ISSUE 1 May
WEEKLY
Issue 27
20 November 2020
YOUR REGULAR ONLINE UPDATE FOR THE UK FITNESS SCENE
Operator celebrates 10th UK anniversary page 3 Primal Strength win Matrix Fitness rights page 4 FunXtion drives debate with experts page 6 Connexus - quarter pg - WOM - PR.pdf
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Scan to see Connexus in action Connexus is the space-saving solution that lets you offer a wide variety of functional training programming and speciality classes in one training space. Multiple adjustable attachment points offer maximum versatility and easy transitions between exercises. Choose from wall-mounted and freestanding stations, with optional expansion kits to build exactly what you need for your space, your members, and your budget. CONNEXUS: It’s the system that really shows your strength
www.matrixfitness.co.uk
Roll of
HONOUR 2020 WO R KO U T M AG A Z I N E
Have you nominated your lockdown hero? Nominate your lockdown hero who has gone over and above in these most testing of times in the WorkOut Magazine 2020 Roll of Honour. We want to hear from you, if you know someone who has gone above and beyond in 2020, to make a difference and help their members and colleagues get through these harrowing times. The WorkOut Magazine 2020 Roll of Honour will appear in our January 2021 issue Send your nomination to events@scriptmedia.co.uk and we will be featuring some of your stories in WorkOut Magazine and our weekly WorkOut digital newsletter. Closing date for entries is Friday December 4.
We can’t wait to read your stories ‌ Sponsorship opportunities are also available by calling 01226 734 605
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ukactive and Sported receive GLA grant to expand programme ukactive and Sported, in collaboration with the Greater London Authority has announced plans to engage more vulnerable young people in sport and physical activity over the school holidays. The Open Doors programme has been awarded a new £160,000 grant by the GLA which will be used to unlock school facilities outside of term time, following successful pilots over the past year. The programme will run during the school holidays until next March. It comes at a crucial time, with Covid-19 widening the inequalities gap experienced by many children and young people. Jade Harris, head of children, young people and families at ukactive, said: “We are pleased to announce the expansion of the Open Doors programme funded by the Greater London Authority, and in partnership with Sported. “We believe every child and young person, no matter their background, should have fair access to positive activity, food and safe spaces to go during the school holidays. “Supporting the youngest and most vulnerable in our communities has never been more essential and it is vital that we are proactive in our approach to combat the wellbeing issues we already see rising.” The model focuses on providing the most vulnerable children and young people with safe and accessible spaces, unlocking school sports facilities as trusted environments where they are able to engage in sports and physical activity, mentoring and education, facilitated by positive role models, mentors and coaches. The young people who attend will also be provided healthy snacks and lunch. By creating hubs for activity and youth engagement, Open Doors works to reduce youth violence and crime by making positive community connections, while also improving physical and mental health. Research by ukactive’s Research Institute shows that children and young Group Editor: Judith Halkerston Tel: 01226 734639 jh@scriptmedia. co.uk Group production editor: Dominic Musgrave Tel: 01226 734407 dm@scriptmedia. co.uk
Sales and marketing director: Tony Barry Tel: 01226 734605 tb@scriptmedia. co.uk Sales manager: Louise BristoweHarrison Tel: 01226 734699 workout3@ scriptmedia.co.uk
Studio manager: Stewart Holt sth@scriptmedia. co.uk
www.workout-uk.co.uk
people suffer a loss in cardiorespiratory fitness levels over the summer holidays of up to 74 per cent – with those from lower socio-economic groups suffering a greater loss than their peers. The finding mirrors existing studies showing an attainment gap that grows over the holidays between disadvantaged young people and their peers. This gap predates the lockdown, and is predicted to increase with the months out of school experienced by young people, especially those from more deprived backgrounds who are already on average 18 months behind their peers by the time they sit their GCSEs. The expansion of Open Doors means a number of school sites across London will remain open during the holidays to the children and young people that need it most, at a time when they are most at risk of youth violence and crime. Open Doors forms part of ukactive’s wider policy call to government to invest in its Schools as Community Hubs model, unlocking school facilities outside of the school day to support young people. Tom Burstow, deputy CEO at Sported, added: “Sported’s network of 350 community sports groups across London typically provide a trusted, safe environment for many vulnerable young people however, their ability to operate has been severely impacted since the arrival of Covid-19. “The number one concern of the community group leaders has been the physical and mental well-being of their participants who are increasingly disconnecting from positive influences and engaging in risky behaviours. “Against this backdrop, we are delighted to be working in partnership with the GLA and ukactive on the Open Doors programme which will provide a number of community sports groups the opportunity to operate safely within school facilities, allowing them to reach and engage young people positively through a range of holiday-time activities.”
