Workout UK August 2014 by Script Media

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August 2014

The UK’s No 1 fitness industry magazine

Budget chains end proposed merger plans By Christina Eccles BUDGET operators Pure Gym and The Gym Group have terminated their merger plan after the Competition and Markets Authority referred the transaction for in-depth investigation. In June, the CMA completed a detailed first phase inquiry into the merger and then initiated an in-depth phase two investigation, which was unlikely to be completed until early 2015. The two companies agreed to halt merger talks after concluding that a protracted phase two investigation would have a detrimental effect on both businesses. Chief executive at Pure Gym Peter Roberts said: “We remain convinced of the merits of our proposed transaction, which would have made affordable gyms more widely available. “But regulatory delays have created uncertainty that is detrimental for customers, employees and management. We have therefore decided to remain independent companies, pursuing separate, vigorous growth strategies.” The two companies will continue to operate under their current ownership structures. Pure Gym is owned by CCMP Capital Advisors, LLC, while The

Gym Group is jointly controlled by Phoenix Equity Partners and Bridges Ventures. Chief executive of The Gym Group John Treharne added: “As standalone gym-operators, we will continue to provide outstanding value to members, great facilities and excellent career opportunities for staff. Although our merger promised to build on those strong foundations, we have taken the prudent decision to terminate discussions given the lack of clarity on a timetable to completion.” In a joint statement, Tom Walker, UK managing director of CCMP Capital Advisors (UK) II Limited, and David Burns, managing partner at Phoenix Equity Partners, added: “We are surprised that the CMA has concluded that a combination of two young businesses with a combined total of 110 gyms nationwide created a risk of a substantial lessening of competition. “These two gym groups created the model that enable significant numbers of first-time users to access 24-hour, no contract health and fitness clubs at affordable prices. “Looking to the future, both companies will now focus on the great opportunities that lie ahead.”

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Supplement warning is issued after investigation

Members at a Telford gym got the chance to work out alongside a Formula One racing driver at the official launch of its new fitness suite. As part of a £100,000 makeover, the Revive fitness suite at the Holiday Inn has been completely refurbished, including the introduction of several Matrix Fitness products not currently available in any other facility in the area. The kit was put through its paces at the opening ceremony by test and development driver for the Lotus F1 team and Matrix Fitness ambassador Marco Sørensen (pictured).

REGULATORY Services officers at Barnsley Council have issued a warning to people who use pre-workout supplements, following a recent investigation. Officers took samples of preworkout supplements, which claimed to improve performance and burn fat, from gyms around the borough. Analytical testing of the products found one of the supplements, Muscle Junkie Psycho Pre-workout, to contain DMAA – a stimulant for which safe levels for human consumption have not been established. Adverse reactions to the substance have been reported around the world and products containing DMAA have been withdrawn across the European Union. Regulatory Services officers have worked closely with the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency to ensure the product has been removed from sale nationally, also advising consumers to check packaging and not buy products containing DMAA. Spokesman councillor Roy Miller added: “Officers will carry out further testing on similar products in the coming months to ensure that the products on the market are safe.”

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ENTER YOUR CLUB FOR A TOP INDUSTRY AWARD...

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Long-standing gym to upgrade facilities thanks to investment By Christina Eccles A LONG standing gym is looking excitedly towards the future after receiving investment enabling it to upgrade and enhance facilities. Life@Whitehouse is part of the Telford Whitehouse Hotel, which has recently been taken over by New College; with money set aside to be invested into the leisure offering. Planned improvements include a new range of gym equipment, new swimming pool ceiling and upgraded lockers in the changing rooms to bring the club up to date and help it compete with rivals in a crowded market place. Leisure club manager Mark Beamson explained: “We are 10 years old and were created when the football club was redeveloped with a hotel onsite. But just before completion it went into administration and the club was taken over by a supporters’ trust. “The bank repossessed the hotel and it remained in their hands until November 2013, when it was taken over by New College. During that period we couldn’t invest, so marketing had to be things which cost little or nothing.”

With limited money to spend, the gym had to be creative in order to create a strong brand and keep up with an increasing number of clubs moving in to Telford, many of which could afford to splash out on the latest equipment and marketing campaigns. But a strong focus on customer experience and service has helped them thrive, as has forging links with local media to publicise great member stories and spread the word about the club. Mark added: “There are a lot of clubs here but when a new operator comes into town, there is a lot of marketing spend on health and fitness, which creates an opportunity for us. “We get lots of different groups coming in and have a really positive role in the community. “Our USP without question is our staff and the ability they have to interact with our customers. They are very engaged and aligned with the business.” The customer service element continues throughout the member journey and is something the team at Life@Whitehouse are so good at, they were shortlisted in the customer service category at last year’s National

