Courteen: ‘There’s now real clarity around what UK Active is and does’
Let’s talk about your new role at UK Active.
UK Active demonstrated its power and value to the industry so much during the pandemic that I wanted to put my shoulder to the wheel to help the organisation continue to move forward. I therefore offered to step into the role of chair of the UK Active Membership Council, having previously been vice chair. I can best sum up ukactive’s influence and achievements during the pandemic like this: at the end of the first lockdown, clubs were the last places to re-open because government viewed us as high-risk. By the end of the third lockdown – after huge efforts by UK Active to prove we weren’t high risk, but an important part of the solution – we were one of the first to re-open. Those extra eight, maybe 10 weeks of being open… they
photo: RICHARD DAWSON
into a profit centre. At Mosaic’s hotel-based spas, 95 per cent of guests are there to use the spa; only 5 per cent of spa visitors are hotel guests.
made a massive financial difference to my business, and I’m sure to lots of other businesses as well. That in itself will have paid for my membership to UK Active for easily the next 15–20 years. I think there’s also now real clarity about what UK Active is. It’s built a reputation for data and industry insight, helping us understand the business and the industry we work in. It influences government. It guides our management of the risks that could affect the whole industry. And perhaps most importantly it encourages participation, with a bold ambition of getting 20 per cent of the population active by 2030. I think we owe it to ourselves as an industry to really join together now and push the wellbeing and health agenda forward – and our role within it. I’m here to get my sleeves rolled up and get stuck in. How does the Membership Council work?
The council now has 14 members from its original nine – reflecting the diversification of the industry – and it’s a strong, well-respected group of people. ©Cybertrek 2022 Issue 4 2022
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