On this LIFTS podcast, Escape Fitness CEO, Matthew Januszek and Mo Iqbal, Founder & CEO of SweatWorks are joined by special guest, Huw Edwards CEO of ukactive.

This episode explores the opportunities for ukactive to collaborate with the newly appointed Labour government in the UK, positioning the physical activity sector as a key player in addressing public health challenges. The discussion focuses on crafting innovative solutions, harnessing data-driven insights, and making facilities and services more accessible and inclusive. We also explore the rising trend of gym usage among young people, the urgent need to better support those with long-term health conditions and mental health issues, and the potential for a national patient care framework built through collaboration between the government, the physical activity sector, and the NHS.

Key topics discussed include:

• How the physical activity sector work with government to improve population health and drive economic growth.
• Beyond aesthetics: tapping into the broader health and wellbeing benefits of being active.
• Population health as an economic driver.
• The role of data in defining the sector's value proposition.
• The need for diversification of services to accommodate a wider range of health and wellbeing needs.
• Engaging young people to tackle childhood obesity and create habits for life.
• Leading with prevention: Collaboration between the physical activity and healthcare system.
• Integrating the fitness industry with the NHS: challenges and opportunities.
• The importance of storytelling to drive engagement.
• The need for local delivery that feeds into a national framework.

To learn more about ukactive, click here: https://www.ukactive.com/

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0:00 Intro

02:49 How the physical activity sector can support the govt to improve population health and productivity

04:28 Focus on the wider benefits of being active beyond aesthetics and into broader physical and mental health and wellbeing

07:48 The economic benefits of a healthy population

12:24 The role of data in defining the sectors value proposition

14:48 Diversification of services to accommodate a wider range of health and wellbeing needs

18:31 Engaging young people to tackle childhood obesity and crate habits for life

26:30 Leading with prevention: Collaboration between the physical activity and healthcare system

30:51 Integrating fitness industry with NHS, challenges and opportunities.

34:31 The need for a consumer campaign driven by lived-experience stories

34:55 The importance of local delivery that feeds into a national framework