EGYM

 

Building healthier communities together: EGYM unites public leisure and healthcare strategies

EGYM’s Public Sector event showcased how data, technology and collaboration are transforming leisure centres into frontline hubs for community health and wellbeing.

Held on September 16, 2025, at Portway Lifestyle Centre in Sandwell, managed by Sandwell Leisure Trust, the event brought together operators, stakeholders and partners to explore how public sector leisure can support the government’s NHS 10-year plan. Through workshops, seminars and networking, delegates shared insights on how EGYM innovations are driving measurable health outcomes and strengthening links between leisure and healthcare.

Opening the day, ukactive’s Marianne Boyle, Director of Membership and Sector Development, highlighted the huge opportunity for public leisure to help create a sustainably healthier population and meet ukactive’s ambition to get 5 million more people moving by 2030. With stronger government engagement than ever before, she said, the sector now has the chance to shape a healthier, happier nation.

Workshops sparked lively discussions on how operators can collaborate with healthcare professionals, secure public health funding and evidence the success of physical activity interventions. Key messages included the need to:

  • Engage both older and younger populations to build lifelong exercise habits

  • Build trust in the sector’s professional expertise

  • Use robust data to evidence health impact and cost savings

Trailblazing councils such as Pembrokeshire and North Hants shared examples of how EGYM’s ecosystem supports physical activity referral pathways and provides essential data to demonstrate change.

A panel debate chaired by Glen Thurgood, Chief Strategy Officer at Leisure DB, brought together leaders from Sandwell Leisure, Plymouth Active, Lampton Leisure and Mytime Active. Their discussion reinforced several priorities:

  • Position EGYM Strength Series as an inclusive, mainstream offer

  • Track key outcomes such as strength, flexibility, BioAge and usage

  • Use data to build credibility with health partners and funders

  • Integrate EGYM across the full member journey

  • Extend programmes into GP surgeries and community settings

  • Strengthen partnerships with local health teams to unlock funding and trust .

A highlight was the announcement of EGYM’s upcoming integration with ReferAll, the UK’s leading platform for wellbeing referrals. Founder Stu Stokes described how connecting the two systems will create a ’data galaxy,’ enabling leisure operators to present powerful, patient-centred evidence to healthcare professionals.

In short: Public sector leisure is poised to drive a public health revolution. With technology like EGYM enabling safe, measurable physical activity pathways, collaboration with healthcare can become the cornerstone of the NHS 10-year plan to prevent illness and promote lifelong wellbeing.