ISSUE 1 May
WEEKLY
Issue 76 - 19 November 2021
YOUR REGULAR ONLINE UPDATE FOR THE UK FITNESS SCENE
ReTrain to Retain support opens to fitness sector PAGE 2 New leisure centre welcomes first visitors award PAGE 3
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Health and wellness content service launched THRIVEOLOGIE, a health and wellness company delivering digital health, fitness and wellbeing services and events to the corporate sector, has recently launched a health and wellness content service to support the leisure sector. In collaboration with their extensive team of experts, thriveologie has developed the White Label Wellness brand, providing platform integration or bespoke and off-the-shelf holistic wellness content packages across five pillars including, Movement and Exercise, Nutrition, Self-Improvement and Wellbeing, Rest and Recovery and Mental Health. thriveologie’s
aim is to support fitness and leisure operators in creating an alternative dialogue with both existing and potential new members. By focusing on health and wellbeing, rather than leading with a fitness focused message, which can often be a barrier to entry into the sector, operators can appeal to a wider demographic of customer. The founders of thriveologie, Caroline Richings and Helen Jaggar, said: “With gym membership numbers still recovering from the fallout of the Covid pandemic, and a global focus on the significance of optimal wellbeing for physical
and mental health, individuals are expecting more from leisure operators. “Using the same methods as in previous years to attract members, it is likely that operators will continue to only appeal to the same small percentage of gym goers. “White Label Wellness offers a powerful alternative communication tool, providing fitness and leisure operators with an opportunity to continue to motivate previous members to return with an improved proposition, as well as attracting an entirely new community of members that may otherwise not have been
interested. “Creating a variety of good quality, credible content to attract, engage and retain new customers can be a challenge when you may not have the internal resource or expertise. “thriveologie’s selection of wellness content packages can make consistent delivery of qualified wellness resources, easier for fitness and leisure operators, allowing them to customise and own the delivery of wellness content to generate greater engagement and brand equity.’ To find out more visit www.thriveologie.co.uk/ whitelabelwellness
ReTrain to Retain – the skills, funding and support programme for the sport and physical activity community in England – has opened up to the first group of successful applicants. Thousands of fitness professionals, group exercise instructors and sports coaches can now log in to the ReTrain to Retain platform to access a range of resources designed to help them to stay in, or return to, the sector as we recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. Applications are still welcomed from anyone working in sport and physical activity in England who has
been made unemployed or had their working hours impacted as a result of the pandemic. Additional support is also available for those working in lower income areas. The programme, part of a £5m job retention and support package (funded by Sport England through the National Lottery), is being delivered by CIMSPA, alongside UK Coaching and EMD UK. The benefits available through ReTrain to Retain include: n Digital learning and webinars to support people in getting back to
work or increasing working hours. n A job matching service. n Access to the CIMSPA Digital Marketing Hub. n Discounted endorsed training from a range of providers. Group exercise instructors can also benefit from free membership of EMD UK, discounted training courses, £50 of PPL music credits and more. Through UK Coaching, ReTrain to Retain also provides targeted support for 25,000 volunteer sports coaches, including a UK Coaching Club subscription with 12 months unlimited
access to more than 500 learning resources. Coaches interested in applying can visit https://www.ukcoaching.org/ourcampaigns/retrain-to-retain In addition, the programme will provide skills, funding, and support for up to 5,000 self-employed professionals and micro-businesses and will work with up to 500 sector employers to address skills shortages and fund essential training. Employers will have the opportunity to access ReTrain funding from December.
ReTrain to Retain support opens to fitness sector
Group Editor: Judith Halkerston Tel: 01226 734639 jh@scriptmedia. co.uk Group production editor: Dominic Musgrave Tel: 01226 734407 dm@scriptmedia. co.uk
Sales and marketing director: Tony Barry Tel: 01226 734605 tb@scriptmedia. co.uk Sales manager: Louise BristoweHarrison Tel: 01226 734699 workout3@ scriptmedia.co.uk
Studio manager: Stewart Holt sth@scriptmedia. co.uk
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Cardiff Rugby partner with Matrix Fitness CARDIFF Rugby has partnered with Matrix Fitness to support the design, rebrand and equipment installation of their new world-class training facility. The Matrix Performance Gym is the first phase in the exciting development of the club’s new High Performance and Health Centre at Pentwyn. Cardiff director of rugby Dai Young said: “This is a new partnership for us, but having worked with Matrix in previous roles, I have first-hand experience of their market-leading equipment, the breadth and choice they offer and they have always been a pleasure to work with. “Their standards are always high and they are hugely collaborative. This is a great boost for us as a club and will ensure we have a first-class facility, which will ultimately help
drive standards and performances throughout our environment.” The new training facility will welcome the complete Matrix Fitness portfolio of equipment but with a primary focus on strength training, while also including
cardiovascular items and a selection of indoor bikes to open a spin studio to promote versatility and offer a different training dynamic. Matrix also collaborated with the Cardiff Rugby team on design and layout of the new gym, showcasing the club’s rich history, recent achievements and potential for the future. Julian Taylor, marketing director at Matrix Fitness, added: “Fitness is obviously key to the success of any sporting team so we’re hopeful that the new facility will provide Cardiff Rugby with a strong platform to continue to succeed. “We’re proud to partner with a club that prides itself on always striving to be better and hope that they’re new, world-class facility will give them the opportunity to do just that.”
