ukactive.com Relationships with the NHS and health agencies will be further strengthened through the creation of MSK hubs. The strategy aims to support its members to engage over 20% of the population by 2030 A vision for the future Image by Gonzalo Sampedro from Pixabay
• Adjustable • & happier fitness for Inclusive Effective o r communitie healthier Hardwearing outdoor es p es c ex eer e r i a b tsuj a natsi er el s t o neer s hc c c n p F dA Serenity House, Shirwell Crescent .kompan.co.uk • 01908 2 www ec slor uoT t, Furzton Lake, Milton Keynes, MK4 1G 201002 • kompan.uk@kompan.com GA m COLOGNE, 24 –27.10.2023 INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR FOR PUBLIC SPACE, SPORTS AND LEISURE FACILITIES International Business Media Services Ltd. 42 Christchurch Road Ringwood, BH24 1DN United Kingdom Tel. +44 1425 48 68 30 info@koelnmesse.co.uk www.fsb-cologne.com Photo of Beijing Stadium: © Arup, Chris Dite SECURE YOUR ADMISSION TICKETS fsb-cologne.com/tickets NOW!
DAVID Lloyd Leisure has announced that its Fulham club will undergo a major transformation, with £6.5m to be invested in extensive works over the coming months. Set to reopen in the first quarter of 2024, the new-look club will offer a new luxurious Spa Retreat featuring five experience rooms including a citrus steam room, Himalayan salt sauna, ice experience room, plus a peppermint ice rainforest experience shower, hydrotherapy pool, and heated relaxation beds. And a state-of-the-art gym, boutique-designed studios for group classes, and a clubroom and business lounge, will result in David Lloyd Fulham becoming one of London’s leading premium health and wellness facilities. Due to the level of disruption involved to members in a rapid transformation of this scale, the club will be closed until early next year. www.davidlloyd.co.uk/fulham 10 paf-media.co.uk news A NEW research report from the UK’s premier basketball team – the London Lions – has highlighted the significance of engagement in grassroots sports for young girls. The Lions are making history by becoming the first-ever British side to play in the EuroLeague Women Qualifiers and their success is driving interest in physical activity among their younger counterparts. The report revealed: • 28% of females say participating in a grassroots team sports when growing up enabled them to develop some of their most-important life skills • 16% of females say they met their lifelong friends and support network through sporting activities • 3.7 million (11%) of females say they have been inspired to try a sport for the first time this year after seeing women's sport on TV However, the findings also show that 20% of females have experienced some kind of discrimination or exclusion which deterred them from participating in sport and 25% feel like progressing in a sport, either at player or management level, is not viable for them as there are no role models they can relate to. Vanja Cernivec, general manager of the London Lions women’s team, said of the research: “I think we are only scratching the surface of the potential of women’s sport, not only women being professional athletes, but also women being coaches and involved in the business side of sport. “The one thing that needs to be focused on is sharing the stories of successful women in sport so that young girls and boys can identify with their stories and see it as something possible to emulate. “Adding to this, investing in girls and women is important and at some stage I hope it is the norm that whatever is invested in men’s sport is also invested in women.” Lions spark opportunities for young girls £6.5m makeover for David Lloyd Fulham
