Cybex Network lunch raises £1,000 for tsunami victims

Close to £1,000 was raised for the tsunami appeal at the Cybex Network Lunch this week.

The auction of an England Rugby shirt, signed by the England rugby team, marked the end of the day, which saw some 50 operators gather together for talks and networking opportunities.

Speakers included Nigel Wallace, who called for greater segmentation in the market. “It’s been too easy in the past for the industry grow, he said. “It’s never been difficult to attract people to our facilities before, but it’s starting to be a problem now. And if the industry is to continue to expand, it needs to differentiate.”

The industry also needs to tackle the “creditability gap”, he said: “Primary care trusts want to get involved in our industry, but there is some scepticism. There are pockets of brilliance in our industry, but these need to spread.”

Wallace praised the work of REPs and also Pruhealth’s partnerships with Holmes Place and Cannons, which would do much to improve the industry’s credibility he said.

Other speakers included Sue Catton, the national director of the Inclusive Fitness Initiative, who gave an update of the initiative and Howard Braband, who spoke about retention. Delegates were also treated to a tour of Twickenham Rugby Stadium.