Public sector news

Industry body ukactive has launched an Independent Operators' Steering Group, catering for members who run independently-owned sites or a small number of locations, as part ... More

The hospitality and attractions sectors will benefit from a temporary cut to VAT as part of stimulus measures announced by chancellor Rishi Sunak. Revealing the ... More

The UK's fitness industry can finally get back to business on Saturday 25 July, following the government's announcement today (9 July) that gyms and leisure ... More

A free-to-access training platform has launched to help the sport and fitness workforce confidently return to work, as lockdown measures are eased. The £250,000 ReActivate ... More

Glasgow Life, which runs leisure and culture facilities on behalf of Glasgow City Council, has said that it will begin opening its gyms and fitness ... More

The government has confirmed that the £320m Physical Education and Sport Premium will be made available for the next school year (2020-21), starting this September. ... More

Boutique gym operator, Gymbox, faced threats of legal action over its bid to reopen on 4 July, with CEO, Marc Diaper deciding not to proceed ... More

UK consumer confidence has improved significantly since the beginning of the lockdown, with a fifth of households now thinking they will be better off in ... More

Industry body ukactive has today (1 July) hosted a delegation of government and public health officials on visits to a number of gyms and leisure ... More

Health and fitness company Ingesport – which operates the GO fit chain of gyms in Spain and Portugal – has secured an official certification by ... More

Physical activity levels in England have continued to fall from those recorded at the initial phase of lockdown – partly due to schools, shops and ... More

Almost 60 per cent of UK parents plan to resume their children’s swimming lessons – even if spectator restrictions imposed to meet social distancing guidelines ... More

Gyms and health clubs in Northern Ireland have been given the green light to reopen their doors on 10 July. The Northern Ireland Executive has ... More

A large-scale academic study has concluded that there is "no threat of increased COVID-19 spread" at fitness facilities, even when intensive training takes place. A ... More

Swimming pool users will have to adapt to a ‘new normal’ to ensure the safety of everyone visiting and working at the UK's pool facilities ... More

Construction work on planned leisure projects is beginning to return to normal across the UK. One of those returning to business is Alliance Leisure, which ... More

Leisure trust Vivacity, which terminated its contract with Peterborough City Council council last week, has confirmed it's lost £8m as a result of the COVID-19 ... More

Belfast’s £105m Leisure Transformation Programme has been recognised for its social impact by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). The programme won the leisure ... More

The government has announced that it will keep the Moratorium of Forfeiture, which protects businesses from rent enforcement activity, in place for a further three ... More

Industry body ukactive has invited Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon to "visit gyms and leisure facilities", in order to see first-hand the measures the facilities ... More

Thousands of gyms, restaurants and retail outlets in the UK will be going out of business if the government fails to extend protection from rent ... More

Leisure operator, Places Leisure, has revealed the results of a survey which sought to gauge the attitudes of its members towards reopening. The Re-Opening Survey ... More

Three industry firms – Active IQ, fibodo and Study Active – have teamed up to create a free, bespoke online fitness platform for NHS staff. Called ... More

The sport and physical activity sector "hasn't done enough" to tackle persisting inequalities within the industry, according to a statement signed by more than 80 ... More

Sport England has begun a search for "innovative solutions" which could reduce inequalities in society – and help those most affected to get physically active. ... More