Summary
Overview
Work history
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic

Danny Melling

Leigh,Gtr Manchester

Summary

Dynamic leader with over 20 years of experience in the Physical Activity sector, specialising in strategic planning, team management, and business growth. Proven track record of building high-performing teams and fostering strong stakeholder relationships.



Overview

25
25
years of professional experience

Work history

Freelance Commercial Director

Stable Events (Physical Activity Facilities Forum)
London
03.2025 - Current
  • Securing both Buyers and Suppliers for England, Scotland and European events.


Interim Director of Membership

ukactive
City of London
11.2023 - 03.2025
  • Oversaw operations, financial performance, and team productivity.
  • Lead communication with key accounts and stakeholders.
  • Responsible for income generation and hitting business financial targets via strategic, commercial leadership.
  • Developed processes that improved team performance and outputs.
  • Achieved consistent revenue growth with a forecasted 10% increase for the upcoming year.
  • Established a governance structure with C-suite leaders from 2000 member facilities, enhancing collaboration across the sector.
  • Doubled the number of strategic partnerships in three years.
  • Initiated a new strategic focus on Energy & Decarbonisation, generating additional funding.
  • Created regional networking events, resulting in £50k annual sponsorship income.
  • Formulated business plans to increase growth and minimise cost for company.
  • Designed business strategies to obtain short and long-term goals for company.

Head of Membership Experience

Ukactive
City Of London, LND
11.2021 - 11.2023


  • Managed day-to-day work of (Membership Experience) Account Managers and motivated team to exceed objectives, by delivering a world class membership service.
  • Developed strategies to improve member engagement and retention.
  • Lead a team through resource constraints, saving £45k while meeting all targets.
  • Lead communications with Key Accounts, Members and suppliers across various sector channels.
  • Identified and resolved operational issues impacting productivity, performance or profitability.
  • Commercial role, responsible for bringing new money into the business whilst also retaining current members and minimising attrition.
  • Oversaw first price increase in membership fees for 10 years.
  • Achieved year on sales targets and member retention targets (90%) during difficult trading times.
  • Improved processes and structure within my department


Head of Growth & Partnerships

Premier Education Group
UK, UK
07.2018 - 11.2021
  • Established Key National Stakeholder relationships - Commercial and National Governing Bodies of Sport.
  • Support Premier's 120 UK franchisees to grow their business.
  • Manage multi million pound budgets.
  • Lead a national sales team remotely.
  • Strategic planning aligned with education and physical activity sector agendas.
  • Oversaw key projects to support franchisees and partners to grow their business.
  • Manage and report on Key Performance Indicators to influence outcomes and achieve the business plan targets.

Operations Director

Premier Sport Ltd
UK
07.2009 - 07.2018
  • Facilitate training, conferences and webinars for hundreds of franchisees to support the growth of their Physical Activity & School Sport business.
  • Write content for training Operating Manuals, conferences and sales resources.
  • Manage sales budget and report monthly on franchise network performance to the Executive Board.
  • Monitor performance via data analysis, identifying key trends, opportunities and areas for improvement.
  • Managed key projects and implemented processes and structures to support franchisees to be successful in executing the plan.
  • Represented Premier Sport and its franchisees on Ukactive's Kids board.
  • Contributed to Sector research and development, lobbying at national level.

Regional Mentor

Premier Sport ltd
North West
06.2008 - 07.2009
  • Supported 20 regional franchisees to grow their Premier franchise via training and mentoring.
  • Sales mentoring in the work place to role model and build confidence/competence.

Founder & Owner

Sportivity Ltd
Leigh, Gtr Manchester
01.2007 - Current
  • Strategic role in business development and growth of Sportivity ltd (TA Premier Education).
  • We work in 70 schools across the North West and South West regions of England.
  • Create Business plans, annual budgets, Cashflow and P&L forecasts.
  • Set Key Performance indicators for my operational management team to execute and report on weekly performance.
  • Strategic support and mentoring to business leaders who, in turn manage 35 people within the business on a daily basis.

Rehabilitation Programme Co-ordinator

Transitional Rehabilitation Unit
Haydock, Merseyside
02.2002 - 01.2007
  • Worked alongside Healthcare professionals to design and shape rehabilitation programmes for adults with acquired brain injuries.


Senior Activity Instructor

3D Education & Adventure
Torquay, Devon
03.2000 - 02.2002


  • Delivered outdoor education and adventure activities to school children & families.

Education

Married with 3 children -

Family Man

Love to remain active and role model for my kids -

Sport Lover

Lifelong learning -

Networking & socialising

Skills

    Strategic thinker and solution focussed

    Excellent interpersonal skills

    Emotionally Intelligent

    Sound moral compass

    Accountable and target driven

    Experienced in nurturing key stakeholder relationships

    Creative and positive mindset

    Passionate about health & wellbeing

    Experienced in product development and taking products to market

    Team focussed with experience of remote management

Timeline

Freelance Commercial Director

Stable Events (Physical Activity Facilities Forum)
03.2025 - Current

Interim Director of Membership

ukactive
11.2023 - 03.2025

Head of Membership Experience

Ukactive
11.2021 - 11.2023

Head of Growth & Partnerships

Premier Education Group
07.2018 - 11.2021

Operations Director

Premier Sport Ltd
07.2009 - 07.2018

Regional Mentor

Premier Sport ltd
06.2008 - 07.2009

Founder & Owner

Sportivity Ltd
01.2007 - Current

Rehabilitation Programme Co-ordinator

Transitional Rehabilitation Unit
02.2002 - 01.2007

Senior Activity Instructor

3D Education & Adventure
03.2000 - 02.2002

Married with 3 children -

Family Man

Love to remain active and role model for my kids -

Sport Lover

Lifelong learning -

Networking & socialising
Danny Melling