Developing digital capabilities in sport

Dave Gerrish Strategic lead for digital ukactive

In June, ukactive launched the next phase of its Digital Futures programme, supporting organisations across the physical activity sector to develop their digital capability. Delivered in partnership with Sport England and supported by our strategic partners Gladstone, EGYM, Xn Leisure and PerfectGym, Digital Futures has become the sector’s leading digital maturity initiative since its launch in 2021.

More than 335 fitness and leisure operators, national governing bodies of sport, Active Partnerships and sector organisations have taken part to date, using the programme to better understand their digital capability, identify areas for improvement and receive recommendations to support planning and investment. We have now enhanced the programme to provide a clearer and more practical consultation experience, alongside the introduction of a new AI-supported assistant to help organisations interpret their results and understand what steps they can take next.

Whether an organisation is building its digital foundations or refining an established strategy, Digital Futures is designed to support progress at every stage

The AI-supported assistant has been developed to explore how personalised digital guidance can support decision-making in practice, helping organisations strengthen their digital capability with clearer, more tailored recommendations. Whether an organisation is building its digital foundations or refining an established strategy, Digital Futures is designed to support progress at every stage. The programme is not about prescribing a single pathway, but enabling organisations to make confident, evidence-led decisions based on their own context, priorities and level of maturity.

Digital Futures continues to evolve with the needs of the sector and this next phase is about making our support clearer, more practical and more personalised. Every organisation, regardless of size or maturity, can take meaningful steps forward, and those that participate consistently are able to build confidence, strengthen capability and make more informed decisions about the future.

Over the coming months, we will be introducing new partnerships, resources and opportunities for collaboration, ensuring organisations have access to the support, insight and expertise they need to accelerate progress.

Additionally, through design activities Digital Futures is committed to continue building robust data pathways with NHS, providing cybersecurity and responsible use of AI guidance as well strengthening the need for data standards alongside The Open Data Institute. ● Get your digital maturity score here: [https://digitalfutures.ukactive.com](https://digitalfutures.ukactive.com/)