TURNING MINDSET INTO MOMENTUM

WellNation attended the annual active-net Scotland 2026 in September, alongside more than 100 other delegates

The picturesque Crieff Hydro hotel in Perthshire once again welcomed the active leisure sector for active-net Scotland, bringing together more than 100 delegates for a packed day of education, networking and meaningful business conversations on 23rd September 2026. Combining thought-provoking discussion with active-net’s distinctive programme of curated one-to- one meetings, the event provided delegates with an opportunity to share ideas, explore new opportunities and build relationships in an environment designed specifically to encourage meaningful connections. Supplier partners including HireBOB, RLSS, STA, ukactive, Xplor, Taylor Made Designs, BigWave and more, engaged in 20 minute focused meetings with operators South Lanarkshire Council, Strathclyde Sport, Glasgow Life, ANGUSalive and others.

EVENT REVIEW

FROM PLAN TO ACTION

The day began with the keynote panel, “Mindset to Momentum”, setting the tone for the conversations and connections that followed. Chaired by Mike Hill, the panel brought together Julie Allen, Mark Mansfield, Robert Handy and Alan Cunningham to explore how the sector can move from ideas and ambition towards meaningful action. Following the keynote, delegates moved into two panel sessions exploring some of the key opportunities facing the sector.

The first, “Data and insight to inform wellbeing for the community”, was chaired by Julie Allen and featured Tamara Bailey of HireBOB, Neil Tandy of 4Global and Andrew Bain of Integratis. Exploring the increasingly important role that data and insight can play in understanding communities, informing decision-making and ensuring that services are shaped around the people they are designed to support.

Running alongside this was “Where does padel fit into the wellbeing journey?”, hosted by Mike Hill and featuring Jonny Curley of Alliance Leisure, Gemma Wood of Glasgow Life and Neil Adebowale of Risk HQ. With Padel continuing to attract considerable interest across the sector, the panel considered where the sport fits within the wider wellbeing landscape and the opportunities it presents for operators looking to broaden their offer and engage communities in new ways.

Together, the sessions provided delegates with a combination of strategic insight and practical discussion, creating plenty of talking points to carry into the rest of the day.

422 MEETINGS, COUNTLESS CONVERSATIONS Following the morning’s education programme, attention turned to the format that sits at the heart of active-net: curated one-to-one meetings between operators and supplier partners.

Across the day, an impressive 422 individual meetings took place, giving delegates dedicated time to discuss challenges, explore solutions and identify opportunities to work together.

The carefully matched meetings provide a focused alternative to traditional networking, connecting suppliers directly with operators who have a genuine interest in their products, services and expertise. For operators, they offer an efficient way to discover new ideas and solutions from across the industry.

Alongside the formal meeting programme, delegates had plenty of opportunities to continue conversations more informally throughout the day, including over lunch, which was sponsored by Reid Smart Solutions.

active-net Scotland once again demonstrated the value of bringing operators and supplier partners together in a focused but relaxed environment

After a full programme of panels, meetings and networking, active-net Scotland remained true to its active roots, giving delegates the opportunity to take part in a Spin class led by Doyle Armstrong from MOWL, providing an energetic end to the daytime programme before the evening celebrations sponsored by Gladstone and BRP Systems.

Following the evening meal, entertainment came courtesy of comedian Chris Forbes, who delighted the audience with his popular “Third Murray Brother” routine. The performance was made even more memorable by the presence of special guest Judy Murray, who joined delegates for the evening celebrations and added another memorable moment to a packed day at Crieff Hydro.

BUILDING MOMENTUM FOR 2027 With more than 100 delegates, 422 individual meetings and a programme spanning community wellbeing, data, and the future direction of the sector, active-net Scotland once again demonstrated the value of bringing operators and supplier partners together in a focused but relaxed environment. More than simply a networking event, the day created opportunities for delegates to exchange knowledge, discover new ideas and develop relationships that can continue long after leaving Crieff Hydro.

Following this year’s event, registration is now open for active-net Scotland 2027, which will return to Crieff Hydro on 22nd September next year, but with a larger format.

David Monkhouse, Director at Active Insight said: “We always deliver a session that shares the data, insight and the actions that make a difference, which is always incredibly popular. Based on feedback from our wonderful guests, we will be delivering, with partners, an additional half-day session at Crieff on 21.09.27 to go into far greater detail, expanding on the data and insight that is available to operators and suppliers and exploring case studies of how this insight has been used to make a difference.”

“Crieff has also built 3 indoor padel courts so we will be adding a padel networking session on the 21st as well.”

Before then, the next event in the active-net calendar takes place in Nottingham on 11th November, with active-net Open Water bringing the sector together once again for another day of insight, networking and meaningful connections.