Operator celebrates 10th UK anniversary ANYTIME Fitness is celebrating the notable landmark of its 10th anniversary in the UK this month. After opening its first club in Clifton, Bristol in November 2010, Anytime Fitness has gone from strength to strength and now has 172 franchisee owned sites across the UK and Ireland. Despite the well-publicised challenges for the leisure industry during the Covid-19 pandemic, Anytime Fitness has continued to grow and has opened seven new clubs since the sector welcomed members back in July following the first national lockdown. The most recent club opening was in Bushey, Hertfordshire, under a month ago before the second national lockdown was announced, and Anytime Fitness is on track to open a further six sites in the next six months. Chairman Andy Thompson, a cofounder of the investor group who purchased the franchise rights for the UK and Ireland in 2010, has overseen the impressive growth journey of the brand in the UK. “Since launching in the UK, Anytime Fitness has come a long way and it’s great to look back on our growth and success,” he said. “Despite numerous economic and political hurdles in the past ten years, the fitness industry has proven to be remarkably robust and reaching this milestone is testament to the passion and enthusiasm of our franchisees in serving their local communities.
“It’s a proud moment to be able to say that we’ve helped more than 100 franchise entrepreneurs to start their own businesses and we would like to thank all of our franchisees for caring about the health of their communities and every member that’s set foot in an Anytime Fitness gym for their support during the past decade. “Positively impacting the lives of people and improving their health is what gets us and our franchisees out of bed every morning and we’re looking forward to achieving so much more as this journey continues.” Neil Randall took over the role of UK CEO on April 1 and is proud to oversee the impressive milestone. “A decade in the UK is a fantastic landmark and we continue to evolve significantly to provide the best possible service for our members and franchisees,” added Neil. “I don’t need to remind people what a challenging period this has been but it’s been fantastic that we’ve been able to grow our network and see more local businesses open. “We’re the first franchise operator in the UK to reach this number of sites and its because of the hard work of our franchisees that we continue to grow. There has been a great amount of pentup demand for fitness memberships this year and we’re confident that clubs will continue to attract plenty of new members ahead of reopening on December 3.”
Simon is our latest lockdown hero OUR latest lockdown hero is Simon Stoskus, a coach at Believe and Achieve in Sheffield. He was nominated by the gym’s founder Claire Moore. She said: “We would love to nominate our coach Simon Stoskus for the Workout UK Roll of Honour “It has been a hugely challenging year for all in the fitness industry but Simon has never lost his positivity. “Even though facing his own challenges of losing hours, personal clients and the uncertainty of it all he has never stopped smiling and has continued to be there for all our clients. “He is a vital part of our team and business and we are so lucky to have him. He certainly deserves to be recognised and celebrated.” Here are a few comments from some of the women he trains:
“There isn’t enough in a couple of sentences to sum up how I feel about Simon. Simon is the most genuine, hardworking, kind, supportive and amazing person. “He’s funny and that makes going to training so much better. Although it’s a workout and he takes it seriously, he makes it fun. “Simon pushes me to achieve things I never believed I could achieve and I honestly don’t know what I’d do without him in my life as a PT and more importantly, as a friend. He is an absolute superstar and deserves so much in life! X” Vanessa
“Always so happy and always there to encourage us and always listen to our moans More than a trainer he’s our very own therapist xx” Jane
“Simon is amazing!! Despite me moaning at him about weights that he tells me to use, he still has a massive smile on his face and keeps me motivated. I love how he tries Yorkshire slang in his Lithuanian accent.” Amie
“Simon is an excellent trainer who has kept us all going through lockdown. He is always cheery but pushes you to work hard with a lovely smile on his face. He never moans or is grumpy and is a ray of sunshine in the current darkness.” Fiona Please send your nomination to events@scriptmedia.co.uk and we will be featuring some more of your stories in WorkOut magazine, and our WorkOut Weekly digital newsletter. Closing date for entries is Friday December 4.
