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INDUSTRY NEWS
Exercise professionals move forward in Ireland
The exercise industry has grown substantially in recent years in Ireland. Previously, the majority of the population saw exercise and fitness as something for the committed ‘lycra-clad’ enthusiast.
However, increased awareness of the health benefits of exercise
has resulted in much more of the population now engaging with exercise professionals.
Traditionally, gym instructors, personal trainers and group exercise instructors would work with a similar clientele every day. But as more people struggle with busy lifestyles, the
range of abilities and needs of clients rapidly changing and are becoming much more diverse.
REPs Ireland, through the quality assurance of education providers, ensures that its professionals can access appropriate education and training to meet this new
diverse range of clients’ needs. A priority in 2014 will be for REPs Ireland to have a large discussion between exercise professionals, employers and educators around ‘scope of practice’.
This is to ensure everyone has a clear understanding of what exercise professionals can and cannot do given their education and training.
REPs Ireland recognises that its members have essential and valuable skills, not only in offering fitness advice, but as a real and substantial delivery mechanism to aid the public in becoming and staying active.
For more information on REPs Ireland visit, www.repsireland.ie
Exercise Register launches in Dubai
2013 saw the launch of a national fitness register in the United Arab Emirates. REPs UAE has been set up to enhance the levels of education and professionalism in the UAE fitness industry. Government support for the Register has been given through the Dubai Sports Council. Registration of fitness professionals in the UAE is now compulsory and Government authorities will regulate fitness facilities for compliance. The first stage of setting up the new Register was to design the ‘technical framework’ of occupational standards, job role descriptors, qualification approval, full and provisional entry and CPD points.
In what has been a busy year, REPs UAE also successfully
applied to join ICREPs, the global confederation for fitness registers.
REPs UAE had a drive in the summer to increase the membership with over 1,200 fitness professionals having now applied to join. REPs UAE is one of the most cosmopolitan registers in the world, made up of members from over 60 countries who live and work in the UAE. 2014 will see further development of the Register with new levels and categories, a new website and magazine and more international collaboration.
Catherine Hanson Farid, PR and Marketing Manager at REPs UAE was thrilled with the register launch.
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“It’s fantastic that the UAE is now benefitting from having a national fitness register, the industry in UAE is growing fast and a common framework for recognition of professionals is much needed. Our close links to the UK and other countries with a national register means we have been able to develop
much quicker than we would have been able to by ourselves.”
For more information visit www.repsuae.com