News Archive
Independents are holding their own
INDEPENDENT gym operators are maintaining their position in a growing industry according to this year’s FIA State of the UK Fitness |ndustry Report.
They now have a membership base of 1.3 million members across the country and have enjoyed a one per cent increase in like-for-like membership numbers since January 2006.
The Leisure Database Company carried out research for the report and Director, David Minton, said: “This is particularly impressive as the figures from 2005 showed that independents had suffered a six per cent loss in membership numbers.
“After seeing those figures we wondered whether it was the beginning of the end for those gyms, but now they seem to have bounced back considerably.”
Over the last year 73 new independent gym facilities have opened across the UK and the value for the independent sector is now £0.65 billion, up £23 million since January 2006.
Mr Minton added: “I think the main reason for the independent gyms’ success is that the bigger chains have been focussing their money and resources on new technologies rather than customer service.
“They have been losing track of the fact that fitness is a people business and are cutting costs by reducing staff.
“Modern technology might allow you to get people in and out quickly and save money, but it does not build relationships.”
The State of the UK Fitness Industry Report is the only report produced from a complete audit of UK operators.
It illustrates how the fitness industry has developed across the country over the year.
Mr Minton added: “It is interesting to see that the North East has seen the fastest and highest growth rate from a fairly slow beginning.
“There has been a 6.4 per cent growth of membership, which has shot up from a decline of 2.3 per cent in the previous year.
“Of course London is still the biggest and fastest growing region, and it is also worth the most.
“However, it is also good to see that only three areas, Scotland, the East Midlands and Yorkshire and Humberside have shown no growth or a slight decline.”
INDEPENDENT gym operators are maintaining their position in a growing industry according to this year’s FIA State of the UK Fitness |ndustry Report.
They now have a membership base of 1.3 million members across the country and have enjoyed a one per cent increase in like-for-like membership numbers since January 2006.
The Leisure Database Company carried out research for the report and Director, David Minton, said: “This is particularly impressive as the figures from 2005 showed that independents had suffered a six per cent loss in membership numbers.
“After seeing those figures we wondered whether it was the beginning of the end for those gyms, but now they seem to have bounced back considerably.”
Over the last year 73 new independent gym facilities have opened across the UK and the value for the independent sector is now £0.65 billion, up £23 million since January 2006.
Mr Minton added: “I think the main reason for the independent gyms’ success is that the bigger chains have been focussing their money and resources on new technologies rather than customer service.
“They have been losing track of the fact that fitness is a people business and are cutting costs by reducing staff.
“Modern technology might allow you to get people in and out quickly and save money, but it does not build relationships.”
The State of the UK Fitness Industry Report is the only report produced from a complete audit of UK operators.
It illustrates how the fitness industry has developed across the country over the year.
Mr Minton added: “It is interesting to see that the North East has seen the fastest and highest growth rate from a fairly slow beginning.
“There has been a 6.4 per cent growth of membership, which has shot up from a decline of 2.3 per cent in the previous year.
“Of course London is still the biggest and fastest growing region, and it is also worth the most.
“However, it is also good to see that only three areas, Scotland, the East Midlands and Yorkshire and Humberside have shown no growth or a slight decline.”
Fred unanimously elected as next FIA chairman
FRED Turok, founder and chairman of LA Fitness, will be the next chairman of the FIA after being unanimously elected at the latest board meeting.
He will officially succeed the current chairman, Harm Tegelaars, this month.
Mr Turok has been a vice-chair of the organisation for over a year and has almost 30 years of experience in the health and fitness sector.
As a former PE teacher who used his house as surety to buy his first club, he is very aware of the pressures of management, for single sites or multiple chains.
He said: “The next three to five years are critical to the success of our industry.
“The team has made huge strides in raising the industry’s profile at Westminster and securing crucial funding for our activity based programming.
“But our challenge is to accelerate this funding stream and make sure we are seen to be a vital part of the Government’s 2012 legacy planning strategy.
“We must make FIA members so critical to all consumers’ health and well being aspirations and plans, that they never shop anywhere else.”
FIA CEO Andree Deane said: “The Board is confident that Fred’s energy, drive, vision and ambition for the industry will use this platform as a springboard to ensure that every single public and private operator will maximise the twin opportunities of the public health agenda and 2012.”
FRED Turok, founder and chairman of LA Fitness, will be the next chairman of the FIA after being unanimously elected at the latest board meeting.
He will officially succeed the current chairman, Harm Tegelaars, this month.
Mr Turok has been a vice-chair of the organisation for over a year and has almost 30 years of experience in the health and fitness sector.
