Inspirational Leadership Event for Leisure Sector Leaders
Join a three-day residential experience designed exclusively for senior leaders, Chief Executives, Directors and Heads of Service in the leisure sector.
Taking place over three consecutive days, beginning on Monday 30 March and concluding on Wednesday 1 April 2026, this immersive event will be hosted at the spectacular YMCA Lakeside, Newby Bridge, Ulverston, Cumbria LA12 8BD.
Against the backdrop of Cumbria's tranquil lake setting, you will engage with expert facilitators, industry peers and curated content to accelerate your leadership impact both personally and professionally.
Key Content & Learning Outcomes
1
Self Discovery
Undertake a deep examination of what it takes to be an authentic transformational leader
2
Operating Environment
Analyse sector challenges and strategic positioning to achieve a deep understanding of the rapidly evolving operating environment
3
Active Wellbeing
Raise awareness and build skills to navigate complex multi-stakeholder ecosystems to make a real difference
4
High-Performance Cultures
Create the conditions for an organisational environment that fosters a high performing culture to achieve sustained excellence
5
Business Development
Identify and seize new business development opportunities to achieve a wider impact and to generate new revenue streams
6
Personal Development Planning
Craft a tailored personal development plan with effective strategies, tools and tactics to achieve exceptional growth as a transformational leader
Self Discovery
You will undertake a deep exploration of leadership, emotional triggers and cognitive patterns. Through behavioural profiling and reflective exercises, learn to perfect communication, foster trust across diverse teams and build shared purpose and direction in challenging circumstances.
Behavioural Profiling
Gain insights into your leadership style and impact
Communication Mastery
Perfect your messaging across diverse audiences
Trust Building
Create psychological safety in challenging environments
The Operating Environment
Examine sector challenges and opportunities, policy impacts and stakeholder expectations. Collaborative case studies and scenario planning will equip you to anticipate shifts and position your organisation for sustainable success.
Sector Analysis
  • Current challenges facing leisure providers and stakeholders
  • Emerging opportunities in the market
  • Competitive landscape assessment
Policy Framework
  • Impact of government initiatives
  • Funding mechanisms and constraints
  • Regulatory considerations
Scenario Planning
  • Future-proofing your organisation
  • Anticipating market shifts
  • Strategic positioning techniques
Creating the Conditions for Active Wellbeing
Effective Approaches
Understanding five essential components of an active well-being eco-system.
Influence Mapping
Chart stakeholder connections and power dynamics
Collective Impact
Leverage interdependencies for system-wide success
Unpack the dynamics of multi-stakeholder ecosystems, from local authorities to commercial partners. You will be challenged to apply a whole systems approach to leadership, map influence networks and leverage interdependencies for collective impact and success.
Creating the Conditons for High Performance Cultures
Discover the four pillars of high performance: Purpose, Direction, Mindset and Environment. You will be supported with the tools to evaluate your organisations health and to align your teams behind a common purpose and plan cultivating an environment that fosters continuous, sustainable improvement.
Purpose
Establishing clear organisational meaning and values
Direction
Setting strategic priorities and measurable goals
Mindset
Cultivating growth-oriented thinking across teams
Environment
Creating spaces that enable peak performance
Business Development
Develop a business development toolkit encompassing market analysis, value proposition design, partnership negotiation and digital innovation. Real-world simulations and peer feedback will sharpen your ability to launch new developments and revenue streams.
1
Market Analysis
Techniques for identifying untapped market segments and emerging trends in the leisure sector
2
Value Proposition Design
Frameworks for creating compelling service offerings that meet customer needs and stand out from competitors
3
Partnership Negotiation
Strategies for identifying and securing beneficial partnerships with stakeholders and complementary organisations
4
Digital Innovation
Approaches to leveraging technology for enhanced service delivery and operational efficiency
Personal Development Planning
Consolidate insights into a bespoke leadership growth plan. Individual coaching sessions will help you set SMART objectives, identify peer support and establish milestones for ongoing progress.
Self-Assessment
Evaluate current strengths and development areas
Goal Setting
Establish SMART objectives for leadership growth
Action Planning
Create concrete strategies and identify resources
Progress Tracking
Set milestones and accountability mechanisms
The individual coaching component ensures you leave with a tailored roadmap for continued growth long after the programme concludes.
