Articles Tagged with: networking

10 Top Tips for Elevate 2026

Celebrating 10 Years of Elevate

10 Top Tips for Attending Elevate 2026

This June marks 10 years of Elevate – a decade of bringing together the people who keep the UK moving.

It’s hard to believe we’ve been attending for ten years already! Elevate remains one of the highlights of our events calendar, not only for the insightful speaker sessions and industry trends, but also for the opportunity to reconnect with familiar faces and meet new people across the sector.

If you’re heading to Elevate 2026, we’ve pulled together our top tips to help you make the most of your time at the show, from planning your day and networking effectively to making the most of the evening socials.

Are you heading to Elevate this year? Take a look at the tips below and get in touch here if you would like to arrange to meet up at Elevate on 17th-18th June 2026. We’re sponsoring the networking lounge so definitely pop by and say hello!

Plan Your Day in Advance

Leave with outcomes – the show is free, but your time isn’t. Make sure you plan the seminars and panels you want to attend in advance. Without a plan, you’ll end up missing some great and thought-provoking content. Download the Elevate app for easy access to the schedule on the day, or take a look at the agenda online.

And if you are attending as a team, use the time to energise one another. Also use the time between you well. Who’s covering what?
But Don’t Over-Book Yourself!

On the flip side don’t book too many meetings before the event. You bump into so many people on the show floor that if your diary is too blocked out, you either miss loads of valuable chats or end up running late. Allow yourself personal time for coffee catch ups or just a reset.
Charge Up Before You Arrive

A busy event day can quickly drain both your phone battery and your energy levels. Bring a portable charger, keep a water bottle handy and don’t skip breakfast. You’ll get far more from the event if you stay energised throughout the day.
Travel Arrangements

Get there early, when it’s a little quieter, and wear comfortable shoes (and your fitness tracker) as you’re going to do a lot of walking!

Uber is widely available in the docklands, but the best way to travel is on the DLR or Elizabeth Line. Customs House is probably your best stop (for the Western Entrance) but if the show is in one of the more easterly halls then it’s Prince Regent.
Learning is Key

If you don’t choose your sessions wisely and plan for that, the loudest thing in the room will choose for you. Work the floor with a take-in lap, then spend time wisely where it will add most value.

Familiarise yourself with the floor plan here.
Don’t forget to eat

It can be easy to let the day run away with you, but there’s plenty of options for food and refreshments. You can grab a coffee from the networking lounge in the centre of the hall (this is where you’ll find our team too!) or you can head out to the foyer where there are plenty of food outlets.

For something a little more formal, but still quick and accessible, we’d recommend Tapa Tapa situated along the walkway to Customs House station (Western entrance).
Be Active on Social Media

Share your experience while you’re there. Posting highlights from sessions, tagging exhibitors and connecting with people on LinkedIn during the event is a great way to extend conversations beyond the show floor. Plus, it helps you keep track of useful insights and new contacts after the event.

#Elevate26
Step Outside Your Comfort Zone

It’s easy to stick with familiar faces, but some of the best opportunities at Elevate come from unexpected conversations. Introduce yourself to someone new, attend a session outside your usual area of expertise or explore stands you wouldn’t normally visit. You never know where a fresh conversation could lead.
Plan an Evening Social

For a post-event drink, The Fox pub (across the road from the arena) is where everybody heads. This is great to carry on conversations as most industry people go there, but it does get very busy. Keep your ears open for evening parties!
Follow-Up Like a Pro

Turn notes into actions while they are fresh – what better way to spend the train journey home! Feedback to colleagues and give thanks to those who gave you their time.

See you at the arena!

Book Tickets Here

Busy Schedule Ahead as Events Season is in Full Flow

The nights may be getting slightly darker but our team are still out and about as the events season steps up a gear after the summer break.

From construction to procurement, from leisure to local government, we’re attending a host of events over the next few months.

Leisure DB Free Flow Event

London 18.9.25
IAAPA Expo

Barcelona 23.9.25 – 25.9.25
CIMSPA Conference

Leicester 24.9.25
PAF England

Birmingham 25.9.25
IAKS UK

London 1.10.25
Procurement Act Live

Birmingham 14.10.25
W3fit

Malaga 14.10.25
Solace Summit

Leeds 16.10.25 – 17.10.25
HCM Summit

London 23.10.25
IAKS Congress

Cologne 28.10.25
ukactive Awards

Birmingham 30.10.25
ProcureX Wales

Cardiff 4.11.25
ConnectCX Summit

Nottingham 11.11.25
SLNG Annual Conference

Cumbernauld 20.11.25
Active Net Padel North

Bolton 3.12.25

Join us at UKREiiF 2025

Alliance Leisure team head to Leeds for UKREiiF

We’ll be once again attending UKREiiF at the Royal Armouries in Leeds on the 20th – 22nd May.

