Data and the use of technology to enhance participation will be the theme of active-net 2018.

Delegates will have the opportunity to learn from sector experts Dr Steven Mann, head of Healthy Communities at Places for People Leisure, Utku Toprakseven from data authority 4global, Olympic Medallist and founder of the Total Swimming programme, Steve Parry, and CIMSPA CEO, Tara Dillon.

The panel will advise on the importance of embracing technology as customers increasingly expect a seamless, contactless, cashless service with access whenever, from wherever they choose.

During the morning break out sessions, Dave Courteen, MD of the Mosaic Spa and Health Club group, will explain what happened when an innocent social media post went viral, leaving him at the centre of a social media storm.

"What would you do if you woke up one morning to find death threats and a proposed boycott on your business? My session will explore the negative side of social media where news travels fast, thousands of opinions are shared in seconds and one wrong step can have a major effect on your business," he says.

Through this real-life case-study discussion delegates will get the chance to put themselves in the shoes of a CEO in crisis. What choice would you make if disaster hit and would that be the right one? active-net attendees will gain insight into how to avert social media disaster.

The two-day event, now in its fifth year, brings together leading operators and suppliers from the active leisure sector for business-focused, pre-selected meetings, together with informative educational slots, networking lunches and an evening meal, and is free for leisure providers to attend.

With just two months to go, places are filling fast, including a host of educational providers. Among those returning to the event are the University of Hertfordshire Sports Village, University of Nottingham and University of Plymouth, De Montfort University and Derby College, as well as AoC Sport. New Universities attending include University of Bath, University of East London and the University of Hull.

Big-name local authority operators 1Life, Active Nation, Freedom Leisure and Places for People, are also on the list of attendees, alongside a wealth of councils and leisure trusts, pulling in well known supplier delegates such as Les Mills, Technogym, Precor and MyZone, as well as new-to-active-net suppliers. New for 2018 are construction company Collinson, data collection specialist, Customer Clever, Ethics Leisure/Total Gym, instructor training brand Future Fit, equipment supplier Origin Fitness, Total Swimming, and IDS UK, which provides access to potential customers through TV advertising in GP waiting rooms.

active-net 2018 will take place at Eastwood Hall in Nottingham on 14 - 15 March. For further information or to book your place contact Kirsty Reed at Leisure-net by emailing [email protected] or visiting active-net.org