Business in Sport and Leisure (BISL) today (10 November) discussed how the sport and leisure sector can create 100,000 new jobs over the next three years.

The organisation's annual conference was held at Lord's Cricket Ground in London, with delegates from across the industry coming together with the theme of "Leisure Works".

BISL chief executive Dominic Harrison said: "Our simple message is sport and leisure is a powerful industry which provides more than 4 million jobs, 27 per cent of all jobs for young people and contributes £200bn to the UK economy."

15:44

Boulton: Very difficult period ahead.

15:41 Boulton: Government hoping that the Diamond Jubilee might see the nation unite more so than with the Olympics.

15:35

Next year will be "different" from this year for the coalition; a testing year of change.

15:31 In the absence of Sir David Michels, Sky News political editor Adam Boulton is now on stage to provide a commentator's view.

15:25

Survey summary: More optimism for 2013, not 2012; access to finance still a problem; commitment to training; and the need for solutions for now, not the longer term.

15:21 "We are only as good as the arguments our members present to us" says Harrison. More than two-thirds of members say there is "far too much" employment legislation.

15:20

Bank lending and access to finance the "greatest constraint" on the businesses of BISL members, followed by legislation; taxation; increasing operating costs; and the overall economy.

15:18 Around 60 per cent of BISL members offered work experience or apprenticeships in the past year, according to the survey's findings.

15:09

BISL chief executive Dominic Harrison is now on stage with the findings of a survey: the headlines include "cautious optimism" from members, but the expectation of little growth until 2013.

15:07 Leisure Opps just took part in an unofficial Olympic Torch relay. In the sense that the torch has been passed around the room. It's very light.

14:59

We say "an Olympic Flame torch" because, as Sally Hancock points out, there will be more than one and it will just be the Flame that is passed along the Torch Relay next summer.

14:57 An Olympic Flame torch has made an appearance.

14:56

4,000 schools took part in Lloyds TSB National School Sports Week: 72 per cent of secondary pupils say they play more sport following the event.

14:53 Sally Hancock, Lloyds TSB director of Olympic partnership and group sponsorship, reveals how the bank came up with a "clear vision" to inspire the UK through the 2012 Games.

14:35

Lunch is now drawing to a close here at Lord's, with the afternoon programme to commence. First speaker this afternoon is Sally Hancock of Lloyds Banking Group.

However, we've been told that Sir David Michels, president of the Institute of Hospitality, has been unable to attend and will be replaced on the agenda by a "surprise", according to BISL chair David Teasdale.

13:26 That's lunch here at the BISL Conference 2011 after the Q&A with Harriet Harman.

13:11

Harman questioned by the Association of British Bookmakers' Dirk Vennix over recent comments accusing bookmakers of "predatory profiteering".

13:02 Harman: "I hope this is the start of a productive discussion to create jobs and growth in sports and leisure."

13:00

Labour are putting forward a five-point plan for growth and employment.

12:59 "We believe a narrow focus on deficit reduction is bad for the economy and bad for your sector," says Harman. "You'll be hit by central and local cuts."

12:57

"We did try when we were in government to walk the talk" through investment in sport and arts, says Harman. Includes the free swimming scheme and securing major sport events among others...

12:54 Sport is "important in people's lives" and part of our national identity.

12:51

Harman: The right investment is needed in people, the industry and infrastructure, as well as the right regulatory framework.

12:50 Shadow deputy prime minister and shadow culture secretary Harriet Harman takes to the stage.

12:40

Syed: "No-one gets good at something without hours of practice"

12:29 Broadcaster and journalist Matthew Syed takes to the stage for his "wildcard" presentation.

12:20

Physical activity is the key to preventing, treating and managing health conditions and can be used to help tackle social unrest, as well as having the capacity to create job opportunities.

12:17 By 2030, 26 million people will be obese in the UK - up 73 per cent on the current level.

12:14

Fred Turok, chair of Physical Activity Network and Fitness Industry Association, due up next.

12:12 E&Y Item Club ends address by saying its growth forecast has been revised down to 1 per cent for 2011 and 1.5 per cent for 2012.

Regulatory change can play a part in the recovery - employment, pubs and land-based gaming could benefit from legislative reform.

12:04

London hotels performing strongly in 2011, although regional hotels are struggling for growth. RevPAR up 9 per cent in the capital.

11:56 E&Y's forecast predicts stalled growth in 2012 (1.5 per cent); things set to improve going into 2013.

11:46

Cameron Cartmell and Tom Rogers of Ernst and Young's (E&Y) Item Club tell delegates that the UK's recovery will "heavily" depend on other world economies.

11.42 BISL has announced the appointment a new chair and chief executive: Chris Bell (chair) and Simon Johnson (chief executive). Current chair David Teasdale will become vice chair. Read more here.

11:27

Tourism and heritage minister John Penrose told the conference that it was "worth reminding" Whitehall and the "wider body of politics" about the valuable contribution of the leisure sector.

Penrose hailed the role of what he termed the "visitor economy", and outlined the government's ongoing attempts to drive up visitor numbers, cut regulation and refocus marketing efforts at home and abroad.

In a challenge to delegates, Penrose also said it was important for the private sector to involve themselves in helping to improve destination management organisations across the country.

11:20 Enterprise Inns chief executive officer Ted Tuppen gave delegates an insight into the current state of the UK pub industry; a sector that he called "one of the few remaining bastions of community life in the country".

Tuppen said pubs had been the "victim" of irresponsible drinking, rather than the cause, and called for the beer duty escalator to be scrapped in a move that would save 5,000 jobs.