ISSUE 336 April 2022 £3
Platforms to bring on-demand fitness to the workforce Page 4 Operator completes Whitefield club refurb to help improve experience Page 11 Myzone to help develop new outdoor concept
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UK FITNESS SCENE
Future Fit and Myzone set to take fitness professionals’ careers to the next level MYZONE has announced a new partnership with training specialists Future Fit, paving the way for the next generation of fitness professionals to add value to clients and build a legacy of health benefits. Through world-class training programmes, Future Fit educates and supports anyone in the wellbeing space wanting to become a personal trainer, Pilates or fitness coach, or to specialise in nutrition. Adding the benefits of heart rate training, the accompanying motivation gains and accountability of Myzone to its portfolio of courses, aspirational leaders now have even more to offer their communities. “Understanding the needs of clients can revolutionise any trainer’s positive influence within a community,” said David Stalker, CEO of Myzone EMEA. “When fitness and health professionals make movement more about impact and empathy than about chasing sales figures, the result is always long-term benefit for everyone involved.
“Leveraging Myzone technology to retain high standards of practise throughout a trainer’s career is a cornerstone of an engaged and loyal community, with an importance that cannot be overlooked. “We’re proud to share our digital insights and tech applications to benefit the careers of anyone in the journey with Future Fit for years to come.”
Future Fit Training forges outstanding health and fitness professionals, transforming the lives of customers and their clients by building meaningful relationships and leaving lasting legacies. Courses are developed in-house by experienced and degree level experts, and the Future Fit team is constantly innovating training provisions.
This means that when the industry changes, they develop courses to match. Future Fit has also won ukactive’s training provider of the year award two years in a row. “We have had a number of learners that have gone out into the world and are harnessing the technology that Myzone provides in a number of different ways to help with client engagement,” added Tom Godwin, operations director at Future Fit Training. “We have seen how the Myzone product can help our graduates, many of whom are self-employed, go out and build into their product offering something different. “We have seen graduates start to use the Myzone products to support one to one, group and remote training, and giving them the data they need to keep clients engaged, motivated and improving. “From what they are telling us this has been a great move, and they are seeing value for both them and their clients.”
Mindbody executes global agreement with TRIB3 MINDBODY, the experience technology platform for the wellness industry, has announced a global agreement with TRIB3, a boutique fitness concept centred around community. As the franchise brand rapidly expands its global footprint, TRIB3 partners with Mindbody to support franchisees with a reliable and streamlined operations solution. “A key component of success for our fitness industry is community,” said Josh McCarter, CEO of Mindbody. “Mindbody’s data consistently shows that a sense of community plays a key role in why consumers choose to partake in wellness experiences. “With a premium fitness offering and a keen focus on building and fostering community in each individual location, TRIB3 is poised for impressive growth. “With an expansive and constantly evolving suite of offerings, we look forward to growing alongside TRIB3 in Group production editor: Dominic Musgrave Tel: 01226 734407 dm@scriptmedia.co.uk Studio manager: Paul Hopkinson ph@scriptmedia.co.uk Assistant studio manager: Scott Firth sf@scriptmedia.co.uk Sales and marketing director: Tony Barry Tel: 01226 734605 tb@scriptmedia.co.uk
www.workout-uk.co.uk
this partnership.” TRIB3 sets itself apart in the fitness market through intensive and inclusive high-intensity interval training (HIIT) sessions with three elements: treadmills, resistance and intensity. Each TRIB3 location also nurtures its member community through purpose-
designed lounge areas and mixology bars that host events, socials and celebrations of key milestones. With locations currently open in territories including the UK, Spain, and Finland and stores sold in eight countries globally, TRIB3 continues broadening its reputation, brand and network across
the globe. Mindbody’s easy-to-use customer acquisition and retention features, streamlined reporting and payments offerings will support TRIB3 in a successful rollout of its expansion strategy. “TRIB3 is currently on track to open more than 1,000 locations by 2026, so it is imperative to have a software partner that we can rely on to power and actively support our expansion efforts as well as further streamline our digital operations,” said Kevin Yates, CEO of TRIB3. “We are confident that Mindbody fills this need “With this partnership with Mindbody we have a consistent blueprint for opening new stores and true collaboration on their ongoing development roadmap; that means we are able to bring consistency across the brand for franchise partners, consumers and our team.”
Daniel joins Active board Nation as a trustee DANIEL Clayton has joined the Active Nation board as a trustee. Daniel has been a global leader and innovator in commercial and consumer health and wellbeing, including digital and neurotechnologies for many years and has a track record of bringing industry leading products and services to the wellness sector which have achieved multi-million revenue growth. He is a former senior director at Technogym SpA, group director (innovation/development) at Virgin Active and vice president (global development) at Johnson Health Tech Company Limited. More recently, he has been president (commercial and medical) of Dyaco Inc. and developed
partnerships with Philips N.V. and UFC. Daniel said: “I am delighted to be joining Active Nation as the charity really evolves into an organisation that is actively persuading the nation to be more active. “I am really looking forward to the opportunity to utilise my experience and expertise in the health and wellbeing sector to help grow the charity.” Bob Paton, president of Active Nation, added: “I have known Daniel for more than 30 years. “He is an outstanding individual who has been immersed in our industry in this country and much further afield. “His depth of knowledge is immense and he will bring
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Daniel Clayton real experience and a different perspective to Active Nation. It’s going to be a really exciting time ahead for our charity.”
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Platforms to bring on-demand fitness to the workforce GYMPASS has signed a partnership deal with global fitness brand Les Mills to offer the corporate workforce access to over 1,500 on-demand workouts and virtual training sessions. Les Mills, the group exercise provider famous for its BODYCOMBAT, BODYPUMP and BODYBALANCE formats, is on a mission to create a fitter planet for all by making fitness as accessible and convenient as possible. Clive Ormerod, CEO at Les Mills, added: “We’re really excited to be partnering with Gympass and providing its corporate customers with our unique Les Mills digital offering to bring fresh motivation for employees to enjoy
everyday movement. This is an ideal time for this partnership as employees and employers have now had time to respond and react to flexible working initiatives instigated by the pandemic. “As a result, the new hybrid workforce requires a new, dynamic fitness offering. “The Les Mills digital offering is perfectly equipped to deal with this demand by allowing the workforce to access a plethora of on-demand, digital workouts, enabling employees to create a fitness regime that suits them.” Les Mills has always championed the ‘live’ effect and the incredible benefits that can be reaped from working out as a collective.
However, recognising that life is busier than ever, it launched a digital offering in the form of Les Mills + to provide customers with access to thousands of on-demand workouts wherever they are. The partnership with Gympass seeks to address the findings of Les Mills’ recent global fitness report which found that 60 per cent of those surveyed in the UK said their workplace did not currently offer a wellness programme, with Gympass and Les Mills looking to simplify health and wellness options for employers. The new deal will bring the authentic Les Mills club experience into the homes and workplaces of thousands of Gympass members enabling them to
access Les Mills +. The partnership will further enrich the Gympass digital offering while bringing a new corporate audience to Les Mills. Massi Sardi, VP of partnerships at Gympass, said: ‘The partnership with Les Mills is the latest addition to our global wellness portfolio, bringing its world famous workouts to our users. “Gympass and Les Mills have a shared desire to create a fitter workforce, Les Mills’ dynamic offering of over 1,500 digital workouts, from high intensity interval training to meditative yoga, ensures that everyone will be able to find a form of fitness to fall in love with through the new partnership.”
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Works complete on new leisure centre in Sevenoaks A TWO-year project to deliver a new, modern leisure centre that meets the modern needs of its diverse community has opened its doors in Swanley, Kent. The development, managed by Alliance Leisure, employed ISG as construction partner and was procured by Sevenoaks District Council through the UK Leisure Framework, owned and managed by Denbighshire Leisure. Described by the leader of the Council as an ‘historic investment’, the new centre replaces an inefficient centre of the same name built in the 1960s and creates an activity hub that meet the hugely diverse needs of modern society. “It’s fantastic to see this centre finally open its doors” said Tom Fairey, senior business development manager at
Alliance Leisure. Designed by architects, Saunders Boston, the new centre provides an environmentally responsible activity hub for everyone to enjoy. Wet side, the development incorporates two pools – a 25 metre, six lane pool with an adjustable height floor plus a learner pool – ideal for hosting the centre’s full programme of children’s swimming lessons. Both pools are supported by a family changing village. In addition there is a 100 station gym, with mainly Technogym equipment, a modern group cycling studio, two large group exercise studios and a multipurpose sports hall for a wide range of activities and clubs. For families and young people, a
dedicated soft play area entertains the younger ages whilst TAGactive, a challenging gamified obstacle course develops strategic thinking, speed, agility, balance and spatial awareness. There is also a dedicated feel good suite featuring power-assisted equipment for people with limited mobility, the elderly and those managing long-term conditions. The centre offers a modern café to serve all the activity areas along with fantastic viewing areas to the pools. The whole centre is built to accommodate everyone, including those with mobility issues. The swimming areas include two ‘pool pods’ to aid accessibility and two lifts provide access between floors, and the
centre boasts changing places toilets. Councillor Peter Fleming, leader of the council at Sevenoaks District Council, added: “This new centre represents the largest public investment for Swanley in over 30 years. Designed to support everyone in the community, across their entire life journey, this facility offers a sustainable leisure provision that will be enjoyed for generations. “The pandemic has really hammered home the mental and physical benefits of an active lifestyle. “Through this investment we are committing to encouraging an active community to drive health, happiness and prosperity for all.” The centre will be managed by Everyone Active.
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YOUR Personal Training creates Hyperice Recovery Hub for hotel and leisure club YOUR Personal Training, the UK’s largest PT management company, has created a dedicated recovery hub for members of the Waterside Hotel and Leisure Club. The hub, which has been created in an unused corridor space, brings Hyperice’s specialist recovery products to its members, aiding warm up and recovery times pre and post physical activity, as well as helping people to move more freely. The Waterside’s recovery zone consists of four mats with two slimline Hyperice charging stations, with each containing two Hypervolt 2 cordless percussion handheld massage guns, two Vyper 2.0 vibrating rollers, two Hypersphere deep massage ball globes and a separate Zero Gravity Hyperice chair, as well as an informative ‘how to’ instruction poster. The equipment needs no preparation, no ice and no cords, and operates using percussion, air compression and vibration, giving muscles relief. James Lorey, operations director at YPT, said: “We’ve created a new and specialist recovery zone in an unused space that wasn’t suitable for bulky fitness machines. “We are passionate that customers of the Waterside Hotel and Leisure Club have a transformative and positive experience, every time they
visit, and the recovery hub takes this to the next level, enabling us to integrate recovery into our overall offer to the club, as part of our strategic partnership with Hyperice. “We have upskilled our PTs with a
specialist CIMSPA-endorsed CPD in warm up and recovery, educating them on the importance of recovery and how to get the best out of Hyperice technology. “Our PTs are then empowered to
run ‘recovery workshops’ for their PT clients and the wider gym community at the club. “Our PTs tell us that incorporating a recovery session in their offer differentiates their services from other fitness providers, as members are intrigued and excited by the recovery zone. It also gives our PTs a new way to engage and get chatting to potential new clients.” YOUR Personal Training and Hyperice will be rolling out the recovery hub offer to more operator partners, putting recovery front and central to their overall wellbeing vision. Alice Hulley, leisure director at Waterside Hotel and Leisure Club, added: “Recovery technology is no longer just for professional and elite athletes; it has every day benefits for our customers. “We know our members have enjoyed learning about the benefits of Hyperice from the YPT personal trainers’ free workshops, and are actively using the equipment both pre and post work outs. “For us, the Hyperice Recovery Hub ticks all the boxes; it is adding value to an unused space, our customers feel valued by the investment, and it also generates a further secondary spend, as we additionally sell Hyperice products to our customers to use at home.”
