INDUSTRY NEWS FIA results

The results of the FIA’s year-long TwentyTen Industry Consultation have been published. Its main findings conclude the industry now needs to: l Expand career development planning to all the 200,000 plus people who work in it – At present only fitness instructors, who represent around 15% of industry employees, have any career pathways – Focus on ‘soft’/interpersonal skills as well as technical skills – Review the current funding model to ensure that all funding sourced is optimised and meets the requirements of employers as well as employees

l Meet the opportunities posed by the government’s focus on increasing the nation’s physical activity levels and ensure it develops a new generation of ‘Health & Wellbeing Coaches’ who can form part of the recently devolved GPs healthcare delivery team – There are approximately 10K GP surgeries nationwide: we need 20K Exercise Referral Coaches with, a new wellbeing focused skill set, to support them (currently just 2,500 REPs members hold Exercise Referral qualifications).

l Utilise the 3m companies in the UK and over 40m employees as the potential market for an Active Workforce programme.

Detailed delivery strategies for each of the conclusions are now in development as part of a five-year plan for the industry.

Fit for Flame?

Nominations are open for the 2011 Flame awards run by the FIA including the new Spark of Innovation Award. Other categories include: Club of the Year, Centre of the Year, Corporate Club of the Year, Educational Club of the Year, Leisure Centre Operator of the Year, Health Club Operator of the Year and Future of Flame.

For more details visit: http://bit.ly/cbwiAa New Dutch national register

The national register for the Netherlands went live in October following its official launch at the Benelux Fitness Show in Utrecht. Working to the EREPS model, it is being managed by the national fitness association, Fit!vak. Fit!vak has developed a programme of national exams so that exercise professionals can chose any training provider they like, but they then have to successfully meet the national requirements.

Fitness First

backs EREPS Health-club operator Fitness First is using the

EREPS logo as part of a campaign to promote using qualified and registered personal trainers. This follows Fitness First working with EREPS to help develop training programmes to improve the

skills of their trainers and this has been voted a great success. 08

EREPS news reps

Members feedback

Raising public awareness about EREPS is a key message and seen as a “must have” benefit for members of EREPS. Cliff Collins, EREPS Director said: “Letting the public know about EREPS and that our members are skilled exercise professionals is the most positive way of promoting the register”. More than 70% of EREPS members expect to be working in the fitness industry for 10 years or longer; 55% of members say that registration with EREPS is important, and 45% say that it is very important.

European Register of Exercise Professionals e The REPS Journal 2010;19(December):8

SkillsActive News Employer Training Licence

Tom Bell, Endorsement Manager, SkillsActive High-quality, relevant, internal training

delivered by highly-skilled employees sharing their knowledge and experience is something many employers practice.

Until recently this was not recognised by REPs, but SkillsActive is hoping to redress this with its new Employer Training Licence, which acts as a quality kite-mark for internal training programmes.

Employers can submit these training programmes for evaluation by SkillsActive, as well as having REPs Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points awarded to them. This will cover all aspects of internal training from customer care and group exercise classes, to indoor-cycling and bespoke induction processes.

Thereafter, employers will be able to develop training as and when required with the sound knowledge that SkillsActive is there to support them by quality-assuring the training.

This valuable training being delivered by employers is essential in developing employees’ careers whilst ensuring the delivery is flexible enough to suit all. Encouraging retention of staff through the recognition of training with CPD points and the ability to save on costs are only a few of the benefits that await employers.

Speak with your employer to find out more or contact SkillsActive for further information on becoming an approved employer.