Helping to up your game

SkillsActive, the sector skills council, for the fitness industry is holding a series of Performance Training

workshops to help build business skills.

Drawing on the principles of sports coaching and then applying them to a commercial setting it’s hoped the skills taught will lead to increased motivation and better business acumen.

With greater numbers of fitness professionals than ever becoming self-employed, the need for effective business skills has never been more relevant. REPs members can take part in the one-day courses at a special delegate rate of £115 (inc. VAT). The fee for non- members is £143.75.

Tickets are still available for the following dates and venues: Thursday 14th Thursday 21st

January 2010, Castlewood House, London January 2010, Sheffield United Football Club, Sheffield

For further information, including booking details email, Amy Crabbe, Events Manager for SkillsActive on events@skillsactive.com or telephone 020 763 22027

STOP PRESS...STOP PRESS The Journal’s team

is delighted to announce the

Guest Contributor

for Issue 16 (due out in March 2010) will be Double Olympic Gold Medallist and sporting champion Dame Kelly Holmes.

Famed for her determination to succeed in life, talent on the athletics track and passion for exercise, Dame Kelly is also a great advocate of fitness for all. Encouraged to take up competitive

Building bridges with the NHS

REPs Registrar Jean-Ann Marnoch, FIA Chief Medical Officer Dr John Searle and CPD Compliance Manager Dottie Calderwood attended the annual NHS Employers Convention and Exhibition in Birmingham at the beginning of last month (November).

Jean-Ann explained: “With the government looking to our industry to help fight lifestyle illness and obesity, we wanted to meet with NHS employees and get them to think about how exercise professionals and healthcare professionals can work effectively and successfully together. Delegates were favourably surprised to learn about our roles and we are confident this is just the start of things to come.”

Dottie added: “This visit coincided with our new leaflet describing the skills and competences of exercise referral professionals on the Register - we want the NHS to see our members as a significant resource in working towards the health agenda.”

running by her PE teacher at the age of 12, she is particularly keen to encourage school children to get involved in sport and activities, She is currently President of the Commonwealth Games of England, chair of her own charity, the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust, and is mentoring talented young middle distance runners and their coaches through her ‘On Camp with Kelly’ initiative, supported by Aviva. For more info visit www.doublegold.co.uk

LIW update…

More than 180 REPs members attended the national convention at LIW enjoying a series of keynote presentations – including talks by Journal contributors Dr Colin Moran and nutritionist Louise Sutton – as well as entry to the trade show itself where REPs had a stand.

As well as meeting members and helping visitors to the stand Registrar Jean-Ann Marnoch also spoke at the Training Provider Forum and attended a series of meetings with employers.

She said: “My first official duties as REPs Registrar were at LIW last year – it’s incredible to think how much has happened in those 12 short months including a new logo, a new-look website, new Journal

06

and working with SkillsActive on new occupational standards.

“We are also forging ahead with our goals of increasing awareness of REPs and the role it is playing in helping to professionalise the fitness industry with the medical profession , among members of the public and with training providers and employers.”

The REPs Journal 2009;15(Dec):5-7