Consultancy and change architects, Miova, have welcomed industry veteran Mark Tweedie on board.

Tweedie had most recently headed up Brimham’s Active, which was launched in 2021 by Harrogate Borough Council with an unprecedented £47 million facility investment programme. He assisted with the creation of a health and wellbeing company, produced a company strategy, delivered the vision and worked closely with the council to complete the facility investment programme.

Andy King, director of Miova, said he's delighted to be bringing his former colleague on board: “Mark is often referred to as the ‘architect of pivot’ referring to how he shaped Active Tameside over 10 years to be the leading leisure operator successfully working with health and social care.

“During this time, he also set up GM Active and chaired the organisation that is now held in such high esteem. We can’t wait to welcome him on board at Miova and look forward to helping council’s understand what it takes to pivot to active wellbeing, which is incredibly exciting.

Tweedie started out as a PE lecturer before taking on the role of organising the 2002 Commonwealth Games triathlon event, including its legacy programme. Since 2011, he has led a number of organisations: Active Tameside, Active Northumberland and Community Leisure UK.

Miova was developed to bring about collaborative change in the public sector. Its services include supporting local authorities to take a strategic approach to pivoting from leisure to active wellbeing and reimagining physical activity strategies, programmes and initiatives. It also offers systems leadership and executive coaching.

Brimhams Active is being disbanded by North Yorkshire Council since the body which originally established it – Harrogate Borough Council – was dissolved as part of North Yorkshire Council's move to rationalise its activities and bring all its leisure services back in-house. They were previously being run by five different management companies.

A report to councillors said the Brimhams Active model was “particularly advanced” and that the decision to disband it was “no reflection on the current provision or providers who deliver much valued and high quality services”.