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Advertiser’s announcement
Primal Strength win Matrix Fitness rights MATRIX Fitness has announced an exclusive partnership with Primal Strength to target an increased strategic focus on the Scottish market. Launched officially in October, Primal Strength now has exclusive rights to distribute Matrix Fitness equipment across Scotland, a key growth area for the company. Simon Overing, head of regional sales at Matrix Fitness UK, said: “Scotland is a key area of focus for us, and despite having previously had designated sales
representatives cover this area, we have been impressed by the increasing presence Primal Strength has in this region and have therefore decided to partner exclusively with the team in support of our regional expansion plans. “During the pitch process, Primal Strength proved themselves as an energetic, innovative company who are showing impressive market growth. “We look forward to working with them to deliver an enhanced, effective drive across the region.”
Launched in 2016, Primal Strength represents aspirational fitness equipment aimed at premium home consumers and bespoke commercial gym facilities. Steven Rinaldi, managing director, Primal Strength added: “Primal Strength is one of the fastest growing strength brands in the UK. “We are on track to double turnover from last year and have our sights set on further expansion. “The fact that a global company such as
Matrix Fitness has chosen to exclusively partner with us over other competitors is testament to our company’s hard work, innovation and quality. We look forward to working together and to building a long-lasting, successful partnership.” Primal Strength has a team of industry professionals specialising in strength, functional and HIIT products as well as full turnkey solutions for both commercial and consumer clients. Visit www.matrixfitness.co.uk or www.primalstrength.com
In partnership with
Friday 26th November 2021, The Athena,Leicester NOMINATIONS WILL REMAIN OPEN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR CLOSING ON AUGUST 31 2021. WWW.NATIONALFITNESSAWARDS.CO.UK
SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES ARE AVAILABLE Call 01226 734605 or email tb@scriptmedia.co.uk for details
D E R E V O C U O Y T E G LET’S EMD UK is here to support the sector. Our insurance covers you to deliver classes pre-recorded, live and face-to-face.
group exercise membership
pt & specialist membership
emd uk associate membership
For group exercise instructors inlcuding Yoga and Pilates £49*
For PT and specialist instructors £64*
For instructors working their way towards a qualification £89*
Through our insurance packages all our instructors are covered for digital delivery and will receive:
emd uk affiliate membership For instructors who already have insurance but would like access to our resources, support and discounts £18**
£10m public liability, professional liability and product liability £2.5k personal property and great personal accident cover**
By becoming an EMD UK member, you will also receive: Discounted PPL, costing £1.75 per class (RRP is £1.93) Practical resources (risk assessments, PAR-Qs etc) Professional, business and marketing resources Support from our instructor development team
For more information on all our insurance packages please contact us: www.emduk.org
01403 266 000
training@emduk.org
*This rate is only available to EMD UK Members, this price includes your annual EMD UK membership. **AFFILIATE is an EMD UK Membership only package that does not contain insurance.