Advertiser’s announcement
Market leading equipment at a fraction of the price from RAF supplier, Pulse Fitness KITTING out a gym is an extremely costly venture; ensuring that not only is the equipment fit for the job but that it offers everything needed to fully enhance member experience. To offer a helping hand, market leaders in fitness equipment, Pulse Fitness, have launched Pulse Resale. The dedicated division offers a chance to rent or purchase high quality, pre-owned Pulse kit at a fraction of the original retail price. Quality promised As preferred equipment suppliers to the Ministry of Defence for the last eight years, the entirety of Pulse Fitness’ range of equipment is designed with quality and performance in mind.
As each piece of Pulse Resale kit undergoes an extensive service and testing process before heading out to its new home, Resale customers can trust they are receiving this same level of high quality, long lasting equipment. The same Pulse quality is embedded throughout the entire Resale customer journey. Before purchase, Pulse will guide the customer through the range and highlight the best equipment for the facility; from big to small, Pulse will deliver an equipment mix to maximise any space. Once installed, the Pulse team remain on hand for support services and will attend to any issues, with extended warranty options also available.
An extensive range Members will be delighted by the range of pre-owned, award-winning fitness equipment including free weights, functional accessories, sectorised strength lines and cardiovascular equipment that come with the option of console technology to enhance workouts. A flexible model Pulse recognises that there isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ model to fitness installations so have designed Pulse Resale to be as flexible as possible. Customers can choose to rent or purchase select pieces of kit for a timescale that suits their needs; ideal for at-home use or a start-up gym. Alternatively, customers can select from a range of pre-determined kit bundles, perfect for supplying a new facility with all of the essentials.
In good company Pulse kit has been installed in more than 30,000 facilities around the world from Buckingham Palace to the Royal Air Force, so Resale customers can rest assured they are in good company with their Resale purchase. “Pulse offered excellent assistance in planning complete refurbishments of the gym at RAF Leeming including 3D imagery to showcase potential layout of future equipment. The equipment is robust, ensuring longevity, while maintaining the specifics required for individual needs. Their engineers are always courteous and knowledgeable when installing and servicing all equipment. By far the most important aspect of Pulse Fitness is the regular face-to-face contact I’ve enjoyed throughout my dealings with them. This approach encourages contact both ways and ensures customer satisfaction with every installation.” SGT JON PARKHURT, SNCO RAF Leeming Ped Flt
“THE CAMPAIGN BOOSTED OUR
MONTHLY DIRECT DEBIT INCOME BY OVER £5,000 PER MONTH” Rena Health & Leisure, Tower Bridge.
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Core digitalises gym experience with Advagym by Sony CORE Health & Fitness, an innovative fitness company known for five of the most recognisable brands in the industry, has announced a partnership with Sony to offer the Advagym digital platform to their customers. Advagym brings an easy-to-use digital platform to fitness facilities to make tracking workout data simpler than ever before. Wireless sensors can be connected to Nautilus strength machines, Star Trac and StairMaster cardio equipment, Schwinn group cycle bikes, or attached in desired zones of the gym, to share information and content, guide the member experience and provide owners and operators with detailed
gym utilisation data. Paired with a user-friendly app, Advagym takes the connected fitness experience to the next level for members, trainers and staff. “Connecting with members and clients is critical, and the right tools can make all the difference,” said Travis Vaughan, senior director of product at Core Health & Fitness. “Advagym allows us to provide a facility with the opportunity for engagement between facility, trainer, and member, across the entire facility floor. “This ultimately drives results, member satisfaction, and retention.” The Advagym database uses a cloud server to log data in real-time while interacting with its users.
Using Advagym technology, members can record their workouts, save their favourite exercises for future use, and view workout history. Advagym also encourages trainers to use the digital platform to engage with members (regardless of location) and create training programs that can be shared without difficulty. This not only enhances the overall fitness experience; it also helps with member retention and engaging new clients. “Trainers love the way the app allows them to connect with members and allows instant feedback on their strength workouts” Rod Hill, president of énergie Fitness said of Advagym at his facility.
“The ease of use and puck scanning application has opened up a whole new world of opportunities to track members’ strength performance which is a massive growth trend and people understand more and more about the benefits of a regular strength training programs and how it benefits many areas of their lives.” With Advagym, facility owners and operators will also receive detailed gym utilisation data that can be used to make data-driven decisions about their facility The web-based admin tool provides valuable insights about machine usage and exerciser preferences, which also helps trainers understand the members’ needs.
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UK FITNESS SCENE
ukactive raises concerns as energy costs double for gyms, pools and leisure centres ukactive has raised concerns with Government about the threat to the nation’s health and wellbeing as gyms, pools and leisure facilities report facing an energy bill hike of up to 150 per cent. The energy crisis has hit the fitness and leisure sector at a time when facilities are still recovering from major losses incurred during forced closures and reduced footfall caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Using evidence gathered from operators across the public and private sectors, ukactive estimates that combined gas and electricity costs for 2022 will increase by 100 per cent compared to 2019 (the last full operating year, pre-pandemic). The findings show that larger operators, such as facilities with swimming pools, will face an increase of up to 150 per cent. ukactive estimates that the total financial cost of rising energy bills for the whole sector this financial year will reach between £1billion and £1.25billion – up from around £500m in 2019. In a letter to the Chancellor, ukactive CEO Huw Edwards warned that without support, many operators would be forced to increase prices, reduce services or, in the worst scenario, close facilities, meaning that millions of users and thousands of sports clubs will ultimately suffer. He said: “The Government should be extremely concerned about both
the health and economic impact of the energy crisis on fitness and leisure operators. “Rising energy costs will have a disproportionate impact on our sector, particularly larger, energy-intensive gyms and leisure centres with swimming pools, which are now at major risk of closure. “Our members will want to avoid passing on these cost pressures to their customers, especially given the rise in the cost of living, but this might become unavoidable.
“These facilities are crucial to supporting the delivery of Government’s ambitions around ‘levelling up’ which contain ambitious targets for both health life expectancy and wellbeing. “They support tens of millions of people to be active each week, so their protection should be a priority. “Furthermore, we don’t want to see a situation where vital community facilities continue to struggle to operate while we prepare to host the Commonwealth Games this summer. “Such a situation would no doubt cast
a shadow over the Games themselves, raising difficult questions with regards the legacy value of hosting such an event.” While recognising that the fluctuation in energy prices remains difficult to address, ukactive calls on the Government to provide two key areas of support that are in its control to help the sector: n A VAT exemption – provided to other sectors during the Covid-19 pandemic – finally extended to gyms. This would help ease some of the costs pressures they’re facing, including a resolution to commercial rent arrears, that sees a fair ‘sharing of the burden’ between commercial tenants and landlords. n Local and Central Government to work with public leisure operators to not only address the short-term financial pressures they face – exacerbated by running swimming pools – but come up with a long-term strategy to keep them open. ukactive’s evidence is supported by a separate survey of public leisure trusts from Community Leisure UK which revealed an average energy bill of £3.2m per organisation in 2022, representing a 113% increase compared to an average cost in 2019 of £1.5m. CLUK also found that due to the high energy consumption of swimming pools, there would need to be a subsidy of £5 per visit in order to meet rising operating costs for 2022-23.
Freedom Leisure to achieve first Net Zero leisure centre by 2023 FREEDOM Leisure has announced the launch of its Environmental and Sustainability Commitments, targeting net zero across its operation by 2030. These commitments demonstrate the ongoing focus the award-winning leisure trust has on its environmental performance and how it continues to build on its past successes. Freedom Leisure will achieve net zero at its first leisure centre and its support hub in Sussex by March 2023, with its first swimming centre being net zero by 2024. Freedom Leisure is the first leisure operator in the sector to announce such ambitious targets. Leisure centres can contribute as much as 40 per cent of a council’s carbon footprint and Freedom Leisure is actively playing its part in helping its local authority partners to realise their net zero targets. Freedom Leisure is committed to working with its local authority partners, customers and, crucially, its staff teams to achieve these ambitious targets. A robust sustainability culture is already embedded into the organisation, with the senior
leadership team at the not-for-profit trust prioritising environmental management and sustainability as a core business objective in its medium-term plan. Ambitious targets have been set to reduce carbon in all its leisure centres and supply chain, reduce waste, increase recycling while adopting renewable energy sources.
CEO Ivan Horsfall Turner said: “Through these commitments we aim to play our part in reducing emissions and contributing to the global target. “We acknowledge that we cannot do this in isolation and are committed to supporting and working alongside our partners in the public sector, as well as our
suppliers and customers to ensure that through a collective journey we make this happen.” To strengthen its focus Freedom Leisure recently announced the appointment of Angela Brown as sustainability and environmental manager who will play a key role in driving the sustainability and environmental efforts in over 100 leisure facilities across England and Wales. Angela added: “To reach our net zero target, we have developed our commitments to accelerate our pace and scale so that we meet, if not surpass, our ambitious environmental targets. “Our core business of supporting healthy lifestyles goes beyond just people’s physical activity goals but extends to our communities and the environment. It is therefore becoming crucial for us to do everything we can to play our part in tackling the global climate crisis.” Freedom Leisure has already been recognised for its achievements to date winning the National Energy Managers Partnership Award in 2021 and has been shortlisted in the National Energy Efficiency Awards.
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Operator completes Whitefield club refurb to help improve experience HEALTH club chain Total Fitness has completed a full state of the art refurbishment of its Whitefield club. The £190,000 makeover has created a new cardio focused area as well as an improved gym floor and weights area. Kim Turner, general manager for Total Fitness Whitefield, said: “Our club has always been somewhere that members can focus on improving their health and reaching fitness goals, and now, through the improvements we’ve made, our members have an even better opportunity to do this.” The work is part of an ongoing focus from Total Fitness to offer its members
the best fitness and health experience. Replacing gym equipment has created a dedicated functional zone, as well as giving members more space to work out and focus on their fitness goals. The investment made has transformed one of the original class studios into a cardio hub that includes 70 pieces of equipment, TVs, new flooring, and functional lighting. The cardio area is now situated away from the main gym floor, allowing members to focus on reaching their cardio goals in a new designated area. In addition to the new cardio area, the main gym floor has undergone a full
refurbishment which includes a new rubber floor for the free weights area, alongside new free weights benches. Targeted equipment is now available for members including a glute bridge bench, new sled track, dumbbell sets and four new power racks. The lower gym floor, which previously housed a small family gym and cardio equipment, is now home to a multifunctional gym space. The new functional rig and kit includes kettlebells, slam balls, weight racks, sand bags and jump platforms. Throughout the Whitefield club, the interior has had a refresh making it a
Advertiser’s announcement
clean, enticing space for members to work out and improve their fitness. Paul McNicholas, operations manager at Total Fitness, added: “We are passionate about providing our members with the best facilities and equipment we can, so it’s fantastic that we have been able to completely refurbish the Whitefield club and improve our offering to its members. “We want to ensure the club creates usable and effective fitness spaces for every member, and redesigning the layout, replacing the equipment and refreshing the overall look of the club has enabled us to do this.”
Carbis Bay Hotel answers customer demand with luxury suite from Matrix Fitness CARBIS Bay Hotel, a luxurious coastal retreat with a privately owned 24-acre Blue Flag beach and is renowned for its impeccable service, fine food, superb spa facilities and recently hosting the GR7 Summit in June. Having become a popular request from guests, Carbis Bay Hotel has partnered with Matrix Fitness to install a high-end gym facility in keeping with the quality expectations of the whole estate, a brand-new addition to the current offering. On the new fitness provision, Stephen Baker, managing director at Carbis Bay Hotel, said: “This is our first gym offering and it is something that has become important to guests in recent years. “With the expansion and upgrading of our spa facilities, this was the perfect time for us to add a gym, and Matrix Fitness were the ideal partner to take a fitness facility to the highest level.” With the fitness studio located within the luxury spa, guests can work out then recover and restore in luxury.
