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September 2010
The UK’s No 1 fitness industry magazine
Entries pour in for first WorkOut awards
VAT abolition ‘unlikely’ for independents By Emma Spencer AN MP has admitted that despite a nationwide campaign to abolish VAT payments for independent clubs the situation is unlikely to change. Karen Lumley, Conservative MP for Redditch, has taken the NoVat4Gyms campaign to Parliament while a petition supporting the private sector is still gathering signatures prior to being handed in at Number 10 in October. She was contacted by Gymophobics, based in her Midlands constituency, and has since written to the Treasury. She has asked for clarity on why local authority centres are exempt from VAT, where tax paid by chains and independents is spent and what will happen when the VAT rate rises from 17.5 per cent to 20 per cent next year. Karen told Workout: “It is an answer the people who own gyms need. We need clarity sooner rather than later. “One person raised it, they have hundreds of members that are my constituents and there are several gyms in Redditch in the same situation. It is a legitimate question to ask. “We need a definitive answer and see where we go from there. The country is
in serious economic difficulty. There is no way we can commit to cutting taxes in this particular economic climate.” Over 1,000 people have added their names to the online campaign which is gathering more names each day. In just one day a hundred people signed the petition after it was reported in last month’s WorkOut. Founder of NoVat4Gyms, Wayne Heath from Clubmanager argues the money saved in VAT payments could be used to pay more staff, increase services, attract more members, get more people active in turn reducing the obesity burden on the NHS. He said: “We have had an enormous amount of support with gym owners saying they feel this has been unfair for years and at long last we are getting together as one big voice. “It has gathered pace quicker than we could have ever imagined and it has made people realise how important all of this is. “It is a complete injustice that needs to be balanced out. Ultimately we want to get VAT removed but want to say people feel this way and where do we start to come to some compromise.”
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International rugby player Gavin Henson is fronting a sports supplements range launched by Gold’s Gym. As part of his role as ambassador he will be writing a monthly on-line blog sharing his training experience and expertise. Gavin said: “When I hear Gold’s Gym I think of physiques like that of Arnold Schwarzenegger. With 35 years’ experience who better to keep me in shape?”
WORKOUT’S National Fitness Awards are shaping up to be the highlight of the industry calendar this year. Independent gyms, combat gyms, health clubs and specialist bodybuilding gyms are all putting themselves forward for the awards designed to recognise clubs and individuals who have had a particular impact on the industry. The most sought-after category is bound to be gym of the year which is being broken down into five regional areas covering Scotland, North, Midlands, South and Wales and the lifetime achievement award given to someone who has made a long term contribution to the industry. It is the first awards of its kind for those working in the health and fitness business including those in the public and private sector. A prestigious dinner is being held at the National Railway Museum in York where the winners will be announced at an awards evening hosted by former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies. Full details, Page 44
76-Page Leisure Industry Week special issue