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Active IQ and Skillsfirst collaborate to offer new Wellbeing Package ACTIVE IQ and Skillsfirst have come together to create a unique Wellbeing Package to meet the growing demand from employers for staff to have both physical and social wellness skills. Both businesses excel as Awarding and End-Point Assessment Organisations and offer complementary qualifications and assessments. Active IQ is particularly strong in the leisure sector, while Skillsfirst is renowned for its functional and social skills portfolio. Working together, they seek to break down any barriers and create a set of qualifications that promote wellbeing in the workplace. “We believe our collaboration and bespoke Wellbeing Package has great potential to equip learners with a number of skills that are sought after in the workplace,” said Gavin Baxter, Active IQ business consultant. “We are increasingly aware that employers are looking for multi skill sets in the wellbeing field and anticipate a good level of interest in our joint offer alongside Skillsfirst. “It’s unusual perhaps to bring together two Awarding and End-point Assessment Organisations. “However, we are confident our complementary qualifications will enhance each other’s offering to benefit both employers and learners.” The new Wellbeing Package comprises eight qualifications: four each from Active IQ and Skillsfirst Active IQ is offering: n Active IQ Level 1 Award in Active, Healthy Living.
n Active IQ Level 2 Award in Understanding Nutrition, Performance and Healthy Eating. n Active IQ Level 2 Award in Alcohol Awareness. n Active IQ Level 2 Award in Smoking Awareness and Cessation. Skillsfirst is offering: n Skillsfirst Level 1 Certificate in Personal and Social Development. n Skillsfirst Level 1 Award in Ways to
Maintain Personal Well being. n Skillsfirst Level 1 Certificate in the Principles of Maintaining Personal Well-being at Work. n Skillsfirst Level 2 Certificate in LGBT Inclusion in the Workplace. The qualifications complement each other and dovetail nicely. Two or more can be studied in tandem thus maximising the learners’ opportunity to gain multiple skills in a
short space of time. Employers can ‘pick and mix’ any or all of the eight qualifications making the selection process flexible and accessible. The respective training centres for Active IQ and Skillsfirst simply need to undergo centre recognition from the other partner to enable their training providers to deliver the combination of qualifications. “Active IQ is the ideal partner for us as we share similar values and operate to the same high standards,” added Faye Moore, Skillsfirst head of business engagement. “This collaboration adds value to our respective customer bases and sits well in the current climate where individuals, employers and learners are increasingly invested in wellness. “Like Active IQ, we pride ourselves on our customer-focused and friendly approach and put the learners at the heart of everything we do. “I believe that by collaborating in this way, we can bring more options to learners while retaining that personal touch.” The Active IQ & Skillsfirst Wellbeing Package supports the growing demand for corporate responsibility by offering a range of social and interpersonal skills. It will appeal to health and wellbeing officers whose primary responsibility is to look after the health and wellbeing of their colleagues and staff. All the qualifications can be delivered face-to-face or in a blended model and meet the requirements of funding provision.
New leisure centre welcomes first visitors SOUTH Somerset District Council has cut the ribbon on the newly built Chard Leisure Centre and officially celebrated the opening of South Somerset’s latest and most extensive leisure development. Built as part of The Chard Regeneration Project with an investment of £16.5 million, the new leisure centre will support active, healthy lives through the provision of a wide range of leisure facilities for all walks of life from families and seniors to competing athletes and casual gym-goers or swimmers. Dan Bennett, property and development project manager at South Somerset District Council, said: “It is fantastic to see the derelict Boden Mill site transformed into a thriving activity hub right in the heart of the community. “In addition to serving those who live and work in Chard, the facility is expected to attract footfall from neighbouring towns and villages, helping to drive the local economy. The two storey leisure centre, which occupies circ. 2,000 square metres, incorporates a 25-metre swimming pool and separate training pool with wet facilities served by a dedicated, spacious changing village; an indoor adventure play area, a fully equipped gym, a fitness studio, a group cycling studio, plus a lounge and café.
The site including a Changing Places facility, ensuring as many people can benefit from this significant investment in community provision. Procured and delivered via the UK Leisure Framework – managed by
Denbighshire Leisure Ltd – the project has been delivered by Alliance Leisure, supported by building contractor, Speller Metcalfe. Julia Goddard, senior development manager at Alliance Leisure, added:
“Thanks to the dedication of our trusted supply chain we have tackled any pandemic induced challenges head on and succeeded in delivering this project on time and under budget. “The new centre is truly stunning and is perfectly placed to become the heartbeat of the community, offering the local population a safe, inspiring place to relax, meet friends and get active.” Works began on the build in December 2019 following several public consultations and will be managed by Freedom Leisure which is also contracted to manage three additional sites on behalf of South Somerset District Council – Wincanton Sports Centre Goldenstones leisure Centre and Westlands Sports and Fitness centre, Yeovil. Mark Hudgeon, regional director at Speller Metcalfe, added: “We are absolutely delighted to be able to hand over the keys to Chard Leisure Centre, which we know will provide both fantastic facilities and employment opportunities for local residents and visitors to the area. “Together the project team has worked tirelessly throughout the build – even with the challenge of a global pandemic – and we are extremely proud to see it open to the public.”
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