“We have had fantastic feedback on the new fitness suite from both guests and staff” Stephen Baker explains. “It’s the perfect addition to the estate for guests that like to keep up their fitness regime, whilst away from home. “These fantastic new facilities have enhanced our current offering and ensured that we remain a prestigious destination on the Cornish coast.” The Matrix Fitness teams helped with design and graphic support, whilst the installation included the latest cardio range from the Matrix Fitness Portfolio, the Performance Plus Touch, created for exceptional workouts in the world’s finest fitness facilities, the Performance Series provides an unmatched cardio experience. The WiFi-enabled Touch Console features an appbased interface that mirrors familiar smartphone and tablet operating systems, making it easy for guests to connect to the content that keeps them motivated.
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Live Health and Fitness opens a new 24-hour gym in Ramsbottom What is the background of the club/ family? Charlotte Thorpe: The Ramsbottom site was found towards the end of 2021 after lots of discussions about opening a site in the beautiful rural area. This was a family project with lots of involvement and co-ordination with the builders to bring the vision to life. What will you be offering differently to other clubs around Ramsbottom (this could also include individual offerings ie physio etc)? Charlotte: The main differences will be the range of cardio and strength equipment that is available 24 hours. We offer saunas, private parking and a good variety of classes within the dance studio, supplements, full changing room facilities, a large spin studio and all available to book through our app technology that is offered to all our members.
Will you be catering for all abilities and what classes will you be offering to your members? Charlotte: All our classes are suitable for everyone and at all levels of fitness, the classes include: Studio cycling, Hiit, Hiit Step, Yoga, Pilates, Live pump, Zumba, Upper body, Live core. How will you be marketing to ensure you hit your target membership? Charlotte: By using promotions videos via social media, our website and local branding that includes banners on the main road.
What is the age range of your members and do you offer specific age group classes, if so what are they? Charlotte: With a minimum age of 16 the club has members now ranging from 16 to our eldest member that is 80.
How will you communicate to your members? Charlotte: All our members are informed of the latest classes and social functions via email and social media and we will be creating monthly get togethers so the members become part of the family.
Why did you choose Force Fitness to partner with? Charlotte: We chose Force Fitness to partner us on the launch of the club due to the quality of the equipment they provide and their years of experience and knowledge in the fitness industry, they helped us design the club from a shell and gave us advice throughout. Would you recommend Force Fitness to other clubs and if so what would be the most important features? Charlotte: We cannot recommend them enough and will us them again on our next project, true
professionals that delivered on time.
How is the re-launching/ new launch going now that the Government restrictions have been ceased? Charlotte: We are delighted that normality has returned and it is great to see all the members in the gym doing what they enjoy and staying healthy, the atmosphere is very friendly and we are taking on new members daily Where do you see the club in three years and what plans do you have going forward? Charlotte: We see the club massively expanding its members over the coming years and we have already started to increase the car parking spaces so we can accommodate the huge interest in the club, we look forward to the club becoming a part of the local community and a hub for creating well-being and friendships.
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Advertiser’s announcement
Excelsior to become UK’s first Precision Nutrition partner Fitness and Nutrition education all in one place EXCELSIOR Development Technologies, leader in learning and development across the fitness industry; has partnered with Precision Nutrition, the world’s largest online nutrition and healthy lifestyle coaching and certification company, to provide their existing digital learners with certificates and qualifications specifically on the subject of nutrition. Since 2005, PN has provided health and fitness professionals with the education, tools, and coaching they need to improve client results, and drive business growth. The PN Level 1 Nutrition Certification is the number one recommended nutrition coaching certification by health, nutrition, and fitness professionals and the leader in customer satisfaction. PN’s portfolio of nutrition education products also include PN Level 2 Master Health Coaching Certification, PN Academy, Specialized Courses and Advanced Certificates, and ProCoach—the company’s proprietary client-management software and behavior-change coaching tool. PN sells their education direct or through resellers and Excelsior will be the first UK reseller for the brand. Chris Rock, co-founder of Excelsior, said: “PN is the largest, most respected private nutrition coaching and education company in the
world and we’re proud to say that our values are very much aligned in creating exceptional learning experiences. We are constantly evolving and updating our platform with new features for learning and business management such as payment, marketing, scheduling and sharing to create an empowering all in one solution.”
Jason Crowe, VP of partnerships and business development for PN, added: “Excelsior is delivering revolutionary learning experiences to the health and wellness industry and together, we will be able to help health and fitness professionals in the UK gain the credentials and confidence needed to coach nutrition and deliver sustainable results to their
clients.” Excelsior boasts over 30 years experience in teaching and coaching effective management strategies to fitness professionals around the world and with the introduction of their latest digital learning platform ‘learner’, this partnership will add strength to their offering and attract new customers for PN.
learn. empower. grow. learner is a health, wellness and fitness specific learning management system either preloaded with professional development content or customizable with your own brand and education. learner also features several business management tools that enable easy payment, marketing, scheduling and sharing for an all in one solution that empowers business owners and users alike. For more information on how to up-skill your team and create a unique learner management system in just a few simple steps contact chris@edt.education
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Outdoor Fitness Concepts partners with Munroe K for first of its kind outdoor training park OUTDOOR Fitness Concepts has partnered with Munroe K, owners and operators of the White Rose Park in Leeds, which incorporates a mix of office, commercial and educational assets. The partnership will see Outdoor Fitness Concepts deliver its turn-key outdoor Training Parks® solution to the park’s 28-acre estate, the first of its kind for a UK commercial office campus. The Training Park will form part of the ongoing commitment made by Munroe K to consistently design an environment where the 5,000 plus on-site employees can thrive, and which contributes to the
long-term improvement of their health and well-being. Jonathan Shires, White Rose Park general manager, said “We are really pleased to be partnering with OFC to create our outdoor training facility. The team has taken the time to understand our needs and have designed a space which we can’t wait to deliver to everyone in the spring. “The Training Park follows our partnership with hero Wellbeing in 2021. We believe the combination of the White Rose Park Navigator wellness app and the new Training Park offers everyone at
White Rose Park the opportunity to lead a healthier lifestyle. “We spent a long time searching for the right mix of equipment in order to make the area truly accessible to all on site and we’re confident there’s something for everyone in the designs Steve and the team has created for us.” The new Training Park will feature commercial outdoor fixed variable load strength machines, fixed calisthenics and functional equipment. A converted 20ft shipping container with roller shutter door will provide wheelchair users access via a ramp to a
Hoist multi-use functional trainer. A Cybex Sparc and Hoist Lemond Elite bike will complete the line up and provide a cardio capability, the addition of a 145 square metre canopy with lighting, will fully convert the space to an all year, all weather, 24-7 training space. Steve Perrins, founder and CEO of Outdoor Fitness Concepts, added: “It’s been a real pleasure working with Jonathan and the team at White Rose Park to help them realise their vision of a year round outdoor training facility and we are very much looking forward to delivering the project.”
UK FITNESS SCENE
Foxhills bringing fitness to the forefront with UK-first BodyScan360 collaboration FOXHILLS Club and Resort has teamed up with one of the most innovative UK-based health optimisation companies, BodyScan360, to provide its members with world class health and wellbeing insight and advice. Using state-of-the-art equipment, BodyScan360’s mission is to enhance health and fitness levels within the Foxhills membership in just three steps, starting with the use of Multiscan Pro screening technology – a non-invasive, innovative health and wellness tool. After the scan, which takes just a few minutes, Foxhills members will then be provided with a range of evidence-based lifestyle recommendations. They can then be rescanned and track their physical wellbeing on a regular basis, leaving them with an in-depth understanding of their body’s needs and overall health status. This partnership marks BodyScan360’s first venture into UK golf and country clubs. No other club in the UK currently offers this exclusive service to its members and Foxhills is delighted to be the first in the world to do so. Chris Fitt, director of golf and leisure at Foxhills, said: “It’s a great opportunity for Foxhills to be the first golf and country club partnership for BodyScan360. Our members take their health and wellbeing very seriously and this is a unique and
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cutting-edge way for them to finetune their fitness goals. “This partnership couldn’t have launched at a more pivotal time of year, when so many have started a new diet and exercise regime and looking to improve their health with resolutions and targets. “One of our aims is to be at the forefront of what we can offer as a service. Health has never been more important, and we want to support our members and guests with their wellbeing, in every sense of the word.” The Multiscan Pro system is a combination of four different technologies, which combine to obtain a physical, detailed analysis of the body. In the UK, this technology is relatively new and is not available on the NHS. Foxhills is set on a picturesque 400-acre estate in Ottershaw, Surrey. In addition to strengthening the resort’s reputation as a family-friendly leisure destination, Foxhills has expanded its sporting facilities far beyond the exceptional golf offering that it renowned for as it continues to cater for the diverse interests of its members and visitors. Alongside the two 18-hole championship golf courses, Foxhills offers a state-of-the-art gym, award-winning health spa, four swimming pools, 11 tennis courts, a packed schedule of weekly fitness classes, three unique restaurants and a hotel.
Myzone to help develop new outdoor concept MYZONE is kicking off a new partnership with Farm Fitness as its official heart rate monitor partner for its outdoor and soon-to-open indoor training facility. Myzone will use its heart rate zone technology to create a fair playing field for all members of the Farm Fitness community to compete. With a diverse audience of aged seven years old to over 60, the importance of rewarding effort and not ability is key to Farm Fitness’ inclusive community atmosphere. “We’re excited to see the adoption of Myzone by Farm Fitness to help continue growing and engaging its community,” said David Stalker, CEO of Myzone EMEA. “Knowing their team’s resolution to keep members motivated and to provide the greatest sense of community possible, this new partnership with Myzone creates an idyllic addition to this unique fitness site.” Installing a large screen within the facilities will allow all Farm Fitness members to recognise, in real time, the effort that they’re putting in, both indoors and out. While also allowing founder Tom and his team to
empathise with each member during their workout and embracing the community’s competitive side by gamifying their workout experience. “We have chosen to incorporate Myzone into Farm Fitness to further allow us to engage with our members
both in and out of our classes,” added Tom Kemp, Farm Fitness founder. “Community is at the heart of our ethos, and we believe that through the introduction of Myzone, we can enhance the team camaraderie experienced by our members, visitors and annual competitors.” To celebrate the set-up of Myzone within the facility, Myzone trainer Billy Burchett will host an exclusive Farm Fitness Cardio Club at the outdoor site at 8.30am on March 5. All Myzone members will be able to join Billy and the Farm Fitness community via the Myzone app. Following this event there is going to be a competitive three-part fitness series ‘Functional vs Obstacle, powered by Myzone’. Farm Fitness and its functional fitness community will go head-to-head with Rumble’s obstacle course racing team, in three unique challenges that will push both teams to their competitive limits. n April 3 round #1 – Functional Fitness @ Farm Fitness. n April 24 round #2 – OCR Time Trial @ Rumble. n May 29 round #3 – Turf Games ‘The Engine’ @ Farm Fitness.
BOX12 goes global with Fitness Time Saudi BOX12 by Hatton Boxing offers a range of boxing for fitness solutions, using the latest technology to optimise your members training experience. BOX12 and Fitness Time Saudi have agreed a significant 68 club roll out of the BOX12 in club solution. After a successful trial across seven clubs the BOX12 in club solution provides Fitness Time with a designated, club in club, technology led, boxing fitness offering. This enables Fitness Time to run an automatous and continuous rolling circuit, and the ability to run classes thus providing the versatility to optimise gym space, while consistently delivering a best-in-class boxing for fitness member experience. Jamie Cartwright and Jon Eade, owners of BOX12, said: ‘’ Our industry
has taken a beating over the last couple of years, and we felt that as much as anyone launching BOX12 only two months prior to the first lockdown. “This only motivated us to adapt and create a portfolio of products that enabled us to grow the business in the most challenging of circumstances. “We are proud to now have secured this partnership with Fitness Time and look forward to it developing over the coming years.” In addition to the in-club solution Fitness Time has also purchased a significant number of BOX12 PODs. The versatile and space efficient PODs will allow Fitness Time to strategically place them throughout their estate on gym floors and in studios.
