Are you fit for the future?

In his latest blog James Allen, Head of Policy at the Alliance, talks about election uncertainty and how the sport and recreation sector can get ahead of future policy developments and fit for the future at our Sports Summit.

As the nation goes to the polls and we all try to work out what an earth is going to happen next, we’re working hard to plan for an uncertain future. We’ll shortly be unveiling an exciting programme of work designed to get our members and the wider sector thinking about and addressing some fundamental challenges: including the political, regulatory, financial, technological and consumer environment.

Our public launch of this work will happen at this year’s Sport Summit. Building on last year’s event at Stamford Bridge we will once again bring together senior leaders from across our sector to hear from leading speakers. For example, we heard from Shadow Sports Minister Clive Efford about Labour’s plans for the sector at an early stage – with delegates asking questions, interrogating proposals and having the chance to shape Labour’s thinking well in advance of manifesto production.

We heard too from senior leaders on the power of major events – including the Rugby League World Cup and the Tour de France. This is a theme that we’ll be returning to in 2015.

Last year’s summit not only helped to set the scene in understanding the importance of emerging trends in consumer insight, corporate partnerships and communications, it also gave practical, focused advice on how to apply these lessons to the sport and recreation sector. Last year’s event was a great success and a sell out event, and we’re looking to build on that next month.

Confirmed speakers so far for this year, we have:

• Jennie Price, CEO of Sport England
• Chrissie Wellington MBE, four-time Ironman World Champion and Director at parkrun
• Dave Wright, CEO of MyZone

As well as keynote speakers, the Summit will also offer practical workshops:

• Simon Morton, Director of Major Events and International Relations at UK Sport, will focus on the Gold Framework and the strategy to support bidding for major events in the UK
•  Hayley Jarvis, Sport Community Programme Manager at Mind, will focus on what sports can do to tap into the mental health agenda

We have also invited the new Sports Minister, but even our powers of foresight don’t stretch as far as knowing who that will be yet. Whether or not we have a government in time, and the diary can be made to work for this event, we will be engaging with the new administration including our new Sports Minister at an early stage.

If you're not yet booked onto the Sports Summit, click the link to do so.

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