The Know Daily - Monday 2 February 2026

_{Read in 4m 32s ∙ Listening to Lady Gaga ∙}

Scotland has become the first UK country to put “swift bricks” into law. From now on, new buildings must include special nesting spaces for swifts and other birds, helping wildlife thrive alongside growing cities. Such a fab way to help our feathered friends!

🏃‍♀️ Women’s sport report 

A new industry report suggests women’s sport is no longer being treated as a side project, but as a commercial and cultural force in its own right.

Tell me more…
The Sport Industry Report 2026: Women’s Sport takes the temperature of how people inside sport – broadcasters, sponsors, rights holders and executives – see the women’s game right now. The topline takeaway? Confidence is growing. More than half of industry professionals surveyed say women’s sport already offers better value to brands and broadcasters than some lower-tier men’s competitions.

What’s actually changing?
For a long time, women’s sport was framed as something with “potential”. This report suggests it’s starting to be seen as something with returns. In football, the Lionesses retained their title in the iconic final of the UEFA Women’s Euro in Switzerland, followed by the Red Roses who took the crown on home turf at the Women’s Rugby World Cup. Audiences are growing, sponsorship is becoming more stable and broadcasters are more willing to commit long-term rather than treat coverage as a one-off experiment.

Why now?
A few things are coming together at once. Major tournaments over the past decade have brought in new fans, social media has helped athletes build direct audiences and brands are looking for spaces that feel less saturated than elite men’s sport. There’s also a sense that women’s sport can offer a different kind of product – more accessible and often more community-focused.

Is it all smooth sailing?
Not quite. The report is clear that growth is uneven. Some sports and leagues are pulling ahead quickly, while others still struggle for regular coverage and funding. There are also questions about how to turn rising interest into long-term financial security, better pay and stronger pathways for players coming through.

Does this matter beyond the field?
Yep! A recent report commissioned by Sky found that girls who played extracurricular sports as children are 50% more likely to reach senior professional roles. But the industry views of women’s sport shapes what happens next – where investment flows, what gets broadcast and which athletes get visibility. This report doesn’t claim the job is done, but it does suggest a shift in mindset: women’s sport is increasingly being judged on its own merits, not as an add-on to the men’s game. 

So where does that leave us?
Women’s sport isn’t being talked about as a gamble in quite the same way anymore. The conversation is moving on to scale, structure and staying power – which, for a lot of people involved, is exactly where it needs to be.

The Know has teamed up with femme health to bring you an incredible countryside escape! And good news… you’re already entered just by reading this edition!

One lucky reader will win a £1600 voucher to spend on a retreat of your choice at The Dreaming. This is a truly transformative wellness retreat in the heart of Wales, created by Charlotte Church as a magical, nature-immersed sanctuary of ritual, creativity, deep rest and soulful reconnection.

💰 Money Monday: We’re all friends here, right? Which means we can be honest about the fact that we all spend a weird amount of time wondering how everyone else actually affords their lives. So…we’re launching a new series to get a real look at our community’s finances and we need your takes. No judgment, just a 5-minute peek into a week in your life. (And don't worry, we'll only ever use first names). If you want to throw your name in the hat, fill out this form to help us get to know you a bit better – it should only take you 2 minutes. Psst: there’s a free sweatshirt in the mix if you’re picked 👀

🪖 Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the UK should consider re-entering talks for a defence pact with the EU, aiming to collaborate with other European countries to increase spending.

🏆 The Grammys took place last night with Bad Bunny making history with the first Album of the Year in Spanish – check out all of the other winners here.

👩‍⚕️ Using AI to support routine mammogram screenings can help detect more cancers earlier and decrease advanced cases, a new study has found.

🌝 February’s full moon is known as a Snow Moon – it peaked last night but you could still catch it over the next couple of days too.

🍽️ Campaigners who want to save Britain’s oldest Indian restaurant plan to deliver a petition calling on King Charles to intervene.

🔗 Last week’s most clicked: A free island stay (in exchange for counting puffins!), a pass to hundreds of galleries across the UK and the cities with the highest cost of living.

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Trivia answer: B) Manchester City's Erling Haaland sits at number 72, with a projected £16.9m tax payment.

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