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FunXtion drives debate with experts IN collaboration with ukactive, FunXtion has driven a global discussion with some of the world’s leading fitness operators and influencers, exploring how digitalisation will influence the delivery of fitness services and products moving forwards. All discussions took place virtually through June and July, during the first Covid-induced UK lockdown, leading to the production of the first, fully virtually driven ukactive supported White Paper. “As the world plunged into lockdown and people were ordered to ‘stay home’, the value of a digital offer became undeniable,” said Ernst De Neef, CEO at FunXtion. “The world had changed forever and the sector needed to adapt at lightening pace in order to maintain its relevance in the market. “We have always believed that collaboration is key to success. As a result, we were quick to instigate a global discussion between facility operators and experts to explore how the consumers new-found enthusiasm for streamed content and digital capabilities would impact our product and service provision as we navigate
our way through this pandemic and beyond.” The White Paper, produced as a direct interpretation of discussions, is titled ‘The Acceleration of Digital Fitness: reconciling physical and virtual spaces’, and has been produced to give access to the thoughts and insights of industry leaders. The document has been divided into three core sections: Assessing the impact of Covid-19 on the physical activity sector; Opportunities and challenges for digitalisation transformation and Responding to a changed consumer economy. Ernst added: “The encouraging takeaway is there is a huge level of optimism for the future. “Yes, Covid-19 has forced many organisations and individuals to completely pivot their business model but it has really just accelerated what was inevitable. “Commerce is no longer driven by industry, it is driven by the consumer. “Our industry has had the technological and digital capability to extend the member experience beyond the brick and mortar of our facilities for
many years but we lacked the impetus to instigate change. “Now we have been forced to act and we have done so with passion, enthusiasm and commitment. As a result, our offer will be much more resilient for the future. “Within our discussion groups there was an overwhelming belief that there will remain a demand for physical training spaces in the market moving forwards. “Consumers will now expect wraparound support but it is the sense of belonging and community driven by an in-person experience that has been the backbone of our success until now and this will continue to be our core strength moving forwards. “The provision of a digital offer, enabling access to fitness content and coaching will become the new base level expectation but people will still crave the opportunity to train in a physical space. “One of the main challenges posed by digitalisation is how to position the outof-club services. “Should these be incorporated as part of the membership fee, creating added-
value or can clubs expect to position digital services as a revenue driver? “This topic created an interesting debate. “The White Paper outlines the main options and looks at the merits of each, helping operators to decide on the best positioning for their brand.” Speaking about the White Paper, David Gerrish, head of digital transformation at ukactive, added: “The digitalisation of the fitness and leisure sector has accelerated five years in just five months. “Operators who reaped the biggest benefits were those who had already established digital as a key component of their product offering. “This white paper is an important piece of thought leadership for businesses across the industry seeking to react to market trends and better meet the needs of their customers. “It’s now up to the fitness industry to build on these insights to strengthen their brands and relationships with their members.” The White Paper is available now for free download from the FunXtion website at https://funxtion.com/ukactive_and_ funxtion_white-paper/
Coating helps Codelocks’ products fight Covid-19 CODELOCKS has released Clean by Codelocks*, a photocatalytic coating that has been proven capable of eliminating the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (Covid-19) within minutes. The clear, durable coating reduces bacterial growth on any surface it is applied to and can be applied to any lock product in the Codelocks range. Clean by Codelocks is resistant to chemical cleaners and is designed to complement, rather than replace, existing sanitisation procedures. It works by a process called photocatalytic oxidation. The ISO certified* coating reacts with light and converts harmful bacteria and germs into a non-toxic compound, resulting in a clean and hygienic surface. Colin Campbell, managing director at Codelocks, said: “Businesses need to do all they can to reduce the spread of Covid-19 – including using new technology. “The new nano-tech finish, Clean by Codelocks, has been shown to reduce bacterial growth by more than 99.9 per cent and provides an additional measure of protection over sanitisation.
