Education, entertainment and a mystery guest at active-net 2014

Industry leaders from ukactive, BUCS, CIMSPA and the Trust Sector are among the packed line-up for the active-net 2014 educational programme, announced on 1 April. In between networking sessions and pre-booked one-to-one meetings, delegates will be able to attend targeted educational tracks and take part in high-level industry panel debates.

Innovation – outside the box, a panel session chaired by Leisure-net Solutions MD and active-net Event Director Mike Hill, will investigate new approaches to getting people active outside of the traditional leisure centre/gym model. Meanwhile, Innovation – inside the box will see Paddy Cochrain, Partner in CorActivity, leading panel discussions around new and innovative approaches to the physical facility mix.

The Health agenda series of seminars will look at the new commissioning landscape and bring together professionals involved in the development of the new health trainer programme, to look at the benefits of training and deploying 'health activators' in the community. Alongside this, a panel-led workshop specifically designed for supplier delegates will help them understand what's required to effectively sell into the public sector marketplace.

active-net 2014 will be bought to a conclusion by a high level debate on the future of our sector, chaired by Dave Stalker – CEO of ukactive and a CIMSPA trustee.

Mike Hill says: "Our mix of educational sessions will give delegates the opportunity to take more home from active-net 2014 than simply new contacts and business leads. We have secured a number of high-level industry speakers and panellists, which we hope will foster strategic discussion and debate."

As day one's events draw to a close and the networking dinner begins, delegates will be treated to a mystery guest speaker. He has worked in 73 nations, been at almost every major athletics championship in the last 35 years, but never got out of breath…

The Youth Charter has been announced as active-net 2014's official charity, and founder and executive chair, Geoff Thompson MBE, will also be at the networking dinner. He says: "active-net will provide a unique opportunity for me to re-engage with the sport, leisure and recreation industry decision makers and present a personal and professional experience of how the behaviour and performance leadership culture can be delivered within the challenges and opportunities of the sector.

"It will also provide me with an opportunity to share the Youth Charter's exciting proposals going forward on how a 2012 Legacy for all can be realised in our 21st anniversary year."

active-net 2014 takes place at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry from 30 April to 1 May.