paf-media.co.uk 11 news A blueprint for the future THE success of the Government’s newlyreleased Sports Strategy will be underpinned by the improvement of existing, and creation of new, leisure and fitness facilities across the country. Get Active: A strategy for the future of sport and physical activity sets out a number of key objectives to drive increased involvement in physical activity among adults and children. These include recognition of the role of facilities, inclusive of gyms and leisure centres, in driving participation, with the Government committing to developing a National Vision for Facilities before the end of this year. And it notes how high-quality leisure centres are the public’s preferred location for exercise, and points to areas of recent investment, such as the National Leisure Recovery Fund and the Swimming Pool Support Fund. However, the strategy also states there are ‘facilities across the country [that] fail to deliver a sustainable and quality offer to the community’. And the National Vision for Facilities will consider the longer-term questions of sector resilience, particularly with regard to public sector leisure facilities. Other key announcements in the strategy include increasing children and young people’s physical activity levels, reviewing school sports provision to inform a new national scheme, and creating a task force to drive effective working across government. Launching the blueprint, Lucy Frazer, Secretary of State for Culture, Media, and Sport, said: “Recent years have seen unprecedented challenges for sport and our ability to be active. “This strategy sets out how we will respond to these challenges to ensure that the sector remains vibrant and relevant in the years to come.” Welcoming the document, Tim Hollingsworth, chief executive of Sport England, added: “It is a highly-ambitious document that clearly understands the role activity can play in the health and wellbeing of our nation, and how sport can be a force for good by reducing pressures on the NHS, improving educational attainment, and bringing our communities together. “We welcome the inclusion of ambitious overall targets for participation, and the acknowledgement that no single organisation can deliver the scale of change needed. Instead, this strategy will require significant and sustained commitment across the public and private sector.” And ukactive chief executive, Huw Edwards, said: “Our gyms, pools, leisure centres, and other providers represent the engine room of physical activity in the UK, helping more than 17 million people to be active, making an enormous contribution to the health of the nation. “To further harness the power of our members to drive activity in this country, it is crucial the Government continues to work closely with the sector to turn these ambitions into reality. “Working alongside Government we can maximise the impact of activity on health outcomes and economic productivity.” www.sportengland.org www.ukactive.com
for Commercial Leisure Facilities essentials Catalogue 2022/23 & Update’23 Best of both worlds..! for... Website - Catalogue Website - Catalogue P ols • Leisure Centres • Health & ubs • Spas • Holiday Parks • Hotels s • Universities • Swim Pools • Centres • Health & Fitness Clubs • Holiday Parks • Hotels • Schools • s rsities • Swim Pools • Leisure Centres alth & Fitness Clubs • Spas • Holiday ks • Hotels • Schools • Universities • P ls • Leisure Centres • Health & Fit- H liday Parks • Hotels S P ols • Leisure Centres • Health & ubs • Spas • Holiday Parks • Hotels s • Universities • Swim Pools • Centres • Health & Fitness Clubs • Holiday Parks • Hotels • Schools • rsities • Swim Pools • Leisure Centres alth & Fitness Clubs • Spas • Holiday ks • Hotels • Schools • Universities • S im Pools • Leisure Centres • Health & Fitess Clubs • Spas • Holiday Parks • Hotels S P ols ubs • Spas • Holiday s • Universities • Swim Pools • Centres • Health & Fitness Clubs • Holiday Parks • Hotels • Schools • rsities • Swim Pools • Leisure Centres alth & Fitness Clubs • Spas • Holiday ks • Hotels • Schools • Universities • S im Pools • Leisure Centres • Health & Fitess Clubs • Spas • Holiday Parks • Hotels S P ols • Leisure Centres • Health & ubs • Spas • Holiday Parks • Hotels s • Universities • Swim Pools • Centres • Health & Fitness Clubs • Holiday Parks • Hotels • Schools • rsities • Swim Pools • Leisure Centres alth & Fitness Clubs • Spas • Holiday ks • Hotels • Schools • Universities • S im Pools • Leisure Centres • Health & Fitess Clubs • Spas • Holiday Parks • Hotels essentials Commercial… Leisure… 2022/23 Facilities for... UPDATE...2023 UPDATE...2023 TE...2023 UPDATE...2023 UPDAT upda For a site visit or quick quote: call us on 01380 830 697 visit www.coprisystems.com Our bespoke sports structures use natural light and ventilation to create incredible spaces to play in all year round.
