Outdoor Industries Association (OIA) takes business leaders to Parliament to discuss growing economy through physical activity, health promotion and illness prevention.
The OIA was delighted to be asked by the Number Ten team to take a small group of sport and outdoor business leaders to meet with government officials in Parliament this week. The meeting was to discuss strategies for driving economic growth through increased physical activity, health prevention, and community resilience. The consultation highlighted the vital role the outdoor industries play in improving public health and in supporting the country’s economic recovery.
Focusing on the importance of health promotion strategies, the group emphasised how fostering physical activity at all levels – from childhood resilience to adult participation – could not only reduce the strain on the healthcare system, but also significantly boost the UK economy. By encouraging more people to engage with the outdoors, our industries aim to inspire healthier lifestyles, tackle obesity and inactivity, and improve mental and physical well-being across the nation.
The meeting underscored how the outdoor and sports sectors are uniquely positioned to help build a more resilient society, particularly by promoting physical activity among children. The recent TV series ‘Adolescence‘, which has caught the government’s imagination, highlighted the concerns expressed by many at the meeting. With a third of children leaving primary school overweight or obese, and not doing a minimum of daily activity, the leaders advocated for initiatives that encourage outdoor learning (such as school-based activities like Daily Mile), and for increased participation in all outdoor sports and engagement with nature from an early age.
The outdoor industry leaders also highlighted the potential for job creation, skills development, and the growth of leisure-related businesses, all of which contribute to a sustainable and vibrant economy.
By fostering a culture of physical activity, the sport and outdoor industries are ready to play a pivotal role in shaping a healthier, more active, and economically prosperous future for the UK.
Picture – from left: Andrew Denton (Outdoor Industries Association (OIA)), Harvey Alexander (Motorhome and Caravan Club), Sam Fernando (Keela), Robert Brigham (Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports), Afzal Khushi (Trespass & Nevisport), Andy Long (Pentland Group), Andy Rubin (Pentland & Chair of WFSGI, the Global Sports Body), Andy McNae (MP for Rossendale and Darwen), Mark Hammersley (Zoggs), Hugh Brasher (London Marathon Events), Matt Gowar (Equip Outdoor Technologies (Rab & Lowe Alpine)) Mike Tomkins (MandM Direct), Jonathan Petty (Helen of Troy (Osprey & Hydro-Flask)), Jamie Kristow (Outdoor & Cycle Concepts (Cotswold Outdoor, Snow+Rock, Runners Need)), Stephen Cann (Bollin Group (Mountain Equipment, Sprayway, Bridgedale, Ronhill, Burton McCall)).