As a former PE teacher who used his house as surety to buy his first club, he is very aware of the pressures of management, for single sites or multiple chains.
He said: “The next three to five years are critical to the success of our industry.
“The team has made huge strides in raising the industry’s profile at Westminster and securing crucial funding for our activity based programming.
“But our challenge is to accelerate this funding stream and make sure we are seen to be a vital part of the Government’s 2012 legacy planning strategy.
“We must make FIA members so critical to all consumers’ health and well being aspirations and plans, that they never shop anywhere else.”
FIA CEO Andree Deane said: “The Board is confident that Fred’s energy, drive, vision and ambition for the industry will use this platform as a springboard to ensure that every single public and private operator will maximise the twin opportunities of the public health agenda and 2012.”
Leisure centre set to defend crown
HILLSBOROUGH Leisure Centre is shaping up to defend its Centre of the Year crown, having been shortlisted for a national award for the third consecutive year.
The centre, managed by Sheffield International Venues, has been named in the Fitness Industry Association (FIA) FLAME Awards 2007 in the Centre of the Year category.
The competition is designed to reward excellence and best practice in the health and fitness industry and Hillsborough has scooped the top prize for the last two years.
General manager Richard Apps said: “We’re delighted to have been named one of the finalists once again for these highly sought after awards.
“We believe that we have continued to build on our strengths and we are continually striving to provide the best possible facilities and services to the people of Sheffield. We’re looking forward to defending our title and hope to make it a hat-trick of titles.”
Other finalists are Fareham Leisure Centre, near Southampton, and Guildford Spectrum Energy Level Gym and Spa.
The awards are due to take place at the NEC in Birmingham on September 26.
HILLSBOROUGH Leisure Centre is shaping up to defend its Centre of the Year crown, having been shortlisted for a national award for the third consecutive year.
The centre, managed by Sheffield International Venues, has been named in the Fitness Industry Association (FIA) FLAME Awards 2007 in the Centre of the Year category.
The competition is designed to reward excellence and best practice in the health and fitness industry and Hillsborough has scooped the top prize for the last two years.
General manager Richard Apps said: “We’re delighted to have been named one of the finalists once again for these highly sought after awards.
“We believe that we have continued to build on our strengths and we are continually striving to provide the best possible facilities and services to the people of Sheffield. We’re looking forward to defending our title and hope to make it a hat-trick of titles.”
Other finalists are Fareham Leisure Centre, near Southampton, and Guildford Spectrum Energy Level Gym and Spa.
The awards are due to take place at the NEC in Birmingham on September 26.
Indian qualification opens up UK opportunities for instructors
FITNESS instructors from India could soon be working in UK health clubs thanks to a new qualification that has been launched.
The new qualifications for the Indian fitness market are approved and accredited by Central YMCA Qualifications - the UK awarding body.
It will mean that Indian candidates can join the Register of Exercise Professionals, which will give them the opportunity to work in the UK.
CYQ entered the Indian fitness market earlier this year, with two training centres offering approved fitness training courses to staff at FitnessOne, south India’s leading chain of health clubs, and to instructors at Bodyfit gyms located in the country’s northern provinces.
More than 150 instructors have taken the CYQ approved Level Two in Fitness Instructing course, with most now on route to training towards the Level Three Certificate in Personal Training.
Gill Cummings-Bell is Director of Drummond Education which is delivering CYQ approved fitness training across the northern provinces in India.
She said: “This is a valuable and unique experience as it offers us the opportunity to learn about the cultural, health and fitness needs of people living in India. We aim to bring back that learning to the UK and incorporate it where appropriate, for example, in improving the way we communicate to the Indian community living in the UK.”
FITNESS instructors from India could soon be working in UK health clubs thanks to a new qualification that has been launched.
The new qualifications for the Indian fitness market are approved and accredited by Central YMCA Qualifications - the UK awarding body.
It will mean that Indian candidates can join the Register of Exercise Professionals, which will give them the opportunity to work in the UK.
CYQ entered the Indian fitness market earlier this year, with two training centres offering approved fitness training courses to staff at FitnessOne, south India’s leading chain of health clubs, and to instructors at Bodyfit gyms located in the country’s northern provinces.
More than 150 instructors have taken the CYQ approved Level Two in Fitness Instructing course, with most now on route to training towards the Level Three Certificate in Personal Training.
Gill Cummings-Bell is Director of Drummond Education which is delivering CYQ approved fitness training across the northern provinces in India.
She said: “This is a valuable and unique experience as it offers us the opportunity to learn about the cultural, health and fitness needs of people living in India. We aim to bring back that learning to the UK and incorporate it where appropriate, for example, in improving the way we communicate to the Indian community living in the UK.”
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