Planned improvements include new gym equipment, new swimming pool ceiling and upgraded lockers in the changing rooms Fitness Awards. Mark added: “You have to put opportunities in place for people to tell us what their issues are. I text everyone when they join to welcome them to the club and let

BMF launches new city venue BRITISH Military Fitness is building on its significant local following in Coventry with the launch of a new venue at Caludon Castle Park. Ex-army engineer Sonja Wrighton will lead the sessions and is inviting everyone living or working in the local area, who wants to get fit for summer, to come down and try a class for free on Monday and Wednesday evenings at 6.30pm or

Saturday mornings at 9am. She said: “I’m really excited about the launch of this new BMF venue and I can’t wait to meet all the new recruits. “I hope to see lots of eager faces looking for a new challenge, or wanting to get fit and healthy for summer. “And of course I’ll make sure they have fun whilst doing so.”

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them know if they have any problems they can contact me directly on that number. “If you can make the beginning part of their membership as great as possible then the rest follows.”

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YOUR CLUB FLY THE FLAG FOR YOUR LOCAL AREA?

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Design is key at Eden Fitness, with every area considered carefully to ensure members feel immersed in the Garden of Eden theme and experience.

Luxury club does things differently By Christina Eccles A LUXURY club in Ealing is doing things differently, with a defined focus on design and service keeping members happy and business buoyant. Eden Fitness opened in 2007; aiming to bring a high end fitness offering to the area, combined with giving members the personal levels of customer service which independent gyms can do so well. The club focuses heavily on design, with every area considered carefully to ensure the use of space is maximised and members feel immersed in the Garden of Eden theme and experience.

Club manager Charlie Bourne explained: “Design is really important to us – a leisure club doesn’t have to look like a gym. The fitness equipment should be secondary to how people feel in each area. “We are trying to be different. Every inch has been thought of. We’ve gone for a boutique, design led feel, which makes the space much more interesting.” With increasing levels of local competition, the club has also worked hard to fend off the arrival of a budget gym just down the road. Instead of panicking and cutting prices, they decided to reinvest almost £50,000 into the facility – and raise membership prices from £62 to

£74 per month. When doing so they made sure they highlighted to members exactly what they got for their money in terms of high quality equipment, a wide range of facilities – including a swimming pool and cocktail bar/coffee area – and most importantly the levels of knowledge and service offered by staff. And it proved to be a gamble which paid off. Charlie added: “We lost five per cent of our turnover almost immediately. But we focused on service and it took nine months for the membership to return back to what it was. And it’s been at 2,000 for the last two years.” A recent investment in new kit from

Matrix Fitness is also proving popular with members, as are the extravagant themed parties held at the club several times a year, which give members and staff a chance to interact with each other and let their hair down. Charlie added: “I really like what Matrix are doing and their technology is up there with the best. Our 50 plus membership is also really happy with using the equipment, which is important. “We’re also introducing something where every member of staff has to use the gym a minimum number of times. “This will bring us closer to our membership as they will be becoming even more a part of the club.”

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WANT YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS TO BE RECOGNISED?

Bannatyne’s health clubs have helped raise more than £15,000 during cancer charity Look Good Feel Better’s annual fundraising campaign, Feel Better Week, by hosting a series of fundraising events. Events included a Feel Better Spinathon with members and staff taking to their bikes while dressed in their most glamorous outfits and Feel Better afternoon teas, with all proceeds going straight to Look Good Feel Better. Each club also held their own fun events ranging from Yogathons, pamper sessions and barbecues, through to raffles and a sponsored leg wax. Duncan Bannatyne is pictured with Suzy Bradley and Fiona Dalton.

Original music is a key motivator, research reveals By Christina Eccles OVER 80 per cent of gym members who attend fitness classes prefer to listen to music by original artists during their classes rather than cover versions, PPL research claims. PPL, which works on behalf of over 90,000 record companies and performers to license recorded music played in public, found that when made to choose, 87 per cent of current and ex gym members (those who had been a member within the last five years) that have attended a fitness class within the last year said they prefer to listen to music by original artists over cover versions or soundalikes when working out at a fitness class. Of that 87 per cent, 52 per cent said it was because they find it more enjoyable, with 51 per cent saying it is of better quality. The research also showed current and ex gym members who have not undertaken a fitness class in the last year also valued original artist music; with 96 per cent stating a preference for it when working out. Chris Dickson, health and fitness development manager at Xcite, which provides sports and leisure services for West Lothian Council, said: “We get feedback on our music all the time from our clients. “It is absolutely central to the atmosphere and we would struggle as an industry without good music to work with. “When the changes to the PPL tariff were first introduced, I did look into

Christine Geissmar alternative options and cover versions – no one is ever happy about prices going up. However, when we played it in our classes, I could see that gymgoers weren’t engaging with it as well, and we got a lot of negative feedback. “We want artists to continue making good music for us to be able to enjoy in our centres, which is why we thoroughly recommend original artist music.” PPL director of operations Christine Geissmar added: “Our research shows music by original artists can bring many benefits to gym goers. “All we ask is that any business using music is legally compliant by obtaining a PPL and PRS for Music licence, ensuring that the performers and companies who create and invest in the recordings are paid fairly for their work.” Do your members prefer original artist music or do they not notice a difference when cover versions are played? Let us know by emailing ce@scriptmedia.co.uk

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YOUR GYM A POTENTIAL AWARD WINNER?