paf-media.co.uk 13 news FOREST of Dean District Council has chosen BAM Construction to develop and build its new leisure, enterprise, and education facility at Five Acres. The project will be completed in phases, with the initial phase focusing on dryside sport and leisure facilities through the repurposing of the Speedwell building, building a new multipurpose four-court sports hall/performance space, party rooms/dressing rooms, and separate changing rooms – all with car parking facilities, including electric vehicle charging points. Justin Price, construction director at BAM Construction, said: “We are incredibly excited to be chosen as the contractor for the design and build of the new facilities at Five Acres. “We are aware of how much Five Acres means to the residents of the Forest of Dean and we will be holding several engagement events in the coming months so we can discuss the plans for the build in detail and we can’t wait to work with partners and the community to develop these incredible facilities.” Commissioned via Perfect Circle and through the SCAPE Consultancy framework, Pick Everard has also been appointed to the project to help establish the final design plans. www.bam.co.uk www.pickeverard.co.uk Contractor chosen for Five Acres development Partnership transforms delivery of leisure services A NEW partnership has been announced which will transform the provision of leisure-based health programmes for millions of people. Gladstone, a supplier of leisure management software, has formed a collaboration with exercise platform, ReferrAll, which will mean health and leisure operators using Gladstone’s UK industry-first cloud-native software will be able to seamlessly integrate with ReferAll’s specialist data management platform for health and wellbeing programmes. The move is expected to transform the management of health-related services across the leisure sector. Gordon Watson, head of marketplace at Gladstone, said: “Easy-to-use and secure, ReferAll’s platform enables health and wellbeing teams to manage referrals for multiple schemes and report on outcomes in real time. “Using our new single API, customers on our cloud-based platform will now be able to seamlessly integrate the two systems, saving hundreds of hours in admin per year.” He added: “From referrers in a healthcare or community setting, to service managers, delivery teams, and commissioners; the ReferAll platform offers a 360˚ view of their service and the data-driven insights it will provide will play a pivotal role in optimising wellbeing services and improving health outcomes across the leisure industry.” Designed and built by industry experts to reduce workloads for service managers, to date ReferAll’s customers have managed more than 700,000 referrals via the platform. The easy-to-view dashboard offers a realtime, detailed report of all referral schemes and their status, including details such as referrals received, uptake, and completion rates. This will enable Gladstone-supported operators – which include David Lloyd, Everyone Active, Fitness First, and an array of the UK’s biggest councils and universities – to analyse service performance and patient outcomes, and to clearly demonstrate to commissioners and stakeholders the positive impact schemes are making to participants’ physical and mental health. www.gladstonesoftware.com www.refer-all.net
14 paf-media.co.uk interview Ben Wilkins We talk to Ben Wilkins, chief executive of mission-driven organisation, Good Boost, about how its model of communitybased therapeutic exercise and wellbeing programmes could help transform leisure centres into ‘health and wellbeing hubs’ and create new revenues and members at the same time as relieving pressure on health services OVER the last 18-months Good Boost has been leading a multi-partner, UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) project called ‘MSK Hubs’ to create the services and pathways for people living with MSK conditions to have options for supportedself management in their local leisure centre. Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions affect more than 20 million people in the UK and account for the third-largest area of NHS spend – at £5billion a year – with regular news reports of patients facing long waits for treatment and rehabilitation. And, over the past year, pilot leisure venues across the nation have launched at ‘MSK hubs’, which shift these services from hospitals and health centres to community leisure facilities. Parkwood Leisure, Legacy Leisure, and Lex Leisure recently announced the launch of new MSK rehabilitation programmes at 24 leisure centres in England and Wales, creating new community MSK self-management capacity and helping to improve access for people living with joint and pain conditions. This is part of a two-year industrial research project led by a health and fitness consortium comprising Good Boost, ukactive, Orthopaedic Research UK, ESCAPE-pain, and Arthritis Action. Good Boost is an aqua and land-based exercise rehabilitation programme that uses AI technology to assess individual conditions, needs, and requirements to create individuallytailored therapeutic-exercise programmes. The technology enables both individual and group sessions, with a high emphasis around the social and emotional support offered in group classes, while enabling individuals to benefit from a personalised exercise plan. A community focus The concept for Good Boost was developed by Ben Wilkins, who, despite embarking on a degree in osteopathy, soon realised that, rather than one-to-one clinical practice in therapy clinics, he was more interested in a community-wide approach to improving the health and wellbeing of villages, towns, cities, and nations. After finishing his degree, he worked for charities and social enterprises in Oxford and London and was able to see first-hand what communities were doing to address issues such as homelessness, drug and alcohol addiction, and the physical health needs of local people. He later took a MSc qualification in musculoskeletal science at the University of Oxford, and so began a career that would both fulfil his aim of helping to improve people’s health and wellbeing and create a new blueprint for how the leisure and health sectors can work in tandem to improve outcomes and quality of life for millions of people. “I was reviewing the research and completing my own research and I realised there was the evidence for therapeutic aquatic exercise and aqua rehab, but often a gap in the provision of pool-based rehab services despite patient demand, in addition to a need for more options for community rehabilitation, particularly in existing community spaces and public swimming pools,” he said. “Hydrotherapy pools, both public and private, can have limited access due to patient needs and greater demand than the space available.” Fulfilling a need Ben started working with social enterprise, Oomph, and was set the task of setting up an exercise service for older adults in sheltered housing and care facilities. “It was brilliant to have the opportunity to learn from some incredibly-talented team members at Oomph how to co-design, develop, and deploy products and services for ‘active ageing’, and how to take a concept through to a sustainable service, both in terms of finance and impact,” he recalls. “While working at Oomph in London, I continued to visit Oxford for my MSc and met people who would tell me they had an operation coming up, or an injury, and had been told to exercise, but did not know what to do, as they had been recommended ‘squats’, but struggled to walk, let alone squat!
