Barbara den Bak, Tom Moos, and Clare Stobart have been announced as speakers for ukactive's Sweat 2021 conference, joining boutique and independent operators to discuss the bounceback of the sector from COVID-19.

The digital event will take place on Thursday 25 February, with Technogym as headline partner.

SWEAT! 2021 will explore emerging trends through a combination of keynote and panel sessions, focusing on lessons learned in 2020, with the aim of supporting boutique and independent gyms, enabling them to 'survive and thrive'.

The conference will kick off with a session on The digital experience: how to pivot successfully, with the co-founders of Zero Gravity Pilates – Chris Richardson and Christopher Watson – who will talk about how they pivoted at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and how to create a digital customer journey.

This will be followed by The bounceback post-COVID-19 where founders from boutique and independent gyms in Europe will reflect on their experiences during the pandemic.

Barbara den Bak, founder of High Studios and CMO at Urban Gym Group, Tom Moos, founder of Saints & Stars, and Clare Stobart, founder of high-end club, CPASE, will discuss how boutique and independent gyms can navigate their way through 2021 and beyond.

The event will conclude with a session called Business expansion and innovation, featuring Zoe Bertali, co-founder of The Refinery E9 studio and the Refine With ALFI app, and Scott O'Shea, founder of Station Mill.

They'll be joined by a panel to share ideas on diversification, sustainability and how the sector can capitalise on investment opportunities to maximise success.

ukactive has announced it will launch a Boutique Resource Pack at the event to provide guidance and tools for boutique and independent gyms to help them bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Technogym's Craig Swyer said: “We're delighted to be headline partner of SWEAT 2021, having been a partner since its inception – it's always a great opportunity to hear insight, perspective and best practice from a range of different operators and industry professionals.”

To register for your free place, go to the SWEAT! website here.