On 12-13 September, BP: Fitness will take over the NEC, Birmingham to deliver an exhibition involving over 100 brands, as well as seminars and workshops. We look at what attendees can expect from the event

he newly rebranded Leisure Industry Week (LIW), debuts this month as the fitness-focused BP: Fitness Trade Show. The two-day event will bring together delegates from the UK and Europe to explore growth, innovation and education within the fitness industry.

Despite a decline in size over the previous decade, LIW has been a staple of the industry calendar for 29 years. However, in mid-2015, BodyPower, the organisation responsible for the renowned consumer exhibition BodyPower Expo announced the acquisition of LIW from United Business Media (UBM). After a two-year period of consolidation, which has seen a small but significant increase in footfall, BodyPower has now moved into the second phase of its event revitalisation plan, beginning with a change of name and focus: BP: Fitness Trade Show.

Fitness solutions for all
As organisers of the world’s largest indoor consumer fitness expo, BodyPower is inextricably linked to fitness. It is that link, according to director Steve Orton that has driven the trade event’s shift in focus from leisure to the business of fitness.

Orton says: “The breadth and ambiguity in the term 'leisure', in the sense that it means different things to different people, was a contributing factor. BP: Fitness Trade Show encapsulates exactly what the show is about, which is exploring fitness solutions and the business of fitness.

“We expect to have thousands of fitness professionals, health club operators, independent gym owners and commercially focused trade in attendance as well as 80-100 quality exhibitors. We developed a very successful model in a previous business, the Dentistry Show, whereby the show was built around world-class education, and we feel that’s what the market needs, quality education that focuses on fitness and commercial benefits.”

BP: Fitness Trade Show will be built around six educational strands, each housed in a festival-style contemporary event structure to address previous concerns from both exhibitors and delegates about decibel levels. Those features line up as follows: Fitness Business School, which will focus on marketing, sales, retention and new ideas to grow businesses in the fitness sector; Practical Coaching, which involves equipment and functional demos from leading trainers designed to offer fitness professionals new options and practical application for the benefit of clients and members; Fitness Professionals Forum, in which commercially-focused advice will be delivered specifically for fitness professionals aimed at enhancing CPD and upskilling; BP Nutrition, which explores nutrition solutions for all businesses, including healthier menu choices and using nutrition as a key secondary spend opportunity; 50+ Fitness, in which the market potential of Britain’s ageing population will be looked at, alongside older adult programmes and provision of well-equipped fitness areas in new and existing residential care facilities; and Workplace Fitness, promoting the development of a fitter, healthier workforce for improved productivity, energy and wellbeing.

Expert speakers
The event has already attracted over 6,000 registrations, and that figure is expected to rise considerably in the final weeks. The speaker line-up, however, is arguably the biggest attraction. The seminar programme will mix roundtable and panel discussions with lectures and practical demonstrations. These will feature key industry experts, including Elena Lapetra from Stages Indoor Cycling, Broga UK founder Matt Miller, Rob Beale (Third Space, David Lloyd), Chris Burgess (Lift The Bar), Jamie Alderton (Grenade Fit), Ian Rushbury (Energie Fitness) and Natalie Jane Summers (Bear Grylls Fitness).

Exhibitors include Escape Fitness, Eleiko, Wattbike, Octane Fitness, Keiser, Jordan Fitness, Physical Company and Primal Strength. BP: Fitness has partnered with the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPS), Pure Gym and several others for its debut.

Events veteran and BodyPower CEO Nick Orton commented: “I’m immensely excited by the BP: Fitness Trade Show concept. Our goal is to deliver an unrivalled education programme to draw delegates. I can’t wait to see the new aesthetic with the festival-style seminar and workshop areas as well as practical demonstrations. We’re set to make a real statement to the industry with a top-quality event.”

Registration to BP: Fitness Trade Show remains free of charge, offering industry decision makers the chance to network whilst their team members enjoy the educational offering. Tuesday evening will see a drinks reception held within the expo for an informal networking event.