paf-media.co.uk 15 interview “At the end of my MSc I had started the concepts and pilot for Good Boost because I wanted to create something tangible and I could see there was a need.” At the beginning, Good Boost was a small pilot in a swimming pool in Oxford, with no technology, just using the home-made laminated exercise cards made with the help of Ben’s physio and osteo connections. “At the end of the pilot, we asked people their views and looked at the pre and post outcomes and we could see that we were positively impacting people’s ability to manage their condition and the impact the condition had on their lives. Not just that, but they did not want to stop attending, and brought friends and family with them too,” he said. Meeting individual needs “We then managed to secure some social enterprise start-up funding and later an organisation offered us some pro-bono AI consultancy support. “Our next step was to digitise the homemade laminated exercise sheets – there were over 1,000 – and we provided participants with waterproof tablets, using AI to automate the process so we could tailor the exercise plans for specific abilities and preferences.” And the software was designed in collaboration with adults with low confidence when using technology, ensuring it is easy to use. Once a participant is signed up to Good Boost – which is supported by leisure centre staff and volunteers – they have an introductory session where they will answer a number of questions on the Good Boost waterproof tablets. They then meet the Good Boost facilitator and other participants. “We quickly realised that the key is not just the tailored exercises themselves,” said Ben. “It’s also the social and emotional support, which is a critical part of building confidence and trust for the first session and to keep people attending. Supporting self management “Good Boost classes are like no other exercise class. A more-traditional group exercise class will have music playing and you as the participant are having to follow the movements of the instructor. “We work tirelessly at Good Boost to design a system and service that is designed around having high-quality clinical governance and safety so that every participant has a programme that works for them, and the Good Boost facilitator, rather than focusing on what exercise to demonstrate or perform in front of a traditional group exercise class, can focus on having conversations, making people feel welcome, creating connections, and delivering that essential social and emotional support.” Ben’s original concept and unique approach has now earned interest from across the UK and overseas. “Larger leisure operators are working with us, with commitment to roll out Good Boost and we have committed support from Government to scale our growth and impact” he said. “Our approach is one that is proven to work and linking leisure and health services together is something I think we need to continue to do as there is an obvious link between health and wellbeing and physical activity which has previously been largely untapped.” www.goodboost.ai
16 paf-media.co.uk acoustics Good acoustics are key to creating leisure facilities that work for all users LEISURE facilities are inherently-noisy places – and this can create a challenge for architects and operators. These buildings can house gyms, sports and exercise rooms, and/or a swimming pool, with many multi-use facilities also featuring meeting rooms, open-plan offices, and sometimes a lecture theatre or similarly-designated learning area. And all these uses come with a variety of noises and needs – from general noise and instructors giving lessons, to noise from equipment and ventilation systems, for example. Kyriakos Papanagiotou, founder and director of KP Acoustics Group, explains: “Every space has its own acoustic identity and its own acoustic synergy with the end user. “The acoustic design, therefore, needs to augment the user experience and emphasise the specific use of the space.” An evolving industry Thankfully, over recent years the industry has been looking closely at this challenge and there is now a range of products available which can help to ‘dampen’ or absorb sound reverberation and improve the overall acoustic experience for all building users. CMS Danskin Acoustics’ Everroll fitness flooring is one such product and was recently selected for a major gym refurbishment at the University of Edinburgh. Specified by MnD Floors, the flooring brief required a good acoustic balance for the space, an easily-cleanable finish, and a contemporary aesthetic. And the flooring itself had to be durable and hard wearing to allow for exercise machine movement. Available in 8mm, 10mm, and 12mm variants, Everroll was developed for free-weight training and cross-fit facilities and is specifically resistant to drop impacts from free weights, dumbbells, and kettlebells, protecting equipment from damage. TVS Group’s ABSorb Sport Panels are also increasingly being specified. These wall panels are designed to absorb soundwaves so they cannot bounce around a space. And they can be installed on any wall or solid surface at low and high levels, including on a solid roof. Reducing noise transfer Patrick Dent, technical director at TVS Group, said: “In leisure and sports facilities, it is not just the sound within the various spaces that we need to consider – there are also noises travelling to and from other areas. “For example, people might be playing basketball and the ball impact noise or the players voices could travel to treatment rooms or offices adjacent. CMS Danskin Acoustics’ Everroll® flooring has been installed at The University of Edinburgh’s Eric Liddell Gym Image: Andrew Perry TVS Group