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Advertiser’s announcement
Third generation of UK Leisure Framework will help to drive physical activity The extension of the UK Leisure Framework will help local authorities deliver modern and viable health and fitness facilities across the UK. Alliance Leisure has secured the extension of its tenure as Lead Development Contractor on the UK Leisure Framework, which is managed by Denbighshire Leisure, meaning it can help even more public sector providers to deliver fitness, sport and leisure facilities that meet local need and drive physical activity. The next four years will see Alliance Leisure work in partnership with Denbighshire Leisure and an appointed supply chain to deliver a committed pipeline of leisure focused projects with a current investment value of more than £250m, with many more projects yet to be agreed.
What is the UK Leisure Framework? Owned and managed by Denbighshire Leisure Limited, the UK Leisure Framework is designed to make it easier and more cost-effective for public sector leisure providers to scope, develop and deliver leisure developments. As the Lead Development Contractor for the Framework, Alliance Leisure provides public sector leisure providers with an end-to-end leisure development solution which supports all elements contributing to a successful, sustainable development including design, business planning, funding, construction and marketing. As the only framework in the country to be entirely focused on leisure, all suppliers working through the Framework are appointed based on their leisure experience, suitability and credentials. This creates huge opportunities to apply best practice learnings born out of years of experience and practical application. What type of projects are delivered under the Framework? There is no such thing as a typical project delivered by the UK Leisure Framework. Open to all UK local authorities and many other public sector bodies, the Framework has delivered 58 projects with a total investment value of around
Key Framework Facts
Who owns the UK Leisure Framework: Denbighshire Leisure Ltd Lead Development Contractor: Alliance Leisure Number of developments delivered to date: 58 Value of completed projects: £75m Value of committed projects: £250m+ Number of New Build Developments: 4 Total value of the new UKLF: £2bn For more information visit www.leisureframework.co.uk £74m to date. The current UK Leisure Framework has a total investment value of £2bn. Projects completed under the Framework have ranged from a £200,000 single community 3G pitch to enable year-round play to the multi-million pound transformation of entire leisure stock portfolios. Whatever the value of the project, the focus of the Framework is always on delivering community value allowing local authorities to provide the right mix of facilities in the right locations to meet the needs of local residents. Crucially, the Framework allows public sector providers to think more creatively about the products and services they provide, offer the latest fitness trends from immersive group cycling studios to outdoor gyms and adapt their provision to ensure they remain relevant to their target audience, while generating a return on their investment. What are the benefits of using the Framework? Public sector leisure providers are operating in an extremely challenging environment, thanks to years of austerity, Brexit, a global pandemic and the current events in Eastern Europe. All of these factors create uncertainty meaning some local authorities are reluctant to invest in a non-statutory service like leisure. Yet, now more than ever, we
understand the importance of physical activity for the nation’s mental health and physical wellbeing. At the same time, the pandemic has highlighted the inequalities that exist in accessing facilities and programmes. The UK Leisure Framework helps to mitigate the risk of investment making it easier for public sector providers to refurbish, redevelop and renew their tired leisure stock to prevent them from becoming a drain on resources. Working with experts in leisure regeneration and maximising efficiencies at every stage of the development helps to ensure the finished project delivers against desired outcomes and creates income-generating opportunities which drive sustainability. With more than 20 years of leisure development experience, Alliance Leisure work with local authorities to develop the right solution to meet the unique needs of their local communities. All design and facility mix decisions result from comprehensive, evidencebased feasibility studies, meaning the resulting project gives the community what it wants and needs, while helping local authorities to meet income targets. Above all, it helps local authorities to deliver health, fitness, sport and leisure schemes that break down barriers to inclusion and engagement, tackle health inequalities and bring economic, health and social benefits to local communities.
What do public sector providers think of it? “The cost certainty element of the UK Leisure Framework meant we had absolute clarity on costs that would be incurred by the proposed capital investment. “This was hugely helpful in achieving project sign off. “Throughout the project, Alliance Leisure worked in partnership with us - from concept to completion, helping to ensure the achievement of desired outcomes. “The leisure development expertise they brought to the table was central to the success of our investment.” Malcolm Fleming, Programme Manager, West Suffolk Council “The UK Leisure Framework gives a high degree of confidence. The Framework has been procured in accordance with EU Regulations and has been extensively tendered. “It facilitated a direct appointed of Alliance Leisure for scoping the design, refurbishment and construction of our leisure projects. “The project teams that we have worked with from the architects through to builders were exceptional and really understood the leisure environment. “We have surpassed our initial business objectives for the projects both financially and in terms of usage. Customer and employee feedback on the projects have been fantastic.” Kieron Vango, CEO at Inverclyde Leisure “Other localised Frameworks could have offered us support to construct the physical building but we needed wider leisure expertise to create an experience that would truly engage visitors, adding to their experience and encouraging them to spend whilst on site. “I am pleased to say that the decision has been unequivocally the right one. “The centre is performing well, welcoming a record number of visitors and generating new income streams that will support the centre’s sustainability for years to come.” Ian Jones, Head of Leisure, Carmarthenshire County Council
UK FITNESS SCENE Advertiser’s announcement
AREA7 Alliance Leisure Services created a state-of-the-art outdoor fitness area at Redditch’s Abbey Stadium. The new fitness area, called AREA7, caters for up to 30 people per session. It features the latest equipment including a rig for pull-ups, an Olympic lifting platform, Concept 2 bikes, a sled, battle ropes and diametric workout equipment. The area is partly covered to provide training in all weathers, while the sides of the structure are open to give the sensation of training outside.
Chard Leisure Centre Built as part of The Chard Regeneration Project with an investment of £16.5m, the new Chard Leisure Centre is designed to 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. The two storey centre incorporates a 25m swimming pool and separate training pool with wet facilities; an indoor Adventure Play Area, a fully equipped gym, a fitness studio, a group cycling studio, plus a lounge and café. The site has excellent accessibility, including a Changing Places facility, ensuring as many people can benefit from this significant investment in community provision.
Duncan Edwards Leisure Centre The £18m Duncan Edwards Leisure Centre opened in January 2022 as part of the near £1bn Dudley regeneration programme, which is set to transform White Oak Leisure Centre Dudley town centre over the next decade. The new Representing the largest public investment for venue offers a 25m, eight-lane swimming pool and a Swanley in over 30 years, the new £20m White Oak teaching pool with spectator provision. A four-court Leisure Centre launched in February 2022 to replace sports hall is suitable for indoor football, badminton an inefficient centre of the same name built in the and more, while other facilities include a 100-station 1960s. The new activity hub incorporates two pools gym and fitness suite, two group exercise studios – a 25m, six lane pool with an adjustable height and the first immersive cycle studio in the area. A floor plus a learner pool – supported by a family wellness suite featuring power-assisted equipment changing village. In addition there is a 100 station from Shapemaster provides specialist support gym, featuring mainly Technogym equipment, a for those recovering from injury, older customers virtual group cycling studio, two large group exercise and those living with long-term health conditions. studios and a multi-purpose sports hall. Other Alliance Leisure has also refurbished Crystal Leisure facilities include a Feel Good Suite, soft play area and Centre and is working on phase two of the multia TAGactive game-based indoor obstacle course for million pound redevelopment of Halesowen Leisure kids, teens and adults Centre as part of Dudley’s regeneration scheme.
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UK FITNESS SCENE
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How to choose the right direct debit collections agency for your gym By Wayne Heath
THERE are many benefits to using Direct Debits at your club. They help generate a recurring income, they’re convenient for your members and it means that you can relax safe in the knowledge that you’ll be getting paid every month. However, finding a reliable collections service is a whole other matter. There are many organisations out there that aren’t clear about their service, resulting in more stress for the gym owner. Before you know it, you’ll be tied into a contract and paying high fees for an unsatisfactory service level. We’ve put together five key things you should think about to empower you in choosing the right Direct Debit Collections service for your club. Read reviews One of the first things you should check is their company reviews. TrustPilot and Capterra are good places to start, but see what people are saying on social media too. It’s a good way to read honest, unfiltered experiences that others have had with the organisation in question. A quick Google search will tell you everything you need to know; lookout for red flags such as poor customer service or hard to reach customer support services.
Wayne Heath
collecting money will only result in bad PR and an even lower chance of retaining the customer.
After all, this company will be managing your money, so a little due diligence goes a long way. Determine how intuitive the collections service is In an age where technology is more advanced than ever, you should expect your direct debit collections to be fast and seamless with minimal disruption to your members. That money should be paid into your account quickly and easily. How fast can the collections agency collect money and have it paid into your bank account? How intuitive is their service? Can the collections agency collect a Direct Debit at a time when the member is most likely to have enough money in their accounts? Something we hear a lot is Direct Debit collections agencies taking days (or sometimes weeks) to create a DD for a membership plan; meaning their slow process is going to hamper your business. The more time you spend waiting for them to do the work, the more likely you are to lose the membership sale. This doesn’t have to be something you just accept. ClubRight and GoCardless are integrated so that you can create a membership plan and start selling it within minutes. It means you can be more in control of your products and maximise sales opportunities. What does their portal look like
from your member’s point of view? It’s no secret that a solid brand identity is vital to your club’s success, but the same applies to your payments provider. Is it a separate portal that your members have to visit? Does the online joining URL look like something your customers would expect to see? Seeing an unknown third-party company in the URL of a ‘Enter Your Payment Details’ page doesn’t inspire confidence for your customer. As an example, ClubRight always makes sure that your company name is at the start of your online joining URL so that your customers see exactly what they expect to see and feel safe entering sensitive payment information. Do their company ethos and policies match yours? Some collection agencies offer varying degrees of debt collection. If debt collection is one of your musthaves, make sure you understand the ethos and the policies that your selected collections service operate on. They’re representing your business, so they should conduct themselves as such. If they have an unsympathetic and almost aggressive approach to chasing missed payments, it’ll give your business a bad name in your local area. More often than not, a hard and hostile approach to
Are you in control of your funds? Perhaps the most important thing to assess is whether you’re truly in control of your money. No collections service should be withholding funds from you or making it difficult for you to get paid. This includes charging hidden fees and deceptive pricing. You should know exactly what you’re paying and the level of service you can expect. Does the collections agency charge for failed payments, even though they haven’t successfully collected the money? Is the money collected ring-fenced by the collections agency? Ringfencing protects your money and guarantees that it can’t be spent in other places by the provider. A lack of ring-fencing means that the money your members have paid might never end up in your bank account. Surprisingly, several well-known collections agencies are not ring-fenced, so make sure you have clarity on how your money is protected. To summarise, don’t be afraid to ask the questions we’ve discussed. A good Direct Debit collections agency will be able to answer each one in detail and put your mind at ease when it comes to collecting money. Look out for any red flags that might suggest poor practice or low collection rates. Most importantly, remember that Direct Debits should make your life as a gym owner easier, not harder! ClubRight works closely with GoCardless to bring you a flexible Direct Debit solution that cuts through payments admin and keeps your members coming back for more. Offer flexible payment options, sign up new members in minutes and enjoy super low fees that will keep your rates competitive – all from within ClubRight. Our product experts are on hand to assist with whatever you need. Give us a call on +44 (0)203 884 9777 or book your FREE online demo today.
UK FITNESS SCENE
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Advertiser’s announcement
Gym Tech takes its customer experience to new heights GYM Tech has taken customer service to a new height by recently installing 30 Versaclimbers into Europe’s largest vertical village. It was most undoubtedly one of the company’s hardest challenges, but the whole team is delighted to have been part of the project. Andy Toplass, managing director of Gym Tech, said: “At 500 feet high, BXR City is the highest nonresidential club in London. “I am both delighted to have won the contract to install the Versaclimbers and proud of my team for the professional service we provided to deliver on time.
