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REPs – a vital cog in the
SkillsActive Group wheel
Recent criticism illustrates just how important
it is to ensure instructors are REPs members
S
killsActive, the National Skills
Academy for Sport and Active
Leisure and the Register of
Exercise Professionals (REPs) make up
the SkillsActive Group. Each
Work experience is viewed as the first step to a successful career organisation plays a key role in
ensuring our sector has the
Calls for more work experience
professionally trained and qualified
staff it needs to offer a service that
Nearly half of school leavers failing to gain placements
supports and encourages people to be
more physically active, more often.
By Pete Hayman or companies not offering A fortnight ago, REPs encountered Stephen Studd is
placements. The Backing Young criticism in a Daily Mail report which chief executive of
A new campaign launched by Britain initiative aims to create questioned the credibility of personal Skills Active
Prime Minister Gordon Brown thousands more work opportu- trainers. The report cast doubt on the
– Backing Young Britain – has nities through a partnership standards set by the Register and the quality of training and
called on the hospitality and between public, private and expertise held by personal trainers working in health clubs.
tourism industries to offer more voluntary organisations. Although the report omitted some important facts, the story
work experience for school Adam Marshall, director of raised key issues and illustrated just how important it is to
leavers and students. policy at the British Chambers ensure trainers and instructors are members of REPs.
Around 15 per cent of young of Commerce, said: "Many of REPs is an independent public register which recognises the
people have expressed an our members continue to offer qualifications and expertise of exercise instructors in the UK.
interest in a career in either work placements – even during It provides a system of regulation for instructors and trainers
tourism or hospitality, but a this tough economic climate. to ensure that they meet the health and fitness industry's
recent Populus poll for the Businesses recognise how agreed national occupational standards.
Department for Work and important placements can be Membership of REPs aims to provide assurance and
Pensions revealed that only for young people trying to confidence to consumers, employers and health professions that
three in five businesses across improve their CVs, and for all registered exercise professionals are appropriately qualified
all sectors offer placements. spotting future talent. and have the knowledge, competence and skills to perform
The survey also revealed that "If more and more businesses specific roles. Members are acknowledged for their
40 per cent of school leavers feel able to offer placements, professionalism, their adherence to the industry's nationally
were unable to secure work Britain's future workforce will be recognised standards and their ongoing education. They are
experience due to high demand better trained and job-ready." also bound by a Code of Ethics and hold appropriate public
liability insurance. However, REPs membership is not a
GLL pilots exchange programme
statutory requirement for those working in the fitness industry,
which is why we so often hear stories of personal training 'gone
wrong'. Anyone in the UK can in fact set themselves up as a
Greenwich Leisure (GLL) has Australia for two months to personal trainer and carry out fitness sessions with individuals
piloted an employee experience the operation of who may suffer from a range of chronic injuries or even serious
exchange programme with Olympic facilities first hand at medical conditions – all of which can be exacerbated through
Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic the venue for the swimming, poorly designed exercise.
Centre as part of efforts to diving and synchronised The Register seeks to minimise such harm by setting standards,
deliver improved training swimming for the Sydney but like any industry watchdog, it is not fool proof. Regrettably,
facilities for elite athletes in 2000 Games. there may always be a small minority of professionals working in
time for the 2012 Games. GLL is planning to operate any industry who act carelessly and fail members of the public.
The scheme has already the exchange programme on REPs works hard to minimise such cases in the fitness industry
seen GLL managers travel to an annual basis. and the more aware members of the public are of the Register,
the more effective it can become at protecting them.
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