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press release: ukactive

Gold company profile | ukactive
PRESS RELEASE

Are they Fit for Office? UK Active and Technogym throw down the gauntlet to MPs

03 Jun 2026
The challenge takes place throughout June and is hosted by ukactive and Technogym / UK Active / Technogym

Politicians from all parties have been challenged to prove they are Fit for Office this month, in a competition that will really make them sweat.

Hundreds of staff, MPs and Peers from across Westminster have signed up for the Fit for Office parliamentary physical activity challenge, which takes place throughout June and is hosted by ukactive and Technogym.

The aim of the challenge is to encourage Parliamentarians and their staff to move more and recognise the importance of physical activity for the nation’s health, wellbeing, and growth. The winning office will be crowned Westminster’s Physical Activity Champions and the annual competition has been fiercely contested over the past three years.

So far this year, 262 entrants have signed up to take part, representing 70 Parliamentary offices. Last year’s challenge saw 207 participants take up the challenge from 50 Parliamentary offices.

Fit for Office works by tracking participants’ physical activity levels on Technogym’s app, using ‘MOVES’ points which are based on the intensity of activity over a period of time. The app can be synchronized with a wearable fitness device, and the individual scores are tallied to establish a league table showing the position of each office.

Last year’s challenge saw the office of Steve Witherden MP (Labour) named winners and Bob Blackman MP (Conservatives) was the highest-scoring MP.

The backdrop of this year’s challenge is declining physical and mental health across the population, with workplace sickness costing £138bn and poor mental health among employees costing businesses £51bn a year, with about 9.2 million people classed as economically inactive.

Studies show physical activity helps to prevent 20 chronic conditions, including type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease, many types of cancer, MSK conditions, depression and anxiety, and dementia.

The physical activity sector generates more than £10.5bn in savings every year by reducing cases of disease and relieving the demands on health and social care.

Cameron Saunders, CEO of ukactive, said: “This challenge is a great way to help show our politicians why physical activity is crucial for their health and productivity and for the nation’s too.

“The competing demands of work and technology today force many people to sacrifice time for exercise, including those in Westminster.

“This is a chance for our political leaders to go beyond a quick jog for the cameras and commit to getting fit.

“Supported by Technogym and our nation’s gyms, pools and leisure centres, we want to see Parliamentarians celebrate the essential role of physical activity in the lives of their constituents.”

Ben Sandham, Country Manager of Technogym UK, said: “We believe movement is one of the most powerful drivers of health, performance, and overall wellbeing – not only for individuals, but for society as a whole. In a world where time is increasingly compressed and sedentary behaviours are rising, it’s essential to re‑engineer how and where people move.

“At Technogym, our vision is to seamlessly integrate physical activity into everyday life, transforming environments into active, engaging ecosystems that support both body and mind.

“Initiatives like Fit for Office perfectly illustrate this approach – demonstrating how intelligent technology, smart design, and personalised experiences can bring movement into even the busiest working environments without disrupting productivity.

“By embedding wellness into the daily routine, we don’t just encourage activity – we enable sustainable behavioural change, improve energy levels, and enhance both individual performance and organisational outcomes. Because for us, movement is not an add‑on – it’s an essential foundation for a better quality of life.” T

o find out more or to join the challenge, email: [email protected]



More press releases and updates from ukactive:
UK Active has announced the next phase of its Digital Futures programme, supporting organisations across the physical activity sector to develop their digital capability.
UK Active has issued the following statement in response to Alan Milburn’s Interim Report into Young People and Work.
UK Active and This Girl Can have published a new guide to help fitness and leisure facilities communicate their policies and procedures around sexual harassment and intimidation, as the sector continues to create safer spaces for women and girls.
Nearly half of UK adults (43 per cent) are failing to meet the Chief Medical Officer’s (CMO) strength guidelines and one in three (32 per cent) do no activity to strengthen their muscles at all, according to a new report from ukactive and Les Mills.
The business rates announcement takes a narrow view of the support required by businesses, ignoring the immediate pressure facing fitness and leisure facilities across the UK. 
ukactive: news from HCMmag.com and FitTechGlobal.com
With Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, announcing his resignation this morning and Andy Burnham as a possible successor, the fitness, health and wellness sector is evaluating its position. 
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Elevate has had its busiest show to date, with almost 200 exhibitors, 115 seminars and 200 speakers over two days.
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UK Active has published new guidance on defibrillators to help fitness and leisure operators deliver life-saving support for anyone who suffers a cardiac arrest.
Activity levels are still rising among English adults according to Sport England’s new Active Lives Survey, which covers November 2024 to November 2025.
ukactive: featured in HCM and Fit Tech magazines
Record market penetration in the UK fitness sector masks a deeper shift around consumer engagement, according to a report from Grant Thornton and UK Active. Liz Terry reports
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Welcome to Elevate 2026
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Former CEO of UK Active, Steve Ward left the trade association to join Go Fit as chief transformation officer and bring the brand to the UK. He talks to Kath Hudson about how having to pull the plug on these plans yielded surprising benefits
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Tel: 020 8158 9700
Address: The Bloomsbury Building, 10 Bloomsbury Way, London, WC1A 2SL, United Kingdom
Cameron Saunders, CEO
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Company profile: ukactive
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ukactive press release: Are they Fit for Office? UK Active and Technogym throw down the gauntlet to MPs
Hundreds of staff, MPs and Peers from across Westminster have signed up for the Fit for Office parliamentary physical activity challenge, which takes place throughout June and is hosted by ukactive and Technogym.
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press release: ukactive

Gold company profile | ukactive
PRESS RELEASE

Are they Fit for Office? UK Active and Technogym throw down the gauntlet to MPs

03 Jun 2026
The challenge takes place throughout June and is hosted by ukactive and Technogym / UK Active / Technogym

Politicians from all parties have been challenged to prove they are Fit for Office this month, in a competition that will really make them sweat.

