ukactive CEO Steven Ward discusses the need for a collaborative approach to solving issues in the sector

In the name of progress, we’ve managed to completely engineer physical activity out of our daily lives – with disastrous consequences.

This has made physical inactivity the norm in the UK and this in turn contributes to one in six deaths in the UK – amounting to 37,000 deaths a year.

The costs of inactivity aren’t limited to the UK. According to the World Health Organization, physical inactivity is now the fourth largest cause of premature mortality, while the global cost of physical inactivity has been conservatively estimated at $145.2 billion per year.

This is a global issue that requires a global response. The battle to re-embed activity into daily life is one of our greatest worldwide challenges, in line with the ambition to eradicate global disease and inequality.

Leading the way
We sit at the vanguard of a global movement to turn the tide of physical inactivity. Our sector has the expertise and reach to lead the battle against this major threat – and it’s time for us to take charge. To put solutions into practice at scale, we must align on what needs to be done and how. We need a brigade of leaders across the globe, ready to take this fight forward.

Our sector is full of leaders of the highest quality – but even the best athletes need access to a coach. That’s why ukactive has established The Global Active Leaders Programme – to support the continued learning and development of the leading lights of our sector, as they drive worldwide change.

Every single person invited to participate in the Global Active Leaders Programme is a leader in their own right, running fantastic organisations, delivering outstanding results to their customers, shareholders and staff. But we must recognise that we all have even more to give.

A collaborative solution
The programme has already attracted sign-ups from 30 top executives across a range of nations for the three-day course at the world-renowned IESE Business School in Madrid. Global Active Leaders will support and develop this broad coalition of sector figureheads from across the globe to become the driving force behind the international physical activity movement.

There are top-tier business issues facing us as a sector that need concerted, collaborative solutions – the executive training programme will provide attendees with new perspectives and connections to drive their company on to greater success, building a cohort of true figureheads for global physical activity.

The agenda has been tailored to the specific needs of the sector, based on consultations with current CEOs, company founders, senior directors and key Government stakeholders who interact with the activity sector.

This year represents a real opportunity for physical activity providers the world over. Our mission is clear – we must turn the tide of inactivity. The Global Active Leaders Programme marks the start of a conscious decision to raise our game to meet this aim, creating a real and lasting impact on the global stage.