“Customers can opt for the new finish with any of Codelocks’ lock solutions. “We’re expecting this coating to be popular with businesses and organisations that will benefit from an extra level of protection against coronavirus – including education and healthcare environments, offices, shops and restaurants.” Clean by Codelocks is available with all Codelocks lock products and should be used in conjunction with existing cleaning and sanitisation processes. Customers visiting the Codelocks website are able to opt for the new coating simply by ticking a checkbox next to the chosen product. *Clean by Codelocks is a brand name operated by Codelocks Ltd to describe products that have been treated with the LumaClean™ Multipurpose Photocatalytic Coating manufactured by USA Nanocoat “the manufacturer”. All test results, certifications and claims are those applied for or of the manufacturer. For more information on Clean by Codelocks visit www.codelocks. co.uk/cleanbycodelocks
FITBAG HELPS YOU STAY HEALTHY, STAY FIT AND STAY SAFE BY USING HIIT FITNESS ROUTINES WITHOUT BEING HIT FITBAG is capable of measuring the Power, Speed and Accuracy of a hit from Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts Combinations. Your FITBAG connects to your FITBAG App on your phone, tablet, PC, Mac, Amazon and Apple Tv’s allowing you to compete against leader boards locally or online. Local play enables others to join in at home the gym or club. Gaming Technology combines with sports science to enhance your skills and help you achieve higher outputs with our High Intensive Training sessions developing muscle memory and Stamina. It’s a great workout. Players develop their personalised combinations, play opponents locally or online. Leader boards allow players to monitor their performance and exercise with other like-minded people from around the globe. The best part is that you can compete with friends or family without anyone being hit or hurt.
Bluetooth Connected Voice Activated Leaderboard Competition Single or Group Play Measure Power Accuracy and Speed Easy Fit www.fit-bag.com ken@fitbag.me Telephone: 020 8133 8113
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fibodo launches training marketplace to help fitness and leisure professionals AWARD-winning sports and activity booking platform, fibodo, has announced the launch of Learn2Earn, a selection of premium online, in-person and blended learning courses, developed to help fitness entrepreneurs start up, grow and succeed in some of the most viable careers in the UK. The only UK-wide marketplace for accredited education for time-based professionals and businesses, Learn2Earn is designed to inspire those looking to start a career in the sports and leisure industry, opening up new opportunities for anyone to earn more and start their own business. The platform also offers established trainers the opportunity to expand their industry and specialist knowledge, acquire new skills and professional qualifications, and increase their earning potential in a myriad of ways, at a time when estimates show as many as 90 per cent of the UK workforce will need new skills by 2030. Anthony Franklin, managing director of fibodo, said: “We are committed to empowering teachers, coaches and instructors by making it simple for them to run and grow their businesses. “With the launch of Learn2Earn, we are able to provide even greater resource to people looking at retraining as a result of rising unemployment, starting their own ventures and/or ambitious professionals looking to differentiate the services they offer. “That’s why offering a trusted and verified source of best in class education and bite-size learning is so important. “This is particularly important in the current climate, as 300,000 job losses are feared in the fitness, leisure and recreational sports sectors alone. “It’s likely that many people will be looking to adopt
digital technologies to future proof their livelihood and what better industry to do this in, the fitness industry, which directly impacts on the communities we live in and the health of the nation as a whole. “We have been absolutely thrilled with the response from training providers, and we’re excited to work with these great organisations, to forge a brighter future for hardworking professionals.” During this beta phase, before consumer launch,
users will initially have access to more than 30 courses from 12 of the UK’s leading training providers, including Study Active, Boxology and Broga, with the range of available courses continuing to expand over the coming months as other training partners load content. Aiming to raise standards across the activities sector by facilitating greater collaboration and support, Learn2Earn is endorsed by The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity.
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Leisure-net to repeat its lockdown survey Leisure-net is running a repeat of its initial Post Lockdown Recovery Survey to gauge consumer confidence following a second spell of closure for health clubs and leisure centres across the UK. Sponsored by Active IQ, the new research will follow the lines of the initial survey, which was carried out in April, to allow Leisure-net to benchmark consumer feelings between lockdowns. As well as gauging what customers expect of operators to keep them safe, additional questions regarding when consumers are likely to return and what they are doing to remain physically active during this second lockdown have also been included. Leisure-net director Dave Monkhouse said: “The initial survey results have been widely used to inform decision making, lobby local and central Government and shape re opening guidance by organisations such as Sport England, ukactive, Community Leisure UK and CIMSPA. “Operators up and down the country have also used the results to inform their decisions, maximise the impact of re-opening and reframe post-Covid activity.” Leisure-net is urgently seeking operators to distribute the survey to their customers, and anyone interested in taking part should email davidmonkhouse@leisure-net.org with: n Operator name.
