SHAPING GROWTH

The first ever Active-net Padel event offered delegates a day of insight, networking and opportunities to engage with sector professionals

The inaugural active-net Padel event, held on 3 June at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Stansted, brought together a diverse mix of padel court operators, universities, leisure providers and industry suppliers for a full day of networking, education and collaboration. With 30 padel court operators and a wide range of supplier partners – from court manufacturers and franchise providers to marketing agencies and ancillary service suppliers – the event was designed to provide valuable opportunities for networking and growth within this fast growing sport.

More than 30 padel operators met for a day of insight and networking

Discussions and networks

Throughout the day, attendees engaged in 12 pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings, alongside informal networking sessions. There was also a structured educational programme, with panel discussions that highlighted the potential and challenges in the current marketplace.

The event began with a lively welcome panel, expertly chaired by Mike Hill, Director of Active-net, and featuring leading voices from the sector, including Fabian David (Britain Padel Tour), Patrick Burge (Major Padel Club) and Gareth Evans (Padel Ventures). Their discussion set the tone for a day focused on innovation, collaboration and strategic investment.

Delegates then took part in one of two insightful breakout sessions. The Data Behind the Opportunity, chaired by Julie Allen (Active Insight), explored key trends and market intelligence with contributions from Ray Algar (Oxygen Consulting) and Jake Bennett (Padel Ventures). Meanwhile, the Making the Most of the Investment session, chaired by Mike Hill, saw Gareth Evans, Andy Baker (SwimSpa) and Miguel Dominguez (Major Padel Club) share practical advice on optimising returns and building sustainable padel offerings.

Insights and value

Feedback from delegates was overwhelmingly positive, with all praising the quality of meetings and the relevance of the content. For many, it was the first chance to engage face-to-face with such a concentrated pool of decision-makers and suppliers within the padel space.

Reflecting on the event, David Monkhouse, Director of active-net, said: “We were thrilled by the response to our first active-net Padel event. It was fantastic to see so many passionate and forward-thinking individuals coming together with a shared focus on growth and innovation. As with all our events, our aim is to connect people through insight and create memorable experiences…and this event did exactly that.”