Retention Convention to focus on the impact a happy workforce for gym members

The Retention Convention will focus on the impact a happy workforce has on retaining leisure centre, gym and health club members at its event in May.

Now in its third year, Dr Paul Bedford – who founded the conference in 2015 – will be joined by Justin Tamsett, Lexie Griffiths and Keith Smith.

Tamsett, a former health club owner and now a business mentor and coach, will share seven key areas to building a winning team during his session ‘Building Retention Starts Off The Field’.

Tamsett, managing director of Active Management, which shares practical ideas from outside the industry that can be implemented to stay ahead and grow profitability, said: “We can use a game of sport as an analogy for the retention challenge. Our staff are the players on the field, competing hard and carrying out our game plan. The strategies we build will win the game.

"But as any sportsman knows, many games are won (or lost) on what happens on the practice pitch and in the locker room.”

Owner of the professional development programme Sizzle Maker, Lexie Griffiths, will deliver a session that will share tips and strategies to help brands create fans. Griffiths, who is coaching Holmes Place Clubs and the Johnson Health Tech UAE team, has experience of working with high-profile companies, including Mercedes-Benz and L’Oreal.

Training and education specialist Keith Smith, who had a 14-year career as a tutor and assessor for YMCAFit before starting his own professional development company seven years ago, will talk about ‘How to get a Return on Your Education Investment’, explaining the importance of making education stick with further coaching back at the site.

Dr Bedford said: “This year we want to take a different focus and concentrate on the impact a happy workforce has on membership retention. Some health club chains turn over more than 90% of their staff every year and the impact retaining these people has on keeping members, as well as the company’s bottom line, is quite staggering. Throughout the day delegates will hear from our world-class speakers, who will share their expertise on staff retention strategies.”

The convention will take place at the Manchester Conference Centre on Thursday 18 May.