“Gym Tech prides itself on delivering a full turn key solution for the fitness equipment industry within the commercial sector to ensure a reliable, efficient and grade A customer journey.” Gym Tech brings together a unique mix of services to the fitness equipment industry. Driven by innovation, quality and value our experience in equipment installation, repairs, servicing and relocation is supported by experts from our industry daily. We carry out repairs on a vast array of fitness equipment manufacturers with all aspects covered within the
CV and strength ranges to ensure the highest of standards is met when repairs are undertaken. Utilising skilled craftsmen while maintaining value for money is our key objective to ensure the repairs are carried out in the most efficient manner. Gym Tech’s preventative maintenance programme is designed to keep your equipment working safely and efficiently, therefore in turn “will reduce” the frequency of repairs between scheduled visits. Our service engineers will visit your facility on a regular scheduled interval to perform all recommended service
checks applicable. This programme will increase the lifespan of your equipment and the down time on the machines is greatly reduced. Throughout the UK we are experts at planning all types of gym equipment installations irrespective of quantity, location or access restrictions and along with this a guarantee of minimal disruption to your members. To arrange a quote for any of your requirements please call Andy on 07957 240140 or email service@gym-tech.uk.com
REPAIRS SERVICE MAINTENANCE INSTALLATIONS RELOCATION OF EQUIPMENT Full “Turn key” solution’s for the Commercial and Domestic Fitness Equipment Industry www.gym-tech.uk.com service@gym-tech.uk.com 07957 240 140
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07/04/2022 13:10
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UK FITNESS SCENE Advertiser’s announcement
State of Change Boutique Studio in London partners with Panatta fitness equipment THIS very exclusive boutique Personal Training Studio rises up in the heart of London from the passion and vision of Davide Nuzzo, an Italian trainer living in London who decided to invest in 100 per cent Made In Italy fitness equipment from Panatta for his PT studio. The singular design combined with an underground-styled studio perfectly matches with the Panatta custom-made equipment ethos. Panatta enables clients to customize the fitness equipment with more than 2,000 colours combination in frame and upholstery. The underground atmosphere and highest biomechanics and adjustability for more users are the key elements for unforgettable training experience at State of Change. Davide Nuzzo, owner and CEO, said: “With my goals of creating a unique space with the very best equipment and function , I always knew what brand I should partner with to
achieve this, we have been working alongside for four years to find the space could suite the quality and elegance of Panatta equipment, not only because I’m Italian! “The build quality and custom finish enabled me to create the unique vibe of S.o.C boutique studio in London. Panatta equipment adjustability and true movements allows my team to deliver the very best results transformations for our clients. The perfect partnership!”
Panatta Srl Born six decades ago from the passion of Rudi Panatta, the company has its roots in the origins of the physical culture. Made in Italy, perfect joint biomechanics, technology and high quality are in the Panatta DNA. The success of our brand in the world comes from the total control of the development cycle and of the productive process of each single machine, whose stages
are completely inside the company. Panatta presents one of the widest range of equipment on the market for all the sectors, age target and kind of training. More than 2000 colour combinations and a custom-made production that make each machine unique and exclusive. Those who choose Panatta decide to trust history, tradition and biomechanics excellence completely Made In Italy.
Panatta Srl – Via Madonna della Fonte 3/c , Apiro (MC) Italy +39 0733611824 infouk@panattasport.it @panattasport @panattaofficial
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25/03/2022 07:54
UK FITNESS SCENE
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Advertiser’s announcement
The secrets to Gavin’s successful gym launch WHEN he joined Fitness Marketing Agency in 2018, Gavin was paying rent to run his business from within a bigger fitness centre but was searching for his own facility. FMA initially helped him to grow his client base and at the same time the perfect venue became available, but the Covid-19 pandemic hit, this presented Gavin with a new challenge. Assisted by FMA and with a great team behind him, Gavin pushed forwards with his new gym launch, capitalising on the increasing concern over health and fitness across the country. Launching his new gym on April 12, 2021, Gavin already had 100 sign ups for a 30-day trial before the doors even opened. At 4.5000 square foot and featuring
several coaching areas for team training, an InBody machine, yoga studio, massage rooms and an education space, Gavin’s new facility was perfect. This, combined with his hard work and determination, led to a 100 per cent conversion rate and all his trialists renewing. There are three key reasons for Gavin’s success: 1. Didn’t stagnate When Covid hit, Gavin could have easily let fear get in the way and put his preparations on hold, but he didn’t. Instead, he took a calculated risk to keep things moving regardless of the narrative in the mainstream media or government restrictions. Gavin used the downtime during lockdown to keep grafting, knowing full well there was a
newfound demand for coached services and helping people with their physical and mental health. Too many businesses wait to turn their marketing on until after the facility is ready, but while the builders were doing their thing, Gavin was getting paying clients on board in preparation for the launch. 2. Not afraid of spending to make money In life and business, nothing is guaranteed, and Gavin knew that he had to spend money on advertisements to grow his business with speed and certainty. It’s true that there are hundreds of different ways to market a business and techniques like referrals, direct messages, and posting content on social media are all well and good, but nothing beats the predictability of
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paid marketing (as long as you have a process that converts and works). Using FMA’s Fitness Funnel Framework, Gavin was able to generate more than £16,000 front-end revenue from a £4,500 ad spend during a six-week period. 3. Budgeting for success Gavin went all in with his facility, he budgeted effectively so he could open his dream facility with everything he could possibly need. Far too many fitness business owners will hold back from investing in their gyms and make sporadic improvements, taking a long time to bring their facilities up to scratch and meet the demands of clients. Gavin didn’t do that – he decided to go all in from the start and create a perfect facility from the get go.
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See inside the magazine (which we’ll post to you for free) how 28 UK and Irish Fitness Entrepreneurs converted their fitness business to a highly leveraged business model, with more freedom, profits and happiness.
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UK FITNESS SCENE
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Advertiser’s announcement
Technogym Ride: the first indoor bike connected to the most popular apps Bespoke professional training sessions for cyclists and triathletes, now on the gym floor with Technogym Ride all-in-one bike THERE are tens of millions of cyclists in the world, including 50 million in the United States alone. They all dream of riding their bike on Alpe d’Huez, in the Dolomites, or Icelandic highlands. Technogym Ride is the first bike featuring a 22-inch screen that allows cyclists to dive into an unprecedented immersive indoor experience and offers fitness clubs and hotels the opportunity to attract a new huge customer target: the ever-growing cyclist community. With its integrated 22-inch console, Technogym Ride is the first bike to offer direct access to cyclists’ most loved apps, including Zwift, Strava, ROUVY and TrainingPeaks;
entertainment apps such as Netflix and Eurosport, and to a complete range of training programs and experiences, designed to improve your performance outdoors (or on the road). Technogym Ride was born from Technogym’s passion for cycling, designed together with cycling champions to offer a unique training experience to amateurs and professionals. The company has collaborated with cycling champions for over 30 years, starting with Gianni Bugno’s MG-Technogym professional team in the 1990s and since 2000 as official supplier to the Olympic Games. This bike is designed to simulate
an outdoor cycling experience and replicate real-world routes and inclines. The training sessions offered by Technogym Ride challenge you to reach the proper power zones and to ride using Technogym Ride gears on dozens of virtual routes, including the world’s most legendary hills. Alternatively, you can choose the exclusive TNT (Technogym Neuromuscular Training) programs, developed by the Technogym Research Centre to improve both metabolic and neuromuscular qualities, or you can set up a completely customized training plan based on your personal goals. From a biomechanics point of
view, Technogym Ride is equipped with a real gearbox and gives you an incredibly realistic cycling feeling compared to your outdoor bike, with a very fast reaction time: from 0 to 1,000 watts in half a second. Technogym Ride is quiet and ideal for home training; thanks to the V-shaped frame structure suits sizes from 50 to 58+. The adjustable pedal cranks can be set into three positions and the “Fast Buttons” allow users to easily access the various training modes (constant power, incline, FTP percentages) and positions of use. Discover more at www.technogym.com/workout3
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UK FITNESS SCENE
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Advertiser’s announcement
How the energy crisis and increasing living costs can be a good thing WITH the continued increases in the cost of living, it could be a tough road ahead for businesses like gyms and leisure clubs selling ‘non-essential’ goods and services. Consumers will be looking for ways to save a penny wherever they can, and unfortunately for some people a gym membership can sometimes be one of the first things to go. So what can your club do to minimise the effect of increased living costs? You’ll always get the odd member who genuinely can’t afford their membership. Instead of cancelling these ones off straight away, give them the option to freeze it for a month or two until things settle. But for some members, it’s not always affordability, it’s priority. Some would simply rather spend £30 on a round of pints than on a month’s gym membership. So, can we do anything to change this? Creative Fitness Marketing business development manager Harry said: “As a health club operator, you can play a direct part in influencing your members mindset. As fitness professionals, we live and breathe exercise. We see and experience its value, and the key is to help your members see the same. “To take it from being a ‘luxury’ in their eyes, to a ‘necessity’. “Showing them how good they feel when they are in your club, and when they achieve their results. And this starts from day one. From the marketing messages you present, through to the way your team communicates with your members during the sign-up process.” Most budget, low-service clubs simply don’t have the manpower to spend this time with their
members. This is why the marketing and sales strategy CFM utilises is so unique and effective. With a focus on building up the value of the membership offering and educating members on the benefits of long-term exercise, they are setting new members up with a great foundation for their exercise journey. CFM has recently helped many clubs with these type of marketing campaigns to boost their numbers with long term members, including
Juvenate Health and Leisure, a 3D Leisure managed club. Here they sold more than £248,000 worth of gross memberships in only six weeks. *3D Leisure is a contract management company who currently work with more than 125 clubs nationwide. They support clubs in their day-to-day management to drive performance. To find out more about how a CFM marketing campaign works, you can check out their website www.cfm.net or call Harry or Jonny on 0115 777 3333.
The go-to place for mental health support and expertise for fitness professionals
A MENTAL health movement specifically for fitness professionals and to improve their engagement with customers is stepping up its development from its origins within the LFX business network for the UK fitness industry. Named MH1, it is being led by well-known industry figure Lynne Briggs, who has substantial experience in all areas of fitness operations, training and development. It will deliver mental health training, education, consultancy and talks for the health, fitness and wellbeing sectors aimed at improving staff and customer engagements as well as member programming. Lynne said: “We want to be the go-to place for mental health support, education, training, talking, research and innovation in our industry. “Our target audience is all those who work in the industry, from leaders and managers to lifeguards and receptionists, to be able to help themselves, their colleagues and guide the members that come into their leisure centres and clubs. “Physical and mental health is one continuum. When people come in to a gym as a new member, for example, they have to fill in a physical activity questionnaire; we do all that but traditionally we didn’t ask them about mental health because people didn’t talk about it. “We want to change that. Obviously, Covid has had a big impact on mental health and has put it at the forefront of people’s minds, although we’ve been looking into this way before the pandemic. “Our goal is to provide mental health awareness
and first aid training, education and courses, as well as support networks and industry insights into delivering quality mental health support, initiatives and developments that will improve customer and staff engagement.” MH1’s first innovation is the development of a peer reviewed and validated mental health questionnaire, with a working title of The MHQ, created by
psychology masters graduate Paula Litherland of Edge Hill University. Lynne, who is combining her MH1 role with her work at FitPro, added: “The MHQ is a psychomentric tool that measures the trajectory of mental health using lifestyle factors as markers. “There are lots of questionnaires out there but not one that’s been peer reviewed and validated for use within the industry.” MH1 has evolved from the LFX network, where Lynne and LFX founder Graeme Hinde first started the focus on mental health to enable fitness professionals to share stories and support colleagues in a community setting. Lynne, who has qualified as a mental health first aider and delivers the Active IQ Level 2 mental health awareness qualification, took over the reins of MH1 last month with an ambition to make it self-funding and to take it to the next level based on four pillars: n Educating – starting with mental health awareness training, behavioural change training and a Continuing Professional Development platform. n Researching – seeking out best practice, global trends, shareable ideas and studies. n Innovating – firstly the MHQ, the peer reviewed and validated mental health questionnaire. n Talking – relaxed chat show-style talks, events, oneto-ones and speaking to leisure and fitness operators. It is also providing a suite of campaign materials to be made free to fitness operators and individuals. The campaign will be simple and designed to work across different social media platforms with the hashtag #releasethefeelgood
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Advertiser’s announcement
New private boutique fitness in heart of Chelsea launches with SkillRun WHEN business partners Ade Adelaja and Joanne Saad decided to open a private personal training studio in London, they knew it had to be more than a place people came to train. Connect Studio is an energising space with premium products that inspire clients to a healthier lifestyle. Connect Studio’s co-founder Ade has spent more than a decade in the industry as a personal trainer across a variety of spaces. He has always known the importance of building relationships with clients. “Whether you train a client in a busy gym or in the park, it’s the connection you build that will keep them engaged with health and fitness,” he said. “When Jo and I had the opportunity to open our own space, that sense of connection was central to our vision.” Connecting mind and body for healthier lives The duo realised Connect Studio would work best as a private space rather than an open gym or a classbased boutique. This decision set it apart from other high-end options in Chelsea.
