ExCeL London, UK

ExCeL London, UK

18 Jun - 19 Jun 2025

For further information on exhibiting contact Lucy Findlay-Beale, Event Director.

IICC Dwarka, Delhi, India

IICC Dwarka, Delhi, India

25 Sep - 26 Sep 2025

For further information on exhibiting contact Lucy Findlay-Beale, Event Director

MSK HUBs: the leisure sector saving people from pain and the NHS money

Thursday 13th June 11:15 - 11:55

Collaborate

An industry leading project bridging the gap between the health care and leisure sector. The MSK Hubs launched in 100 leisure venues working with 20 operators nation wide over the past two year.

Over 20 million people in the UK have a problem relating to an MSK condition, such as arthritis, chronic pain or a knee replacement. Such conditions are one of the biggest factors in work absence and account for millions of lost days of productivity. For individuals, MSK conditions can be painful, challenging and limiting.

Changing this narrative was the impetus behind a two-year research project to design a system-based approach to better integrate leisure facilities with the nation’s healthcare infrastructure, turning them into a locally accessible network of community ‘MSK hubs’. This session will, for the first time, share the results of the project and the impact it’s had on leisure centres, healthcare services, and, most importantly, the people with MSK conditions.

The consortium responsible for the inception, delivery and evaluation of the initiative will share:

  • How partnerships between healthcare and fitness providers were initiated, embedded and enabled, and what learning and reflection they’ll take forward into the anticipated commercial roll-out of the programme;
  • The role technology played in the delivery of services and how it allowed participants to navigate their own care and progress;
  • What impact the project had on the participants and deliverers, reflecting on whether fitness and health partnerships have changed scope of practice and approach;
  • The commercial impact of the project: how much it cost and what the results have been in terms of conversion to membership;
  • The role of community and support in delivering effective health interventions.

Attendees will gain insight into the workings of a unique collaboration, access to first-hand evaluation, and ideas on how to initiate and embed fitness and health partnerships into your business model.

Speakers

Suzanne Gabb

Good Boost

Andy Farr

Strategic Director

Parkwood Leisure

Andy is widely recognised as one of the most innovative and forward-thinking leaders in the sector. In his role as Strategic Director, Andy is responsible for shaping the strategic direction of the company, including seeking new business opportunities, driving innovation, improving third party partnerships and overseeing Parkwood's marketing and business development departments.

He joined Parkwood Leisure in September 2022 from British Cycling where he spent 3 1⁄2 years overseeing the development of their new operating model and business plan. He also co-designed and implemented their Places to Ride investment programme.

Andy has worked in the industry for more than 20 years and has worked with national and international clients including Sport England, UK Sport, SportScotland, Sport Wales, Singapore Government, World Bank and a number of high profile NGBs and local authorities.

Alison Turiccki

Open Doors and Nike Partnership Manager

ukactive

With over 15 years’ experience working in the Leisure industry with a varied client base, Alison is passionate about providing individuals at all ages, abilities and backgrounds an opportunity and safe space to exercise and work towards their personal goals.

For a large part of her career, Alison’s focus has been in exercise rehabilitation, specifically for patients with a cardiac, cancer or MSK diagnosis. Alison has supported the set-up, delivery and roll out of many referral provisions whilst working closely with local NHS services, to ensure a smooth transition for the patient, and provide a safe and effective delivery model to encourage long term behavioural change.

Alison has also had experience in exercise prescription and activity roll out for children in her local community during school holiday periods and as Partnerships Manager at ukactive supported the delivery of the Nike Open Doors project in its final delivery year in 2023. ukactive has created a Blueprint for children’s activity, to provide guidance to their members and CYP providers to continue to deliver the Open Doors model. This will enable many more schools to open their doors during the holiday periods and encourage more children to be more active, more often. As a result of this project, ukactive was proud to be recognised within the Governments Sport Strategy.

Alison is also a member of ukactive’s internal CYP steering group, supporting the delivery of their strategy to support activity provision for children and young people.

Arash Angadji

CEO

Orthapedic Research UK

David Vaux

Head of Therapies, Exercise and Training

Arthritis Action

Ben Wilkins

CEO

Good Boost

Alex Lucas

Research Manager

ukactive

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For all enquiries please contact us at: info@elevatearena.com