Contact us now: T: +44 (0) 1706 260 220 E: Sales@TVS-Group.co.uk www.TVS-Group.co.uk Solutions to suit any sports or exercise space, including: systems. Seamless polyurethane surfaces. Sheet rubber and inter-connecting gym tiles. Sports court markings and bespoke graphics. Class ‘A’ absorption, impactresistant wall panels for sports halls. Sports Flooring Experts
“Gyms and studios can also have high reverberation sounds, music, or impact noise from machines or free-weights being dropped on the floor. “In these cases we could be looking at installing false floors or using softer, moreporous, impact-resistant acoustic panels.” Swimming pools also pose a challenge when it comes to acoustics. Dent said: “Pools are usually big spaces with very-hard and reflective surfaces, which tend to make sound reverberate around. “Coupled with that is the fact there isn’t really a lot of space to put acoustic treatment, and anything you do put in is potentially going to get wet. Pooling resources “This means you are limited on what acoustic products you can use, and where you can put them – you really only have the space above the pool and a small area of wall space. “So, in pools, we tend to look at waterproof acoustic rafts or baffles, which we can suspend from the ceiling.” CMS Danskin has recently launched a new product specifically for swimming pools. The new sound-absorbing polyethylene foam product, Whisper, was developed for use for indoor and outdoor aquatic environments, with the lightweight panels absorbing sound energy, reducing echo, and eliminating reverberation, while also being resistant to water and humidity. Offering acoustic performance of up to Class A, they can be installed as vertical hanging baffles, absorbing sound on both sides. They can also be used as ceiling rafts in facilities where available height is restricted. Paul Absolon, technical director at CMS Danskin, said: “As well as being unpleasant for pool users and staff, noise levels can also be a health and safety issue. “It is often difficult for swim instructors to communicate with students, and it can be a challenge for lifeguards to pick up on warning sounds, so by eliminating reverberation, we can make pools safer and more-enjoyable places.” Starting at the end When deciding on an acoustic approach, Papanagiotou advises starting with the anticipated end user experience and working backwards. He said: “There are numerous guidance documents, but the common denominator is always the end user. “First you need to envision what the client wants to achieve, and what the end users would like, then you can organise the acoustic consultancy team around these objectives. “The end result is a ‘design resonance’ that is highly targeted, not only towards the client, 18 paf-media.co.uk acoustics CMS Danskin Whisper panels absorb sound energy, reduce echo and eliminate reverberation whilst being resistant to water and humidity. CMS Danskin Acoustics’ new sound absorbing polyethylene foam product Whisper
but also towards the space.” Absolon adds: “As well as reducing reverberation, other factors to take into consideration are impact resistance, so we need to employ products that are certified for sports technology, with approvals by ISSS, the World Squash Federation (WSF), and IT so that impacts from balls, for instance, do not cause damage to the acoustic panels.” And ensuring acoustics are factored in as early as possible in the design process for leisure buildings is crucial to the overall success of a project. “Forgetting to factor this in early can lead to huge expenses and inconvenience down the track, especially if you build your building and only then realise that the clashing weights in the workout room make it hard for administrative staff to take phone calls,” said Andy Parker, technical director at acoustics specialist, Resonate Consultants. Material choice He advises bringing an acoustic consultant onto the project team early in the design process so they can review the architectural side of the building as well as the mechanical, electric, and hydraulic considerations. He said: “Having a reliable acoustic consulting firm involved from the start means there are genuine value management and cost savings offered. Plus, you can be informed and advised upfront about where the considerations need to be applied. “If you understand where those considerations need to be applied, it allows you to at least be pragmatic about putting your money where the really important areas are. “These common areas might be entrance lobbies and thoroughfares like corridors and circulation areas, which are typically transient places where people come and go and