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“We wanted to offer a premium space that stood out and offered great value for money,” said Jo. “Our vision was of a visually stunning studio with plenty of different training options, where people would feel at home.” Connect Studio’s 50sqm home is in Chelsea Cloisters in the heart of Kensington and Chelsea. Ade and Jo set about creating a high level of service that would appeal to busy clients who need to know their time is valued. The result is a stunning studio where people want to spend time. From the coffee machine and chill out area, to the intriguing aerial yoga equipment, to the Technogym equipment that clients instantly recognise as high-end.
Bringing the vision to life through premium products After looking at the space and understanding Connect’s vision, Technogym suggested a product mix that would give the brand’s trainers and clients the best variety of training options. The neat footprint of Skillrun and
Skillbike made great use of the space, whilst the slick aesthetics matched Connect’s brand colours perfectly. The advanced functionality of the Skill Range allows the team’s trainers to programme varied sessions throughout the day. Ade and Jo also invested in a Technogym half-rack, bumper plates, free weights and medicine balls. “Our clients love how clever the equipment is,” said Ade. “They regularly comment on how comfortable SkillRun is when they have been used to regular treadmills. “As a trainer, I am amazed at its versatility. Technogym’s innovative kit has helped us equip the studio with everything a PT needs whilst keeping the space clear.” Focusing on human connection The team go the extra mile to ensure every visit is an uplifting experience in a space that feels like home. Ade knows this is the key to changing lives for the better – a key part of the Connect Studio vision. After all, a PT session is a small fraction of a client’s week, so the team aims to reframe people’s
relationship with exercise so the benefits extend beyond the studio. “The name Connect is about helping people connect with their body, health, and energy,” added Jo. “But it’s also about our brand connecting with the community. We want to make a difference and spread the word about how exercise can improve all areas of life.”
The premium equipment offering After opening in January, Connect Studio is moving into the next phase which involves offering the space to local personal trainers, and designing exciting group training options. “The first thing trainers comment on is the Technogym equipment,” said Ade. “So it’s becoming a unique selling point for other trainers as well as for clients. “Clients always recognise the brand and it gives them a sense of reassurance in that familiarity. “It’s particularly popular with our Italian clients.” Discover more at www.technogym.com
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Advertiser’s announcement
EZFacility launches its next-generation payment processing solution in the UK EZFacility had announce the launch of its next-generation payment processing solution, EZPayments, in the UK. With the new regulations around strong customer authentication coming into force, EZFacility has leveraged the newest technology to give its clients the most secure and seamless way to process payments. In addition to complying with the latest security standards, EZPayments integrates with customers EZFacility software to make it easier than ever to track and manage payments for your gym, or sports facility. This allows businesses to streamline payment processing while guaranteeing security and improving the customer experience—all for a competitive rate. What is strong customer authentication? The way businesses process e-commerce payments has changed. New rules, referred to as strong customer authentication, will enhance payment security and limit fraud through a mandatory authentication process. The rules will apply whenever a payer: n Initiates an electronic payment
transaction. n Accesses their payment account online. n Carries out any action remotely that may imply a risk of payment fraud, unless an exemption applies Thanks to compliance with new SCA standards, EZPayments will offer EZFacility’s UK clients the safest, most secure way to process payments. Who is EZFacility? EZFacility is a global leader in
scheduling, management and membership solutions for the health, fitness, and sports industries. Since its launch in 2003, EZFacility has offered simple, yet highly effective web-based club management tools that enable its thousands of users in more than 30 countries to streamline operational performance, improve the efficiency of their staff, and increase their bottom-line. With unparalleled expertise and understanding of the health, fitness,
and sports industries, EZFacility has developed cutting-edge customised solutions as a part of its core software functionality to exceed its clients’ facility management needs and nurture long lasting business relationships. It is EZFacility’s mission to transform the way the professional fitness and sports communities attract, manage and engage its clients by providing them with feature-rich management software and unmatched customer service. Whether you have a facility with a small but growing member-base, or a very large health or sports club with thousands of members and services, EZFacility has the all-in-one management software built to fit your unique business needs. Its intuitive, yet highly effective facility management tools will help simplify the administration of your gym, health club or sports facility, enabling you to focus your efforts on attracting new members and boosting profits. To learn more about switching to EZFacility or the new EZPayments module please contact our team today. For more information visit www.ezfacility.co.uk or call 0203 3270480.
Panatta doubles its presence at the leading international fitness event ITALIAN fitness brand Panatta will be present at FIBO 2022 with a double space: n Hall 7 – main booth (7A34). 255 sqm of business space dedicated to club owners and professionals of fitness and bodybuilding. More than 50 machines on stage, 100% made in Italy, including many news: n Dual System Line: six new machines with double function, biomechanics excellence together with the best
space-saving. The ideal solution for PT labs or fitness clubs with limited availability of space. n Free Weight Special. New plateloaded line full optional, conceived for high standard training, in total safety and using the joint biomechanics. With this line, any advanced user or athlete can develop the very best power and speed. n Ecoline, cardio fitness line completely energy-free. The body will
be the real motor of workout. Extremely versatile machines, to include also in functional training areas. n Hall 10 – FiBO POWER – Panatta Muscle Gym (10.2D33). An open gym set into the FIBO POWER where trainers, athletes and users can train with the latest plate loaded equipment by Panatta. During the four days of the fair the internationally renowned bodybuilders
William Bonac and Nathan de Asha will be at the Panatta Muscle GYM for personal suggestions, training tips, pictures and videos. An impressive space and real workout paradise for enthusiasts and lovers of true physical workout! Join Panatta energy and style at FIBO 2022. www.panattasport.com | IG: @panattaofficial | FB: @panattasport
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Advertiser’s announcement
Local authorities to receive free inequalities review EVERY local authority in England is to receive a free Quest review from Sport England as part of the Moving Communities programme. The aim is to help provide opportunities to people and communities that have traditionally been left behind as the sector continues its recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. The Quest Foundation Review will provide scored and benchmarked insight into real-life, ‘live’ customer service experiences from people who’ve traditionally been excluded from physical activity opportunities, including people from lower socioeconomic groups, culturally diverse communities, disabled people and people with long-term health conditions. As part of Sport England’s longrunning national quality scheme, Quest, the QFR will focus on how people from these groups experience and interact with local leisure services via websites, telephone systems and social media platforms. Sarah Maxwell, head of external accreditations at Right Directions, which manages Quest on behalf of Sport England, said: “For the first time since its inception in 1996, Quest will offer a free service to every local authority in England. “Launching in April and running for three years, QFR aims to identify
how the sector is performing at present and use that data to create awareness of inequalities and shape training and education to help enhance and improve services.” The QFR is embedded in the Continuous Improvement pillar of the Moving Communities programme, managed by 4GLOBAL, which
tracks participation at public leisure facilities and provides on-going evidence of the sector’s performance, sustainability and social value. As such, QFR will be able to provide KPI’s and benchmarking linked to customer experience and service delivery to help tackle inequalities and remove barriers to activity.
Kevin Mills, director of capital investment at Sport England, added: “The goal here is to help every single person in every community have the opportunity to get active. QFR will assess one facility from each local authority, every 12 months, to identify best practice and support continuous improvement for the individual sites and the sector as a whole. “The completed QFRs will support the commitment made by Sport England to help the sector in its recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic and to tackle inequalities as part of its 10-year Uniting the Movement strategy by removing barriers to activity.” The QFR process enables Quest to view the facility and its linked services from a customer’s perspective. It will include three different, equally weighted and scored reviews, as well as assessor comments and feedback, based on how the facility and its online services were perceived during one specific call, one online/digital visit to the website and linked social media platforms. For more information about Quest Foundation Review or for any other Quest products email Quest@rightdirections.co.uk or phone 01582 840078. Alternatively, visit www.questaward.org for full Quest Assessment details.
Prime (Recovery) and key principles seen in Quest Entry (pre-pandemic), which include the re-introduction of a more detailed mystery visit, as well as reviews of business development and operational plans. There will be two levels to choose from: n Quest Recovery includes a mystery
visit and one-day assessment conducted against seven core modules that provide the key building blocks for success, such as cleanliness and hygiene, the customer journey and programming, as well as operational management, managing the team and community engagement. n Quest Recovery Plus also includes a second day-long assessment covering modules tailored to the individual facility, helping them improve in specific areas of their business. These can include anything from their contribution to health and wellbeing, engaging with specific groups, such as children or people with long term health conditions, and safeguarding to event management, food and beverage and swimming lessons. Local authority leisure centres will be able to take the new Quest Recovery assessment from April 1. The traditional Quest Entry and Quest Plus will still be available for sites that don’t wish to undertake Quest Recovery, and are ideal for leisure facilities that have re-established a strong core offer and are ready to review their existing business plans and community development plans in full. For more information about any of the Quest assessments call 01582 840078, email Quest@rightdirections.co.uk or visit www.questaward.org
Sport England launches Quest Recovery to support sector in post pandemic transition SPORT England is launching a new Quest service as part of its commitment to helping the leisure industry transition out of the pandemic and into a recoverydevelopment phase. The new Quest Recovery service replaces Quest Prime (Recovery), which was written to support the sector during the pandemic, and is ideal for facilities building their basic operations and business resilience post pandemic. Sarah Maxwell, head of external accreditations at Right Directions, which manages Quest on behalf of Sport England, said: “Sport England’s continuous improvement tool, Quest, has been designed to measure how effectively leisure facilities are operating. “To ensure it remains relevant, having been launched initially back in 1996, the tool and its assessment modules are continually reviewed and updated. “The new Quest Recovery assessment not only enables operators to be nationally recognised and accredited for their hard work as we emerge from the pandemic, but provides a view of what ‘good’ and ‘great’ look like so they can benchmark and review their services against a national picture and ensure their teams and their facilities deliver greater impact and social outcomes. “It’s no longer just about being safe. We will be undertaking detailed mystery
visits onsite from a customer perspective and making sure aspects such as their programming are fit for purpose in this Covid recovery phase as we approach a busy September.” Quest Recovery has been developed combining the latest industry best practice with learnings from Quest
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Advertiser’s announcement
Are rips and tears causing disruption to your gym? GYM equipment can be subject to very heavy usage and over time leather and fabric will typically develop tears, blemishes and start to look dated. Ripped or torn vinyl upholstery may reflect poorly on your gym and become a health concern while also driving members to consider renewing their membership. Keeping existing gym equipment and furniture in good condition is vitally important. Although new exercise and weightlifting equipment is advantageous to health and fitness centres, managing the constant attention to customer service and cleanliness is essential. Current members of your facility want to achieve the best workout and results at your facility by using the
best equipment. If your equipment is torn or run down, this may stop them from using the machine, preventing your members from achieving their workout goals and in result, choose to move onto a competitor’s gym. Prospective members have a big decision to make as they are investing their health into your facility. While comparing gyms, one of the main factors they will look at is equipment quality. If your gym equipment isn’t at the highest standard, their investment will go elsewhere. Keeping your equipment in top quality condition is essential for your facility to succeed. Making sure that your equipment upholstery is in top quality condition will minimise the risk of illness to your members. As members constantly use your equipment, torn vinyl upholstery will absorb sweat, germs and bacteria. These forms of bacteria are the most damaging and the greatest catalyst for illness if your upholstery isn’t properly maintained and looked after properly. Because of this, it is absolutely necessary to reupholster gym equipment when required. Reupholstering your gym equipment is also beneficial when remodelling. New vinyl upholstery can be chosen to match any colour scheme. ServiceSport also offer embroidery on all vinyl covers which enables you to personalise your equipment with your own branding. At ServiceSport we specialise in reupholstery of gym equipment and provide the same high-quality vinyl that is used by gym equipment manufacturers. With our top-quality gym upholstery service, you can make sure that your gym equipment and furnishings are well-kept and maintained, making sure that your equipment looks new.