Free memberships offered n Name of operator contact. n Email address of contact. n Telephone number of contact. n Number of sites that will distribute the survey. The closing date for expression of interest is Monday, November 23 at 12 noon. Operators that take part will receive a free copy of the full report, as well as access to their own specific company results, which can be cross referenced by age, gender, operator type and region.
FITNESS brand BLOK is offering outof-work creatives 5,000 free six-month memberships to BLOKtv – its online fitness platform. Until venues can reopen, performers, artists and creative thinkers are facing an uncertain future. BLOK wants to provide long term support to the industry, to help contribute to art professionals physical and mental health. By giving away free access to its digital fitness platform, this will enable people to continue their passions and maintain wellbeing throughout the pandemic While it doesn’t come close to solving the problem, BLOK hopes that it will provide some emotional and creative release for those in the arts industry, after more than 200 days without an outlet or support. Co-founder and CEO of BLOK, Ed Stanbury, said: “BLOKtv is more than
just a temporary solution to lockdown – it’s an online community for creative thinkers who want to maintain a healthy mind and body. “Community has always been at the heart of BLOK, and it’s our aim to provide a platform which both our instructors and creative communities can really feel part of.” “As we continue through the second lockdown, it feels like now more than ever we need to keep our community moving. We believe that fitness fuels creativity, allowing people to learn new skills, build strength, flexibility, and ultimately have fun. “BLOK is not just about getting fitter, it should make you feel better in every part of your life.” The new offer will be promoted through the #MoveForTheArts social media campaign and launch film devised in collaboration with Pitch & Sync
Advertiser’s announcement
EMD UK reduce membership prices and increases its support for instructors AS FITNESS instructors across the country continue to be impacted by Covid-19, EMD UK, the national governing body for group exercise, has committed to reducing its membership with insurance packages. The packages, now starting at just £49 per year, have reduced in price as instructor income continues to take a hit. “As an organisation committed to instructors, we really want to make their lives easier,” said Sue Wilkie, head of instructor development at EMD UK. “This extends past free resources and social media. We have worked to cut our membership and insurance prices to ensure instructors can use these savings elsewhere. “We have saved them money on PPL, and we have saved them money on membership. We have championed them to DCMS and ensured they can continue teaching where possible. “We will continue to stand by instructors and ensure they have the tools they need to stand at the front and do the job they love.” More than 9,000 instructors have already benefitted from the EMD UK Group Ex Support Pack: a free resource for instructors containing guidance on class capacities, disclaimers, risk assessments, a PAR-Q form, and more. Now, more instructors can benefit from
reduced membership with insurance costs. With packages starting from just £49 per year for group exercise and £64 for personal trainers, these savings will be welcomed by many of the fitness workforce. EMD UK believes the physical, mental, and social health of the nation can be improved by group exercise, especially
now. Marcus Kingwell, CEO of EMD UK, said “EMD UK has committed to ongoing dialogue with Sport England and DCMS to ensure group exercise classes are at the forefront of physical activity discussion. “With nearly five million people taking part in group exercise classes every week (pre-Covid) and classes being the
second most popular physical activity in England, group exercise instructors play a huge part in the health of the nation and we are with them every step of the way.” For more information on EMD UK’s reduced membership and insurance packages, click here. For instructor updates, follow EMD UK on Facebook here.
14-15 SEPTEMBER
2021
THE FITNESS EVENT OF THE YEAR Visit Tomorrow’s Workout 2021 at Bolton’s Macron Stadium and you could find all that you need in one place - in one day • Over 50 key exhibitors with the latest equipment and services • 8 great seminars packed with ideas for your business • New products to improve your spend per member
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