don’t tend to hang around. “This might be an area where you compromise and decide not to spend as much on acoustic absorption.” Papanagiotou adds: “We always recommend that our involvement commences from the outset of the project, so we can understand the general intent and can then adapt it into an acoustic design strategy. “If that route is not possible, then intervention during a stage when the design is already developed may be trickier as our proposals are likely to clash with the project’s budgetary constraints. “The most difficult scenario, however, is when acoustics have been totally omitted, the project is completed, and only then does it become obvious that there is a problem. “But we are very fortunate that acoustic materials, and their installation methods, have been refined throughout the years and this allows us to intervene on already-finished, or close-to-being-finished, buildings with remarkable results.” www.kpacoustics.com www.resonate-consultants.com www.TVS-Group.com www.cmsdanskin.co.uk www.mdfloors.co.uk paf-media.co.uk 19 acoustics JP Acoustics Image: Andrew Perry
Join us as we take the popular physical activity facilities forum international, with the first European event to be held in Switzerland in February 2024 THE physical activity facilities forum Europe is an event like no other. For the first time, paf magazine’s sister company, Stable Events, is taking the popular networking event outside of the UK. Over three days and three nights, we will bring together leading buyers and industry suppliers from across the European physical activity spectrum for dedicated face-to-face meetings, enabling valuable, to-the-point, and strategic discussions to take place. Opening the event – to be held from 27-29 February in Andermatt, Switzerland – delegates will hear from inspiring speakers, including Dave Stalker, chief executive or europeactive; and Huw Edwards, chief executive of ukactive, discussing the hot topics, trends, and challenges facing the industry, enabling you to gain knowledge and insight to better grow your own company. Work and play! And, as these events are not just about work, we have created the perfect agenda to take those newfound partnerships from the meeting room to the mountains, where guests can continue to grow their network – APRES style! Staying at the luxurious Radisson Blu Hotel, set in the heart of the Swiss Alps, delegates will have easy access to a variety of winter sports and, after a day networking on and off the slopes, can treat themselves to a relaxing massage at the onsite Spa & Wellness Centre, or head back to their rooms, dim the lights, and recharge. Packages include a two-day ski pass, all ski/board equipment hire, and lessons for both beginners and those skilled on the slopes. There will also be a fondue party 2,222m up the mountain, a gala dinner, live entertainment and music, and alpine activities. paf magazine editor, Jo Makosinski, who will be chairing the speaker session at the event, said: “Being part of the physical activity facilities forum Europe gives you unprecedented access to a host of key decision-makers involved in the 20 paf-media.co.uk event preview
paf-media.co.uk 21 event preview design, build, operation, and management of physical activity facilities. Making connections “Delegates will benefit from a tailored schedule of one-to-one meetings with their chosen professionals and the operators, local authorities, universities, architects, contractors, and consultants responsible for delivering facilities across Europe. “And, with such a packed programme of fun activities and more-casual networking opportunities, it really is a great way to meet colleagues and make new business connections and friends.” Commenting on their attendance at previous paf events in the UK, a spokesman for Beaverfit said: “The event was a great success in unlocking access to many key persons with buying decision influence or power, all within the same room. “Short meetings kept the conversation flowing, and the ‘get to know you’, as opposed to hard-selling approach, is great. “Being able to obtain immediate feedback on products and the market from a wide range of users within a couple of days was fantastic and will very much allow us to focus on particular areas of product for improvement and innovation, as well as sector-specific sales targeting.” A spokesman for the Jubilee Hall Trust, added: “paf is an event not to be missed. “Suppliers and delegates often feel it’s just a hard sell and not for them, but I would say it’s quite the opposite. “We had meetings with suppliers who in normal everyday life we may not have met with and it has led to so many ideas and potential partnerships. “The meetings were not back-to-back hard selling, but informative, and even suppliers we may not work with provided some excellent industry insight I had not considered. “My auditors often ask me how I keep up with industry trends etc, and this event is as important as Fibo.” • Stable Events is thrilled to be able to announce that europeactive and ukactive will be official partners for paf Europe 2023 To find out more about this year’s event, contact julian@stable-events.co.uk to attend as a supplier or georgie.smith@stable-events.co.uk to attend as a complimentary buyer. www.paf-europe.com Partners:
WE’VE GOT IT COVERED Featuring high performing products that offer an unmatched level of performance, longevity and quality. With our superb range of Flooring. Call us now to find out more on 01985 218994 or visit www.jaymart.co.uk Jaymart Rubber & Plastics Ltd. Roman Way, Crusader Park, Warminster, Wiltshire, BA12 8SP
paf-media.co.uk 23 fitness Staff shortages hit the industry A SERIES of new research projects have shed light on the significant challenges faced by leisure operators and group exercise instructors in finding short-notice cover for classes, as well as its impact on members. One study, conducted by Leisure-net Solutions on behalf of on-demand group exercise cover app, CoverMe, finds that sourcing highquality freelance cover when instructors fall sick or are absent is one of the most-significant challenges faced by club managers. Another survey conducted by EMD UK found that group exercise instructors avoid taking time off due to the stress of finding cover, with almost a quarter of instructors (24%) juggling up to seven different WhatsApp and social groups for the different classes they teach. According to Leisure-net’s Operator Report, a staggering 63% of leisure operators offering group exercise programmes reported spending valuable time each week trying to source replacement instructors to cover classes and prevent cancellations that would disappoint their customers. Even more concerning, nearly one-fifth of operators (17%) said they have to allocate time every single day to find class cover. Despite their best efforts, operators often face difficulties in securing adequate replacement instructors, leading to unavoidable class cancellations or changes. In fact, 41% of operators are forced to cancel or change their group exercise classes every week due to their inability to find suitable cover. And the impact of disrupted and cancelled classes is far reaching. Researchers also surveyed individuals who had participated in group exercise classes within the last six months and found that a third (33%) regularly or quite often experienced disruptions or cancellations to their classes. As a result, 36% of participants stated they would not recommend a club to a friend if they encountered frequent disruptions to the group exercise timetable, while 16% said they would cancel their club membership altogether. Bad news Sue Wilkie, head of instructor support at EMD UK, said: “It’s hardly surprising that group exercise instructors feel so stressed about finding cover for their classes when they are sick or go on holiday. “Research shows that half of instructors regularly view one to three different social groups when trying to source cover, while 7% keep track of eight to 14 social groups. And almost a quarter of instructors (23%) say they don’t know where to source cover, which increases the risk of class cancellations and is clearly bad news for instructors, clubs and clients.”
While today’s operators benefit from advances in technology in almost all areas of club management, when it comes to sourcing freelance instructors, managers still rely largely on substitute instructor lists and seeking help from other instructors through messaging platforms like WhatsApp. And, very often, club managers are forced to accept whatever cover is available, rather than the ideal cover that would ensure a great member experience. But there is support available. Help at hand The CoverMe App’s algorithm matches inspirational, qualified and insured freelance instructors, vetted by CoverMe’s own in-house team, with gyms and studios, factoring in skills, proximity, and availability – all in real time – so managers can source and book class cover in less than 30 seconds. “Sourcing high-quality group exercise cover is one of the most-time-consuming and challenging aspects of club management. That’s why we are delighted to be working with an increasing number of club operators, including Nuffield Health, Serco and BXR, to solve this problem, improve efficiency, enhance member satisfaction, and eliminate the frustration and operational time consuming activity of class changes,” said Rosanna Tucker, chief executive of CoverMe. www.covermeapp.co www.emduk.org www.leisure-net.org 24 paf-media.co.uk fitness Gym equipment market boost AN increase in obesity rates and a rise in health consciousness are providing a much-needed boost to the growth of the global gym accessories market, according to new figures. The newly-released Gym Accessories Market report, from Allied Market Research, valued the market at £5.2billion in 2021 and estimates it will be worth a whopping £9.5billion by 2031 – growing at a rate of around 6.2% a year. This upsurge is also fuelled by a surge in gym memberships, a rise in sale of in-home equipment, an upsurge in the urban population, and an increase in government initiatives to promote healthy living. But the research also found that the high price of fitness equipment could hamper the market growth. To reduce these costs, new start-up gyms and fitness centres are favouring the use of resale products. By type, the belts segment had the major accessories market share and is likely to stay dominant during the report’s forecast period. And, by end user, processed health clubs and gyms dominate the market, while online distribution channels are likely to be the fastest-growing segment over the next eight years. www.alliedmarketresearch.com Image: Heiko from Pixabay Image: Taco Fleur from Pixabay
