'Think Differently' at the Aspire Active Partnership conference

Last Friday, our incredible network gathered at Villa Park for the Aspire Active Partnership conference, and it was nothing short of inspiring! This year's theme, "Think Differently," aimed to help us all innovate and create a fresh perspective on working collaboratively to elevate the quality and standard of PE and school sports across the UK. Reflecting Benjamin Franklin's famous quote, "An investment in knowledge pays the best interest," the event was packed with insight, learning, and meaningful connections.

Kickstarting the day with a recap
The conference kicked off with a comprehensive recap of the past six months. From huddles and news reports to workshops and articles, we celebrated all the incredible work our network has achieved. The energy and accomplishments shared were truly motivating and set the tone for a fantastic day.

Sessions that made a difference: Combating 'Winging It'
Rob Wilkinson from Moving Matters led an engaging session focused on developing concrete strategies to avoid 'winging it.' His practical and motivating insights drove home the importance of preparation and strategic planning.

Social value impact report
A critical workshop highlighted the importance and process behind developing a Social Value Impact Report. This tool helps identify your organisation's monetary value to the broader community, an essential aspect of demonstrating impact.

Celebrating success
We then commemorated the achievements within our network with the 'Scorecard Award.' Luke announced S4A as the winner, recognised for making the most significant progression in their operations. Congratulations, S4A!

Split workshop sessions
First set
We offered two concurrent workshops in the first split session:

-'Invest in Your Team and the Future of Your Business' by Stewart Robb from Vestd
-'Optimise Your Website' by Max Cooper, Aspire Active Education Group

Second set
The second set of workshops addressed critical issues:

-'How to Increase Your Camp Numbers' by George Allen from Kinetic Sports Group
-'How Many Sales Calls Does it Take?' by Oli Burton, Aspire Active Education Group

Final set
The final split workshops provided vital knowledge on finance and employment law:

-'Duncan's Finance Mastermind' by Duncan Lloyd from Profit Genie
-'New Employment Law Changes' by HR Dept

Afternoon insights and hands-on workshops
Marketing insights quiz
After a refreshing lunch break, Luke hosted an engaging marketing insights quiz, challenging our knowledge and sparking lively discussion.

Roundtable discussions
Participants then engaged in focused roundtable discussions on:

-'Ways to increase camp numbers'
-'Managing large teams'
-'Financial strategies for implementing new national insurance and wages'

Lead generation workshop
Selling Interactions Suxy Hunt and Anderson Hirst led a creative lead generation workshop using LEGO to inspire imaginative approaches to lead generation.

Unique and engaging sessions
Local skills plans
Nikki Clamp from Aspire Training Solutions, alongside Rafe Turner and Cherelle Mitchell from CIMSPA, led an insightful session on leveraging local skills plans to drive people strategy.

Interactive session from LUSU
To get everyone moving, LUSU hosted a workshop using equipment that mimicked visual impairments, encouraging empathy and understanding while engaging in physical activity.

Wrapping up with solutions and accolades
Recruitment challenges
Love Care Recruitment addressed pressing recruitment issues and shared effective solutions to overcome them, providing valuable takeaways for all attendees.

Closing awards
The conference concluded on a high note, with a recognition of outstanding contributions to the rest of the network. We celebrated joint first-place winners Essex Professional Coaching and Time4Sport for their exceptional efforts and achievements.

Thank you to everyone who attended and made the Aspire Active Partnership conference a success. Your commitment to thinking differently and working collaboratively paves the way for a brighter future in PE and school sports across the UK. Here's to continued growth, innovation, and excellence!