The offer meets the industry’s appetite for education and development during the Covid-19 crisis, and even furloughed employees are allowed to take part in the CPD training, in accordance with government guidance.

Mirroring the face-to-face event, this year’s active-net will take place online on 24 and 25 March 2021. The networking event allows buyers and suppliers to meet their chosen delegates and discuss how they can improve and progress their projects.

All active-net buyers and suppliers will have a guaranteed CPD space, but Leisure-net, which operates the networking event, is opening up active-net’s education stream to all those working in the sector for the first time this year. Offered on a first come, first served basis, places for the free CPD training must be booked by 29th February.

Focusing on the future of public sector leisure and sport in a post-pandemic world, the programme includes a keynote panel looking at what the future holds for public sector leisure, health and fitness facilities and how the sector’s services can remain at the heart of both society’s and the government’s response going forward.

The panel of senior sector professionals comprises Tara Dillon, CEO of CIMSPA; Huw Edwards, CEO of ukactive; Kirsty Cummings, CEO of Community Leisure UK; Debbie Kaye, Vice-Chair of CLOA as well as Kevin Mills, director of Capital Investment at Sport England.

Other sessions will focus on the Role of the Workforce Post Pandemic, The Digital Community Post Pandemic and The National Leisure Recovery Fund, where Emma Bernstein, Capital Investment Manager at Sport England; Debbie Kaye, Vice-Chair of CLOA and Utku Toprakseven, Partner in Sport Intelligence at 4global; will discuss the impact of the Government’s £100m funding on the sector’s recovery.

Dave Monkhouse, Director of leading customer insight provider for the active leisure sector, Leisure-net, says: “Despite the challenging times, we know that sport, fitness and leisure professionals are keen to work on their professional development even if they are on furlough. By giving free access to some of the sector’s leading experts, we can help people expand their knowledge to prepare for the future development of our sector when we finally gain control of the pandemic.”

The seminar programme will take place online on Wednesday 24 March, from 09:30 – 11:30, and is worth two CPD points.