paf-media.co.uk 25 event preview The Scottish Leisure Network Group is holding its annual conference in November THE ‘past, present, and future’ will be the theme of the 2023 Scottish Leisure Network Group (SLNG) annual conference. To be held at the Inchyra Hotel in Falkirk on Thursday, 16 November, the event will feature a stellar line up of presenters who will be taking delegates through the challenges the sector has faced over the last few years. They will be sharing insights into available solutions and looking ahead to the challenges and opportunities in the future. Speakers will include Keith Burnett , chief executive of global markets at Les Mills; Jon Nasta, director of Retention Solutions; Mark Tweedie, managing director of Brimhams Active; John O’Kane, chief executive of Moray Leisure Centre; and Huw Edwards, chief executive of ukactive. During the conference the winners of the 2023 SLNG Awards will also be announced. The most-inspirational honours of their kind in Scotland, the competition is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the outstanding work that takes place within the Scottish notfor-profit education and leisure sectors. Awards will be presented in four categories: • Facility of the Year (sponsored by Technogym). This award will showcase projects which best meet the needs of their customers, staff, and the local community • Campaign of the Year (sponsored by MyZone). This will reward members who have proven success due to a fantastic marketing campaign • Rising Star (sponsored by Alliance Leisure). Highlighting individuals who have made a real impact within the sector • Special Achievement (sponsored by Gladstone). This award will be presented to an individual who has devoted their career to developing and improving services and bringing a wealth of experience to those around them The event is only open to current SLNG members, who will be sent emails with details of how to book a place. For queries, contact operations@slng1.onmicrosoft.com www.slng.com Looking to the future
paf-media.co.uk 27 swimming pools The future is bright for country’s oldest lido Exploring how contractors have addressed significant logistical challenges to restore the UK’s oldest outdoor public pool to its former glory THE UK’s oldest public outdoor swimming pool reopened last month after nearly 40 years and a £6m revamp. Cleveland Pools in Bath was first built in 1815 as a river-fed pool, but closed in 1984 following the opening of the indoor Bath Sports and Leisure Centre. For a short time it was used as a trout farm, but was threatened with demolition as an alternative to repair. In 2003 Bath and North East Somerset Council, which owned the site, put it up for sale and it was added to the English Heritage Buildings at Risk Register. But, thanks to the determination of three local people, Ann Dunlop, Janice Dreisbach, and Roger Houghton, the Cleveland Pools Trust (CPT) was formed in 2004 to rescue the site from dilapidation. And, in 2006, its listed building status was raised from II to II* as the pools were considered ‘particularly important… of more than special interest.’ Rising from the ashes Thousands of supporters from far and wide have since joined the campaign and in 2014 funding was received from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the council to develop designs and a viable business plan for its redevelopment. A further £4.7m of Lottery funding was allocated in 2018, with the trust raising the remaining £1m to cover the total cost of the works; with further funding awarded in 2020 due to increased construction costs encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic. To be operated by Fusion Lifestyle, the development includes a pontoon which will help visitors access the site from the River Avon and will also enable the operator to run a water source heat pump, which will heat the pool to 28 degrees in a more-energy-efficient way than the traditional gas-fired boilers used in most lidos. The work was carried out by Beard Construction alongside Donald Insall Architects and involved the creation of a new crescentshaped concrete main pool within the footprint of the original structure, which has been preserved beneath it. Meeting the challenges Drainage crates were then installed to allow natural spring water to continue to flow into the listed pool and around the shell of the new one. The existing children’s pool walls were temporarily held in place while the team excavated out the base to construct the waterproof, below-ground plantroom which is now home to the pool filtration equipment, along with the hi-spec water source heat pumps. And a refreshment kiosk and seating area is housed above the plantroom. Curving around one length, the original
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ0NzM=