Find out more about UKREiiF and the programme HERE.

James Foley, our Commercial Director, and Will Gardner, Business Development Manager, will be at the event so if you want to get in touch you can contact them below.

James and Will can provide updates on what we do (build leisure facilities for local authorities), how we do it (as a development partner removing all workload and headaches from the client) and who we’ve done it for (100+ clients, 285 projects, £450m of investment).

A few photos from last year’s event…

Join us at Elevate 2024

Are you heading to Elevate this year? Our theme for this year’s event is ‘Looking into the future’, and we have teamed up with a number of suppliers and partners to showcase new products and share knowledge on current trends. Take a look at the opportunities below and get in touch here if you’ve got any questions or would like to arrange a time to meet up.

Say Hello 👋🏼 in the Networking Lounge

When: Wednesday 12^th June 10am-5pm

Where: VIP Networking Lounge

At this year’s show we are sponsoring the Networking Lounge in the centre of the exhibition. A number of our team will be in attendance where you can join us in our VIP area for a coffee and catch up, or take a walk around the exhibition together and see what’s happening in the industry. With a large number of partners attending the show this is a great opportunity to introduce you to some of the people we work with. No booking required, simply contact one of the team to arrange a time.

Debate | Future Trends in Fitness and Wellness

When: Wednesday 12^th June 12.40pm-1.40pm

Where: Debate Theatre

Content: Sarah Watts, CEO at Alliance Leisure, is joining colleagues from the industry, including David Minton (Leisure DB), Will Flint (Energym), Andy Reed (Sports Think Tank), Glen Thurgood (Huumans) and Kate Corfield (Ministry of Sound), to discuss how improving the health of the nation will take a collective effort >>> FIND OUT MORE

Tapas, Cocktails and Friends

When: Wednesday 12^th June 7pm-late

Where: Iberica Canary Wharf

Join us for a drink or three as we host a relaxed social event in Canary Wharf. This is ticket-only but please get in touch with one of the team if you would like to join us.

Round Table | What is sustainability anyway?

When: Thursday 13^th June 12pm-12.40pm

Where: Debate Theatre

Content: Our Commercial Director, James Foley, is chairing this panel discussing the drive to net zero in the fitness sector. James is joined by Keith Ashton from Space & Place, and Duncan Anderson, CEO at South Downs Leisure. The group will look at what sustainability really means, who should be driving it, and whether, as an industry, we are paying more than lip-service to measures to reduce our impact on the climate >>> FIND OUT MORE

Evolutionary Gym Design | Crafting spaces for the modern fitness customer

When: Thursday 13^th June 11.55am-12.35pm

Where: Generate Theatre

Content: Join Paul Woodford, our Strategic Engagement Director, for a forward-thinking exploration into the future of gym design, as he dissects the evolving needs and expectations of customers in 2024 and beyond. Paul is joined by industry experts Alan Davidson, Head of Sales at Jigsaw Fitness, Chris Scragg, Director of Operating Model at Nuffield Health, and Nichola McLachan, Health and Fitness Development Manager at North Lanarkshire Council >>>FIND OUT MORE

Free (extra strong) Coffee in the Networking Lounge

When: Thursday 13^th June 10am-5pm

Where: VIP Networking Lounge

And the show continues into its second day as we once again take our VIP seats in the networking lounge. You are welcome to join us for a free drink and meet some of the team that will be in attendance.

Elevate 2023 – Our Takeaways

Back in June, the team at Alliance Leisure attended Elevate 2023; the UK’s largest trade show dedicated to fitness, sport and physical activity. During the event, the team took part in a number of workshops and seminars about issues facing the industry today, future trends, new technology and more.