ServiceSport offer a bespoke service which is tailored specifically to your needs. We always endeavour to meet time constraints of working facilities. We make sure that our work is carried out as smoothly and efficiently as possible which is why ServiceSport offer on-site repair. Our highly trained upholsterers can come to your site and repair your equipment upholstery there and then, meaning your equipment is only out of working order for minimal downtime. If your equipment is in need of some TLC, get in touch with the ServiceSport team today. Call 01257 264738 or email info@servicesport.co.uk
Has the energy crisis got you looking for more cost-savvy solutions? WITH the price of just about everything going up, we all need to look again at how we spend our money. Does our business have cost saving solutions that suit us or are we trying to fit around the outdated solutions we already have? Here are some simple ways gym operators can save thousands: n The chances are your equipment will be out of warranty before it ever breaks down. But when it finally does give up, you want it fixed fast. Nothing annoys your members more than equipment that stands out of order for weeks on end. n Look at efficient and impartial solutions that will reach out to the whole market when considering service contract renewals, tradein old unwanted products, buyer new and leasing equipment. The platforms created by Orbit4 (WeServiceGymEquipment, WeBuyGymEquipment, FitnessCompared and FitnessFinance) guarantee best value for your business and gives you the flexibility to adapt to future changes in the market. n Using Orbit4, operators can become ultra-efficient operationally due to
the asset management capabilities. In addition, the data that’s collated whilst the solution is in-house automatically triggers alerts to tell operators when it’s the best time to sell equipment due to the assets reaching its optimum level of cost of ownership. In turn, the operator is immediately presented with industry leading suppliers quotations for new
equipment, competitive leasing figures and the best buyback price the industry can offer. n Listen to fit-tech experts: “New fitness industry based tendering and bidding platforms like WeServiceGymEquipment and WeBuyGymEquipment create a much healthier marketplace that few gyms
can’t afford not to use”. n “Similar to the consumer sector for utilities and car insurance, we are all testing companies against one another via speedy platforms like GoCompare and CompareTheMarket. The fitness industry now has this technology so that operators can test the wider market for each stage of the asset journey. You’ll be surprised how much you could save and the service may well improve for you and your members,” said Daniel Jones, CEO of Orbit4 . n Working together a powerful combination of automation features drive asset acquisition, procurement and servicing. Orbit4 allows you to track the entire fitness journey of your assets. Daniel added: “It’s invaluable to have a 360° view of each gym asset that’s always up-to-date. You can access all the information you need for daily management including: servicing, buying, selling and finance – all neatly linked to any existing system. It’s the ultimate smart solution.” It’s estimated that the average size gym could save up to £5,000 a year using platforms like Orbit4. To find out more contact info@Orbit4.org
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Advertiser’s announcement
Places Leisure first to dispose of waste workwear through end of life textile recycling programme TAYLOR Made Designs has launched a textile recycling programme to provide clients with a secure, environmentally responsible solution to the disposal of what would otherwise be their end of use textiles, including uniform, workwear, PPE and laundry. This month, Places Leisure has become the first TMD client to utilise the service. “The frightening reality is that a lorry load of textile waste enters landfill every second and three out of five T-shirts made today will be destined to enter landfill within 12 months,” said James Taylor, managing director at TMD. “Currently, only one per cent of textiles worldwide are recycled effectively. This is not a sustainable or acceptable situation. “The disposal of what most see as end of use workwear also presents a security issue for many of our clients. Branded textiles need to be shredded and responsibly re-purposed to avoid any brand misrepresentation issues.” The programme offers clients a suite of options. James added: “Our programme is inclusive and makes responsible and secure textile disposal possible for any sized organisation, single or multi-site. “Those clients who do not produce enough textile waste to justify a dedicated on-site recycling unit can arrange for their end of use textiles to be delivered to or collected by TMD and added to TMD’s central disposal unit, which is collected and certified by Avena, our textiles recycling partner, on a monthly basis. “The whole recycling process is fully documented, giving clients written certification of the entire process
including an Environmental Impact Statement. “Cumulative details such as collection dates, weight collected and the resulting environmental impact in terms of CO2 saved from entering the atmosphere, landfill space and water literage saved are all evidenced.” In 2020, Places Leisure completed a rebrand. This created a need to replace all branded employee uniform. TMD fulfilled the new uniform order and was also able to offer a responsible solution to the disposal of the old, redundant uniform through its textile recycling programme. James said: “Employees were instructed to return old uniform to their site of work when they collected their new uniform.
“This stock was then collected by TMD and taken to TMD HQ where it was placed in a secure bin ready for collection by Avena.” Laura Lane, head of people at Places Leisure, added: “As a social enterprise it is reassuring to know that our branded waste has been disposed of in a secure and responsible manner. “Being able to tap into TMD’s recycling programme provides a cost-effective means of ensuring our waste does not end up in landfill or the wrong hands, giving us total peace of mind.” James concluded: “TMD is an environmentally aware company, already using electric vehicles, as well as recycled boxes with every order that is despatched from our warehouse, and now committed to working with our clients to ensure the responsible and effective recycling of what would otherwise be end of life textiles. “Our clients are also becoming more aware of their environmental responsibilities in this area and showing genuine positivity and support towards the programme. “We only have one planet and we all need to do our bit to protect it. Working so deeply within the textile and manufacturing sector, I feel we have a direct responsibility to try to make a difference wherever we can. “ I’m confident our clients, across all sectors, will welcome the opportunity to be able to responsibly and securely dispose of used textiles.” To find out more about our programme and the options available to get involved please call the TMD team on +44 1202 473311.
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I Tʼ S TI M E TO GET I NVOLVED I N THE NATI ONAL FI TNESS AW ARDS 2022 NOM I NATI ONS NOW OPEN SPONSORSHI P PACKAGES AVAI LABLE THE ATHENA,LEI CESTER FRI DAY,NOVEM BER 18 2022 M ORE THAN 20 CATEGORI ES AVAI LABLE I NCLUDI NG NEW FOR 2022 – BEST M EM BERSHI P CAM PAI GN AND OUTDOOR FACI LI TY OF THE YEAR T ha nky ous omuc hf oraf a nt a s t i cev eni nga tt heNa t i ona l F i t nes sAwa r ds . Mea ndmyt ea mr ea l l yenj oy edi ta ndt houghti twa sbea ut i f ul l ydec or a t eda ndv er ywel l or ga ni s eds ot ha nky ou! Ol l i eE ms de n, Vi s i onF i t ne s s Rea l l yenj oy edt heNF As . I twa sf a nt a s t i ct os eet hei ndus t r yc omet oget hera ndt ha nky ouf ort heoppor t uni t yt os pons ora na wa r d. Col i nNe al e , bus i ne s sde v e l opme nt manage r , Re s amani abyXpl or I nc r edi bl eni ghta tt he@F i t nes s Awa r dsWemetot herpa s s i ona t et nes spr of es s i ona l s . Weda nc eda ndgotmer r y ! T ha nk sf oragr ea tt i me . @BOOS Tt onT wi t t e r T ha nky ou@F i t nes s Awa r dsf oragr ea tni ght . S a dl y , wedi dn' twi nt hi sy ea r . Anot hert ha nky ouha st ogot oa l l S er c oL ei s ur ec ol l ea gueswhoa t t endeda nd ma des ur eourc us t omer , WendyI nc ea ndherhus ba ndDa v i df el tl i k et hes t a r soft hes how. @s e r c ol e s i ur eonT wi t t e r J 7s t a r t ed14y ea r sa goa sav i s i ononabl a nkpi 4c eofpa peri nmymum’ sk i t c hen. F r om 7, 000gy msNAT I ONAL L Ydownt ot hel a s ts i x … t henweWON! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! T owi ns uc hahugena t i ona l a wa r df orc ommuni t yi nv ol v ementi ss os oov er whel mi ng@F i t ne s s Awar ds @J 7 he al t hJ av e noonT wi t t e r Br i dgendba s edc ompa nywi nneroft he# E duc a t i onAwa r da tt hePr es t i gi ous# Na t i ona lt nes s a wa r ds @F i t nes s Awa r dsT ha nk st oa l l t het ea m, # s c hool s# c ol l eges , Uni ' s&pa r t ner swhowor kwi t hust oma k et hi sha ppen, L ov el yt obe y i ngt he a gf or ourOr ga ni s a t i onsi n# Wa l es# Awa r ds @F or c e s F i t ne s sonT wi t t e r Ba c kt owi nni ng. Wha tani ght@F i t nes s Awa r ds Congr a t ul a t i onst o@E l i t eF i t nes sonwi nni ngourF unc t i ona l T r a i ni ngGy m oft heY ea rAwa r d Abi gc ongr a t st oev er y onewhor ea c hedt he na l s–y ou' v ea l l beena bs ol ut el egendst hes epa s t18mont hs . # Na t i ona l F i t nes s Awa r ds @j or dan t ne s s ukonT wi t t e r
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UK FITNESS SCENE
The show must go on for your business and your members WHETHER you’re attending events in person again or still keeping clear until you feel comfortable, it’s so good to have the option to get back out there and share our joy for all things fitness. FIBO has been pushing the limits of excitement and anticipation since it first appeared on the calendar again. None of us reaches our best without sharing experiences with others. It’s great to be back. Show season can be a metaphor for the progress of our own business development and value addition, too. Flexibility in approach is key to everything we do, as we strive to ensure that the standards are high enough for any participant to receive the biggest benefit. Whether a someone attends in person or online, they’re still part of the community and still deserve the best experience – this is where the bar should be set. When we meet people where they want to work out, it’s so much more
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than just a digital or in-club workout. We now have the opportunity to ditch the tired Insta Live classes that haven’t stood the test of time. Instead, now members can be instudio, in-club on machines, outdoors or at home, all sharing the same experience, all at the same time, with live feedback. MZ-Remote unites anyone that wants to move, and it means you can provide more of your expertise for more people. Back to events and education, Myzone also has exciting news for the next Myzone U sessions coming, too. There’s one way to make sure you’re growing your business for the betterment of your membership, and that’s to share educational experiences with others and create a culture of learning at every level. We’re all pushing for progress, so let’s push in the same direction. Watch this space. https://www.myzone.org
Thinking of giving your gym’s workwear a spring clean? WORKWEAR within a gym is more than your corporate suit and tie. Comfort, durability, and sustainability are the top priorities when sourcing your uniforms. At Instyle Clothing we work with selected brands including Nike, Under Armour and Anthem along with budget friendly brands such as Tri Dri and Stanley/Stella to bring a wide variety of options to match your gyms branding and aesthetic.
We offer variations of finishes including embroidery, screen print, heat transfer print and ultra colour sublimation block printing methods. Therefore, catering to your budget and garments use effectively, we create a line of uniforms that even your customers will want to wear. Our design team will translate your ideas into a reality, preparing a mock up visual and offering a no minimum order quantity policy.