Itinerary
Day One
  • Welcome and scene setting activity
  • Operating Environment
  • Contracting
  • Self Discovery
  • Group Reflection
Day Two
  • Reflections from day one and introduction to day two
  • Move to Active Wellbeing
  • High-Performance Cultures
  • Group Reflection
Day Three
  • Reflections from day two and introduction to day three
  • Live Leadership Challenge
  • Personal Development Planning
  • Group Reflection and Next Steps
Learning Mediums
Keynote Presentations
Sector leaders providing inspiring insights
Interactive Workshops
Hands-on activities to facilitate deep learning
Action Learning
Real-time problem solving with peer support
Individual & Group Coaching
Generate solutions and personalised feedback

Each learning medium is carefully selected to address different aspects of leadership development, ensuring a comprehensive and engaging experience for all participants.
Venue & Dates
Event Details
Dates: Three consecutive days, Monday 30 March and concluding on Wednesday 1 April 2026.
Venue: YMCA Lakeside, Newby Bridge, Ulverston, Cumbria LA12 8BD.
Nestled on the shores of Lake Windermere, YMCA Lakeside offers private meeting spaces, comfortable accommodation, an environment that inspires exercise and wellbeing and lakeside vistas that foster reflection and connection.
Meals and refreshments are provided, with opportunities for informal networking and taking a dose of physical activity by the spectacular water's edge.
Accommodation
Basic rooms with single occupancy and en-suites
Facilities
Modern meeting spaces and stunning outdoor areas
Meet Your Facilitators
Our event brings together a diverse team of experts with extensive experience in the leisure sector and leadership development.
Each facilitator brings unique perspectives and specialised knowledge to create a comprehensive learning experience.
Sector Expertise
Former leisure CEOs with hands-on experience
Psychological Insight
Specialists in behavioural science and resilience
Strategic Vision
Experts in systems thinking and innovation
Facilitator Profiles
Mark Tweedie
The Performance Blueprint
An executive coach and former teacher, local authority head of service and leisure CEO. Mark has a unique vision for and track record of organisational transformation. He crafts programmes that blend strategic insight with behavioural science. His novel frameworks help senior leaders translate vision into measurable impact and performance gains.
Libby Kirkley Bryan
Disruptive Panda
An executive and systemic team coach with expertise in strategy development, systems thinking, and design, Libby works with leaders and teams to build strong relationships, navigate complexity, and embrace innovation. Her approach is grounded in psychological safety, creating space for meaningful change. With cross-sector experience, Libby helps clients reimagine service delivery and harness opportunities for commercial and social impact.
Andy King
AKAC
An executive coach and former leisure CEO with unprecedented leading edge insights as host of the Conveners Podcast. Andy specialises in fostering strategic partnerships and organisational development. His pragmatic approach empowers leaders to dismantle silos and foster collaborative cultures that drive real transformation.
John Oxley
CEO Life Leisure
An executive coach and current CEO of one of the UK's largest single contract leisure trusts, John has a remarkable career. John has led at scale multi-million pound operational transformations. He brings expertise in growing services while maintaining quality, and his progressive approach to public sector and stakeholder partnerships make him an authority on system and place leadership.
Why this Event is Unique
Immersive Setting
This residential format marries immersive learning with the restorative power of Cumbria's landscapes.
Peer Learning
By convening a small cohort of senior leaders, you benefit from deep peer learning and lasting professional networks.
Expert Facilitators
The diversity of facilitators, from CEOs to executive coaches ensures a 360-degree perspective on leadership challenges.
Applied Learning
Action learning, combined with one-to-one coaching, mean theory is instantly translated into practice.
Distraction-Free
The curated setting at YMCA Lakeside removes daily distractions, enabling reflective breakthroughs and actionable insights you can implement immediately upon return.
Our Sponsors
We’re proud to partner with people who believe in the power of inspirational leadership to bring our program to life.
ReCreation transform the way communities access sport and recreation using innovative modular design and above-ground construction to deliver affordable, sustainable leisure facilities in months as opposed to years.
Antares AI sales agents designed for multisite gym operators that demand scale. Antares transforms your existing stack into a powerful sales funnel with AI sales agents that capture, engage and convert leads across every channel 24/7.
Secure Your Place
Transform Your Leadership
Embark on a journey that will stretch your leadership boundaries, sharpen your strategic lens and reignite your passion for driving social good through leisure services.
Secure your place and transform how you lead, connect and innovate in your organisation.
Exclusive Cohort
Limited places available to ensure personalised attention
Lasting Impact
Return with actionable strategies and ongoing peer support
Career Advancement
Develop the skills and insights to take your leadership to the next level
Investment: £1,400
Includes programme materials, accommodation and meals

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