Hundreds of staff, MPs and Peers from across Westminster have signed up for the Fit for Office parliamentary physical activity challenge, which takes place throughout June and is hosted by ukactive and Technogym.

The aim of the challenge is to encourage Parliamentarians and their staff to move more and recognise the importance of physical activity for the nation’s health, wellbeing, and growth. The winning office will be crowned Westminster’s Physical Activity Champions and the annual competition has been fiercely contested over the past three years.

So far this year, 262 entrants have signed up to take part, representing 70 Parliamentary offices. Last year’s challenge saw 207 participants take up the challenge from 50 Parliamentary offices.

Fit for Office works by tracking participants’ physical activity levels on Technogym’s app, using ‘MOVES’ points which are based on the intensity of activity over a period of time. The app can be synchronized with a wearable fitness device, and the individual scores are tallied to establish a league table showing the position of each office.

Last year’s challenge saw the office of Steve Witherden MP (Labour) named winners and Bob Blackman MP (Conservatives) was the highest-scoring MP.

The backdrop of this year’s challenge is declining physical and mental health across the population, with workplace sickness costing £138bn and poor mental health among employees costing businesses £51bn a year, with about 9.2 million people classed as economically inactive.

Studies show physical activity helps to prevent 20 chronic conditions, including type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease, many types of cancer, MSK conditions, depression and anxiety, and dementia.

The physical activity sector generates more than £10.5bn in savings every year by reducing cases of disease and relieving the demands on health and social care.

Cameron Saunders, CEO of ukactive, said: “This challenge is a great way to help show our politicians why physical activity is crucial for their health and productivity and for the nation’s too.

“The competing demands of work and technology today force many people to sacrifice time for exercise, including those in Westminster.

“This is a chance for our political leaders to go beyond a quick jog for the cameras and commit to getting fit.

“Supported by Technogym and our nation’s gyms, pools and leisure centres, we want to see Parliamentarians celebrate the essential role of physical activity in the lives of their constituents.”

Ben Sandham, Country Manager of Technogym UK, said: “We believe movement is one of the most powerful drivers of health, performance, and overall wellbeing – not only for individuals, but for society as a whole. In a world where time is increasingly compressed and sedentary behaviours are rising, it’s essential to re‑engineer how and where people move.

“At Technogym, our vision is to seamlessly integrate physical activity into everyday life, transforming environments into active, engaging ecosystems that support both body and mind.

“Initiatives like Fit for Office perfectly illustrate this approach – demonstrating how intelligent technology, smart design, and personalised experiences can bring movement into even the busiest working environments without disrupting productivity.

“By embedding wellness into the daily routine, we don’t just encourage activity – we enable sustainable behavioural change, improve energy levels, and enhance both individual performance and organisational outcomes. Because for us, movement is not an add‑on – it’s an essential foundation for a better quality of life.” T

o find out more or to join the challenge, email: [email protected]



More press releases and updates from ukactive:
UK Active has announced the next phase of its Digital Futures programme, supporting organisations across the physical activity sector to develop their digital capability.
UK Active has issued the following statement in response to Alan Milburn’s Interim Report into Young People and Work.
UK Active and This Girl Can have published a new guide to help fitness and leisure facilities communicate their policies and procedures around sexual harassment and intimidation, as the sector continues to create safer spaces for women and girls.
Nearly half of UK adults (43 per cent) are failing to meet the Chief Medical Officer’s (CMO) strength guidelines and one in three (32 per cent) do no activity to strengthen their muscles at all, according to a new report from ukactive and Les Mills.
The business rates announcement takes a narrow view of the support required by businesses, ignoring the immediate pressure facing fitness and leisure facilities across the UK. 
ukactive: news from HCMmag.com and FitTechGlobal.com
With Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, announcing his resignation this morning and Andy Burnham as a possible successor, the fitness, health and wellness sector is evaluating its position. 
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Elevate has had its busiest show to date, with almost 200 exhibitors, 115 seminars and 200 speakers over two days.
International industry lobbying associations are calling for physical activity and strength training to be deeply integrated with GLP-1 treatment.
Speedflex has launched a strength training programme for 11 to 16-year-olds, to make it safer, more inclusive and more engaging.
UK Active has published new guidance on defibrillators to help fitness and leisure operators deliver life-saving support for anyone who suffers a cardiac arrest.
Activity levels are still rising among English adults according to Sport England’s new Active Lives Survey, which covers November 2024 to November 2025.
ukactive: featured in HCM and Fit Tech magazines
Record market penetration in the UK fitness sector masks a deeper shift around consumer engagement, according to a report from Grant Thornton and UK Active. Liz Terry reports
Record market penetration in the UK fitness sector masks a deeper shift around consumer engagement, according to a report from Grant Thornton and UK Active, as Liz Terry reports
Show preview: Elevate 2026
Welcome to Elevate 2026
HCM People: Deena Gillan
There are so many dedicated people in the independent sector – they work hard because they’re passionate about changing lives
Life Lessons: Steve Ward
Former CEO of UK Active, Steve Ward left the trade association to join Go Fit as chief transformation officer and bring the brand to the UK. He talks to Kath Hudson about how having to pull the plug on these plans yielded surprising benefits
ukactive
Tel: 020 8158 9700
Address: The Bloomsbury Building, 10 Bloomsbury Way, London, WC1A 2SL, United Kingdom
Cameron Saunders, CEO
ukactive video gallery:
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David Stalker, Chair
Cameron Saunders, CEO
Marianne Boyle, director of membership and sector development
Clemency Lion, director of research, policy and communications
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