This allows you to experiment with colours, fabrics and sizing before dressing a full team or stocking a point of sale for your members. Request your 2022 catalogue today and take the first step in creating a recognisable, UK sourced and manufactured range of work wear to be proud of. Visit www.instyleclothing.co.uk or email info@instyleclothing.co.uk for more information
ClubRight adds weight to proposition with acquisition LEADING club membership management provider ClubRight is celebrating the acquisition of Clubmate, a move that will see the brand extend its services beyond fitness and leisure. Launched by Owen Chapman in 2017, Clubmate has fast established itself as the go-to membership management system for fishing clubs and fisheries around the UK. Before its emergence into the market, the membership management aspect of the fishing industry was almost 100 per cent paper based. Over the course of the last four-anda-half years Clubmate, which is built on ClubRight’s proven management platform, has engaged more than 200 fishing clubs and fisheries, supporting the industry’s move to the digital management of memberships and tickets for more than 50,000 anglers across the UK. Speaking about the acquisition, Wayne Heath, founder and CEO of ClubRight said: “Owen is a highly driven individual. Through his previous role as partner development manager with GoCardless and his work driving other high
Owen Chapman and Wayne Heath performing Fintechs, Owen brings with him a wealth of insight and experience. “Utilising ClubRight’s software platform as its foundation, Clubmate has moved fishing into the digital age, creating efficiencies, membership and booking management opportunities that will drive a more financially
sustainable future for the sport. “We are absolutely delighted that Owen has joined ClubRight as an integral member of the executive team, opening new doors and creating opportunities that will enable us to grow the business beyond our current capacity.” As part of the acquisition, Owen
secures a minority share in ClubRight and occupies a seat on the board as commercial director. In this role he will continue to develop the business, maintaining Clubmate’s presence in the fishing industry whilst also exploring new growth opportunities for ClubRight. Owen added: “My ambition has always been to tear down administration barriers and give people back the time they are spending on paperwork to go and do something more personally enjoyable to them, like fishing. “Clubmate has been a successful example of how I have achieved this across the fishing industry and I am now looking forward to extending this influence to other markets.” Owen brings with him a team of four who will be integrated into the ClubRight team with a direct report to him. The acquisition officially took place this month. For more information about ClubRight visit clubright.co.uk For more information about Clubmate visit clubmate.fish
Unlock the power of effective marketing for your fitness business Gyms, pools, studios and leisure centres are having to deal with a major loss in both revenue and footfall caused by the pandemic, leaving many operators on the brink of survival. Whether you are from a small independent gym or a large operator with numerous sites, all businesses in the fitness industry have the same objective and are facing the same challenges. The best possible marketing campaign to make your business the most attractive to potential new members has never been more important, and this is where we can help. At Script we know fitness, backed up by more than 20 years of serving the industry through Workout magazine, as well as the highly successful National Fitness Awards that are now in their 12th year. With our knowledge and expertise of the industry, Script Fitness Marketing from Script is with you every step of the way and we can tailor a marketing package to save you time and to suit your needs and budget.
With our knowledge and expertise of the industry, Script Fitness Marketing is with you every step of the way and we can tailor a marketing package to save you time and to suit your needs and budget. Powerful Print
Perfect PR
Bold Branding
Professional printed matierials for your gym such as;
Our team of experienced journalists and PR specialists can offer;
Show your professionalism and a consistent brand image with;
• Brochures • Indoor and outdoor banners • Flyers / leaflets • Posters • Letterheaded paper and compliment slips • Business cards
• Press release writing
• Logo design • Full brand guideline development • Existing brand refresh • Branded merchandise such as pens, mugs, clothinge etc. • Social media graphics and content
• Social media post content writing • Copywriting • Blog / newsletter content writing
So what are you waiting for? It is vital that your fitness business stands out from the crowd to attract new members and staff. Who better to help you do this than the team behind the country’s most successful B2B magazine for the industry. We’ll take away the hassle and provide professional marketing which will deliver results for your business. Based in Yorkshire, we have an award-winning team that prides itself on producing a range of top-quality work at competitive prices. To find out how we can help your business, contact Dominic Musgrave today by calling 01226 734407 or email dm@scriptmedia.co.uk
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UK FITNESS SCENE
1FitLife launches online instructor training to help clubs deliver rock star performances on screen DIGITAL workout specialist 1FitLife is training fitness instructors across the UK to deliver ‘rock star’ performances to match their in-club experience on screen. The one day ‘Presenter Bootcamps’, which take place at the 1FitLife studios in Bournemouth, teach very specific skills instructors need to convey personality online, through tone, pace, pitch and emphasis, helping instructors deliver on-brand, impactful classes on demand. The ‘Presenter Bootcamps’ kicked off with a bespoke workshop on behalf of David Lloyd Clubs, with 46 of its instructors attending. The sessions focused on the instructors’ online delivery of David Lloyd’s six signature classes over a three-day period. The bootcamps are available to operators as well as individual fitness professionals wanting to expand their knowledge and experience, and the training can be adjusted to include specific operator brand direction, content and styling requirements. Anna Langridge, director of production, said: “Being a successful fitness/group exercise trainer in a club, doesn’t necessarily make you a good trainer on camera. “It’s more important than ever that an operator’s on demand offer
stands out from its competitors, and should always go above and beyond what someone could access for free online. “Being in a film studio is unfamiliar territory for many fitness instructors and our practical workshop is designed to give people the confidence to work successfully with a full film crew in a studio.”
The ‘Presenter Bootcamps’ are hosted by Anna, who has been in the production and fitness industry for 20 years and has been directing on demand workouts for the last seven years. She is supported by the 1FitLife production crew who, day-to-day, produce meaningful on-demand videos for clients including Slimming
World and David Lloyd Clubs, as well as providing fitness models, post production and marketing support to bring digital fitness content alive. The ‘Presenter Bootcamps’ combine a mixture of skill learning and practical sessions, allowing instructors to show what they have learnt in front of the camera and crew. Anna added: “Common mistakes inexperienced presenters make include shouting, over talking and instructing instead of communicating their personality through the lens. “Our workshops teach a fitness instructor how to deliver a class direct to a camera, understanding how to use different cameras to connect at the right time, where to stand, the importance of choreography, set, personal styling, and how to successfully demonstrate the equipment/exercise to an audience who will have very mixed ability. “The most important skill we teach is how a presenter can connect and show authenticity with the end user through a camera. It’s no good just knowing which camera to look into. “The real challenge for presenters is to build trust and credibility and be able to really connect on a personal level, even though they are not physically present with their audience.”
However, despite industry concerns around Plan B restrictions and working from home guidance delaying new member sign ups, the beginning of 2022 proved to be an exceptionally strong start for Total Fitness, with 14 out of 15 clubs exceeding their target numbers for new members. The strong figures come as the fitness and health sector sees a confident revival as much of the UK get their health and sporting goals back on track. Additionally, many gym goers are now keen to embrace a wide variety of exercises and are looking to health clubs for ways to embrace a healthier lifestyle and improve their mental health and wellbeing.
In a study from Total Fitness, it found that new joiners were keen to make use of swimming pool facilities, as well as high quality fitness equipment and exciting classes to try out. Demand for Total Fitness’ swimming facilities – which include 25m indoor pools as well as family and hydrotherapy pools, were revealed as the main attraction for new joiners. All but one of the business’ 15 sites in Northern England and Wales smashed their January performance targets to beat their previous record-breaking month. January 2017 was previously the best performing month for the company, but 2022 has seen a significantly higher performance which strongly suggests that gyms have recovered after the pandemic forced closures last year. Since Total Fitness’ first post lockdown reopening in July 2020, 10 out of 14 trading months have also had their ‘best on record’ membership growth performance. Total Fitness health clubs offer members a variety of ways to work out and enjoy getting fitter and stronger, including a diverse choice of classes, expert personal trainers, large swimming pools as well as revitalising hydro-pools, and a wide range of targeted fitness equipment. The company has been offering fullservice fitness to members in-person since 1993, with their online services launching in 2020.
Operator surpasses membership targets as fitness industry sees post pandemic revival LEADING health club brand Total Fitness has announced a record-breaking start to the year for new member sign ups, as the fitness industry makes its way back to full health after the pandemic. For Total Fitness, the demand for health and wellbeing has seen some clubs nearly double the number of new joiners compared with previous years, with a total of 51,727 new members since April last year. The average uplift in monthly joiners pre and post pandemic is also performing strongly at 45 per cent per month. CEO Sophie Lawler, CEO said: “I’ve always been proud to serve the fitness industry and our northern communities, so to come in to 2022 so strongly and build on the momentum we generated in 2021 is just brilliant. It puts us in a strong position for the rest of the year. “As we approach 12 months since reopening, we’ve got plenty to celebrate as well as to reflect on. “It hasn’t been a normal year, in the same way as it hasn’t for many other businesses that have been working hard to serve their customers despite so many challenges, but the way in which our teams have come together to collectively restore our membership base in such a stellar fashion has been exceptionally inspiring. “Fitness services like ours have always been really important, but now so more than ever and so we’re looking to the future with real excitement.”
With a surge in new members motivated to get fit and healthy, the northern health club brand is confident that 2022 is the year that fitness is high on consumers’ priority list, with a renewed focus on health and wellbeing firmly back on the agenda. According to search data from fitness marketplace Hussle, customer demand for health clubs and gyms returned to normal in January of this year, however due to renewed restrictions, consumers were reluctant to sign up to new memberships. Hussle reported that peak demand for memberships could therefore extend beyond the traditional January period to February and March.
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Premier Global NASM launches new training bundle in response to market needs PREMIER Global NASM has developed a comprehensive and innovative health and wellness practitioner training bundle. It is to help gym floor teams and independent personal trainers equip themselves with the skills they need to support the growing percentage of the population living with long term health conditions “According to data from the Health Survey for England 2018, 40 per cent of the UK adult population is living with at least one long term health condition, with the most common conditions categorised as musculoskeletal, cardiovascular or related to mental, behavioural and neurodevelopmental conditions,” said Dan Rees, managing director at Premier Global NASM. “Add to this a further 1.3 million people estimated by the Office of National Statistics to be living with long Covid and we are talking a significant percentage of the UK population.” “Currently, the majority of these people are reliant on the already stretched NHS to manage and treat their conditions, when many could be controlled, alleviated or even cured by the introduction of structured, professionally prescribed physical activity and exercise. “Our sector already offers a solid network of purpose-built environments, served by trained professionals to support people in the pursuit of a healthy, happy and fulfilling life. “With additional, complimentary, evidence-based training and education, there is no reason why we cannot extend our effective support to those
Dan added: “There is also an opportunity to service the corporate market. People with long-term health conditions are more likely to be less productive at work and to need time off work for consultations, treatments and recovery.
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Dan Rees managing long term health conditions and play a more significant role in the health of the nation.” This has prompted the development of Premier Global NASM’s new, CIMSPA accredited, health and wellness practitioner training bundle. Aimed at individuals who are already qualified personal trainers, the package is designed to give trainers confidence through understanding, knowledge and the ability to apply what they learn in multiple scenarios, to effectively support people experiencing longterm cardiorespiratory, metabolic, neurological, musculoskeletal or mental health conditions. In addition, the package covers behaviour-change theories helping people make adjustments that positively impact all aspects of their wellbeing and teaches how to apply these to help people make physical activity a habitual part of life, helping to manage any pre-existing condition and prevent further onsets.
INSURANCE
FLOORING
Partners&.
Specialist insurance for gyms and health clubs
Helping you bounce back safely and confidently from Covid-19. T: 01189 875100 E: neil.adebowale@partnersand.com W: www.partnersand.com/sportsandleisure
“Upskilling trainers to work with this demographic creates new opportunities to support employee wellbeing programmes, ultimately improving output for the corporation and driving more footfall through the doors of the gym.”
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CLOTHING & MERCHANDISE
BUY BACK
CLOTHING & MERCHANDISE
UPHOLSTERY
WEIGHING & BODY COMPOSITION MACHINES
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LOGISTICS
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FITNESS EQUIPMENT
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UPHOLSTERY
100 95 75
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UPHOLSTERY
we service 108x50 advert 18 June 2021 09:35:37
Franchise Opportunities Available
TEL: 01282 831238 WEB: www.fitnessequipmentupholstery.co.uk
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Embroidery A bespoke service offering the highest quality finish for long lasting work and active wear.
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