One in two people will be over the age of 50 by 2030

This statistic demonstrates how the industry must adapt to meet the needs of a changing audience. It is critical that the industry recognises the needs of the people using our facilities, and provides the services relevant to them. A number of traders at Elevate 2023 were aimed at active aging, as well as long-term health and longevity of fitness.
The language of leisure

A significant point that was raised numerous times during Elevate is the language that is used within the sector. A point is being reached where the language of leisure is starting to change to focus more on health, wellness and physical activity, rather than fitness, as well as inclusivity. The shift to a language of health and wellbeing is a direct response to the rising wellness trend that is emerging, and immersive language makes facilities feel more accessible to some potentially marginalised groups, as well as those who feel as though they don’t ‘fit in’ to their idea of someone who uses a leisure centre. These factors combined will help the sector to start reaching more of the 85% of the population who aren’t currently members of a leisure facility.
Working together as an industry

The need for collaboration within the leisure industry is more important than ever. In order to work towards an overall objective of getting more people active, operators must be willing to share data and insight into their successes. By sharing data, we can start to build a clearer picture of the needs of the public, and what can be done in order to meet these needs.
The need to collaborate with the NHS

There is a growing focus on health and wellbeing within the sector (and has been for over a decade now). Elevate 2023 demonstrated this clearly with an influx of traders representing health and wellness businesses, including supplement providers, body composition analysis businesses, medical testing facilities and more. Some of these businesses are already working closely with the NHS, which is a critical source of data which would be highly valuable to the leisure sector. As well as this, many conversations took place across panels covering the need for the NHS and leisure sector to work together. There is a missing link between healthcare providers and the leisure industry; it is possible that fewer people would need to seek healthcare if they were more active. There is a growing need for the NHS and the leisure industry to collaborate to encourage more people to partake in an active lifestyle to help improve their health and keep them out of hospitals, as well as the NHS being a crucial source of data for the sector to work with.
Innovation and sustainability

It is critical that a new innovative approach is taken in the development and delivery of leisure facilities in order to create a sustainable model for the public sector. By encouraging participation in schemes such as PSDS, the leisure industry can start to make changes to its enviromental impact. Suppliers, operators and contractors are all taking significant steps towards working collectively towards creating a more sustainable leisure industry, and by continuing this collaborative effort, positive changes will continue to be made.

Here are some brand new pieces of fitness equipment we saw on display at Elevate 2023.

Discover our projects that are helping to improve the health and wellbeing of the nation

Portfolio

Get in touch to discuss how we can help you with your project and achieve your aims and objectives

get in touch

Join us at Elevate

Are you heading to Elevate this year? Our theme for this year’s event is ‘Partnerships’ and we have teamed up with a number of suppliers and partners to showcase new products and share knowledge on current trends. Take a look at the opportunities below and get in touch here if you’ve got any questions or would like to arrange a time to meet up.

Future Studios Preview Event

When: Tuesday 13^th June 4.30pm-7pm

Where: Queen Mother Sports Centre, Victoria, London, SW1V 1EL

Partners: Future Studios

As featured in the press recently Future Studios is giving you the chance to come and take a look at the latest in studio innovation, introducing immersive 360^o projection-mapped environments. Future Studios provides operators the chance to bring your walls to life with amazing animated worlds from abstract landscapes to futuristic cities. Transform your studios instantly from a themed birthday party room into a relaxing calm yoga retreat.

Drinks and light refreshments will be available throughout the event so come and join us for a drink and nibbles, and see the latest in studio innovation!

Say Hello 👋🏼 in the Networking Lounge

When: Wednesday 14^th June 10am-5pm

Where: Elevate, ExCel London

Panel Debate | Investing in the Future

What’s the next step for public sector leisure?

When: Wednesday 14^th June 2.30pm

Where: Elevate, ExCel London, Thought Leaders Conference

Partners: CIMSPA, Sport England, ukactive, Strategic Leisure

Against a backdrop of challenges facing Public Sector Leisure, how can the sector and all within, champion and drive forward the agenda for transformation? Our expert panel will discuss the opportunities for continued investment in public sector facilities, looking back on what was happening before the pandemic, how operators have delivered construction projects during the last 2 years, and what is in store for the future.

Panel Debate | Health and fitness is NOT fit for purpose

When: Wednesday 14^th June 1.50pm

Where: Elevate, ExCel London, The Business of Physical Activity Theatre

Partners: Innerva, Serco, Saheli Hub, Wave Leisure

It’s time to re-think. Health & Fitness as we know it is not working… or at least not for the vast majority of the population, with 85% not darkening the doors of our facilities. We’ve got to stop, pause and reflect and start to really think how we can adapt what we are used to doing, moving out of our comfort zone (the 15%) and really focus on making a difference where it matters most.

We’re joining a panel of experts to discuss how we change our thinking and open our doors to the 85%. Time to survive or thrive?

Cocktails, Laughs and Dreams

When: Wednesday 14^th June 7pm-late

Where: Pergola on the Wharf, Crossrail Place, Canary Wharf

Join us for a drink or three as we host a relaxed social event in Canary Wharf. No ticket required but please get in touch with one of the team if you plan on joining us.

Free (extra strong) Coffee in the Networking Lounge

When: Thursday 15^th June 10am-5pm

Where: Elevate, ExCel London

Discussion Topics from Tomorrow’s Workout

The Bolton Whites Hotel was host to Tomorrow’s Workout trade fitness event on the 14^th September 2021 and was attended by a range of suppliers, private operators, councils, leisure trusts and personal trainers.

Alliance Leisure and TA6 sent along a few of the team to listen to the speaker programme as well as meet with suppliers who were exhibiting at the conference. Here’s a brief summary of the discussion points throughout the day.

The morning session kicked of with a simple question, what’s the word on the street?

Sarah Watts, founder and CEO of Alliance Leisure spoke about value, decarbonisation and localism, particularly in relation to the public sector.

The challenges of pivoting a franchise model to selling a club within a club was explained by Jamie Cartwright, owner of Hatton Boxing and co-founder of BOX12. Jamie also explained the difficulties in scaling a business that is reliant on its rockstars.

Kate Landers from Creative Fitness Marketing explained about organic reach and suggested attendees check out Facebook Blueprint for training opportunities.

Mike Hind MBE, talked passionately about building a community within his club and how word-of-mouth advertising is more powerful than paid-for campaigns.

In the afternoon discussions focussed on the consumer. Ian Mullane, founder and CEO of the AI-powered sales and retention platform Keepme kicked off by talking about the importance of health and wellness to the consumer and using wearables to personalise an experience.

Andy King, chair of GMactive and CEO of Link4Life, explained how customers had missed the connection and sense of community during lockdown. He also referenced talk of the sector achieving a 20% penetration rate by 2030.

Lynn Wilson from Volaire Leisure explained to the group about projects in St Helens that had focussed on mental health, particularly in younger customers as part of the Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF).

Day out at the Scottish Leisure Network Group in Edinburgh

Four members of our Northern-based team attended the regional seminar for the Scottish Leisure Networking Group this week held at the prestigious Edinburgh International Climbing Arena. James Foley Commercial Director, Sean Nolan Business Development Manager, Tom Gardner Business Development Manager and John Leaver Head of Marketing, joined over 50 other delegates from 21 organisations in a networking day covering a range of topics.

As sponsors of the network John delivered a marketing workshop with the group which received excellent feedback on the day and after…

“Spoke really well very authentic , humble and engaging”

“Everyone I spoke to took something away from your presentation. Delivered in an easy understandable way coupled with mini interaction sessions to get everyone talking – perfect”

The day was rounded off with speakers from CIMSPA, Spencer Moore, and Debit Finance, Richard Jones.

Celebrating 10 Years of Elevate

10 Top Tips for Attending Elevate 2026

Plan Your Day in Advance

But Don’t Over-Book Yourself!

Charge Up Before You Arrive

Travel Arrangements

Learning is Key

Don’t forget to eat

Be Active on Social Media

Step Outside Your Comfort Zone

Plan an Evening Social

Follow-Up Like a Pro

See you at the arena!

Busy Schedule Ahead as Events Season is in Full Flow

The nights may be getting slightly darker but our team are still out and about as the events season steps up a gear after the summer break.

Leisure DB Free Flow Event

IAAPA Expo

CIMSPA Conference

IAKS UK

Solace Summit

HCM Summit

ProcureX Wales

SLNG Annual Conference

Alliance Leisure team head to Leeds for UKREiiF

Say Hello 👋🏼 in the Networking Lounge

Debate | Future Trends in Fitness and Wellness

Tapas, Cocktails and Friends

Round Table | What is sustainability anyway?

Evolutionary Gym Design | Crafting spaces for the modern fitness customer

Free (extra strong) Coffee in the Networking Lounge

Elevate 2023 – Our Takeaways

One in two people will be over the age of 50 by 2030

The language of leisure

Working together as an industry

The need to collaborate with the NHS

Innovation and sustainability

Here are some brand new pieces of fitness equipment we saw on display at Elevate 2023.

Discover our projects that are helping to improve the health and wellbeing of the nation

Get in touch to discuss how we can help you with your project and achieve your aims and objectives

Future Studios Preview Event

Say Hello 👋🏼 in the Networking Lounge

Panel Debate | Investing in the Future

What’s the next step for public sector leisure?

Panel Debate | Health and fitness is NOT fit for purpose

Cocktails, Laughs and Dreams

Free (extra strong) Coffee in the Networking Lounge

Discussion Topics from Tomorrow’s Workout

Recent Posts

Archives

Categories