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The Woburn Forest gym features equipment from the Discover SE and Optima ranges.

Life Fitness partners with Center Parcs on Village LIFE Fitness has partnered with Center Parcs on its latest Village to open in the UK. As a preferred supplier, the company carried out a one day installation at the Woburn Forest Village in Bedfordshire. The Woburn Forest gym features a suite of equipment from the Discover SE and Optima ranges. These include the Life Fitness Elevation Series Discover SE equipment with features such as TV, Internet and LFconnect. Life Fitness account manager – pri-

vate sector James Ferguson said: “The new facility at Center Parcs Woburn Forest offers exceptionally high quality equipment and provides a premium club experience so it mirrors what guests may use in their clubs away from the complex. “We are thrilled to have been appointed as a trusted preferred supplier of Center Parcs and along with our service contracts, we’re looking forward to providing first class gym facilities for guests at both existing and future developments.”

Less than a month to go to get your nomination to us By Christina Eccles TIME is running out to enter the prestigious National Fitness Awards, with less than a month to go until nominations close for the 2014 event. Clubs from around the country have already put themselves in with the chance of winning a trophy by entering online and telling us what makes their facility so special. And with categories ranging from Regional Gym of the Year to best strength, combat and functional gyms, there is something for clubs of every shape and size. Gyms can also put forward their most inspirational customer for member achievement or recognise the contribution made by staff by entering gym based personal trainer of the year or gym team. The awards are now in their fifth year and are organised by Script Events, in partnership with Workout and headline sponsor Servicesport. The event was set up to recognise excellence and achievement from all corners of the industry and the standard of entries is getting stronger each year. Nominations will close on August 22 after which a shortlist of up to six entrants will be drawn up in each category.

Kim Ingleby is part of the expert judging panel for the National Fitness Awards. Everyone on the shortlist will then be contacted to arrange a comprehensive site visit carried out by a member of the Workout team, before reports are compiled to be passed on to our expert judging panel – Kim Ingleby, Dean Hodgkin, Carly Thornton, Steve Johnson and Ken Heathcote – who will have the tough task of picking the winners. Trophies will be handed out at a glittering ceremony, this year taking place at The Athena in Leicester on Friday November 28 and hosted by boxing champ Ricky Hatton and former TV Gladiator Caroline Pearce. To enter your club or find out more visit www.nationalfitnessawards.co.uk

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GOT A MEMBER WHO’S ACHIEVED SOMETHING SPECIAL?

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Instructors’ Business booming as owner resource is reveals big plans for brand launched By Christina Eccles

FITPRO has launched a new online resource for group exercise instructors, designed to provide everything they need to take their passion for teaching to the next level. MyGroupFit enables instructors to customise their classes, download new choreography, keep up to date with the latest industry research to enhance their knowledge base and share their thoughts with other group exercise instructors. The resource also provides instructors with a comprehensive non-PPL music download library, as well as educational articles from industry experts so they can stay at the cutting edge of their profession. Director of commercial operations (Europe) at FitPro, Fergus Ahern, said: “MyGroupFit provides group exercise instructors with all the tools that they need to deepen their knowledge and to inspire not only their students but also themselves. “As the world’s largest membership organisation for fitness professionals, FitPro is keen to provide quality support, products and education to group exercise instructors, whatever stage they are at in their career and whatever type of class they choose to teach.”

BUSINESS is booming for a South Yorkshire gym owner who would eventually like to open 10 clubs under his successful brand. Daniel Summerson opened the first Be Fitness club on the outskirts of Barnsley just under three-and-a-half years ago. This was followed last year with a second, bigger and better club – Be X Fitness – in Sheffield, which has already attracted attention from local professional sports teams and fans of CrossFit, as well as general gymgoers, thanks to its wide range of facilities and affordable pricing. The first club is also doing well, with a prominent high street location and a community focus encouraging people through the doors. Daniel, who set up brand, with a business partner, explained: “We have worked in gyms since we were 19 or 20 and had always said let’s open our own. We started saving up and mentally planned to do it years ago. “We bought this building and thought it would be a great tester because it’s not too big. It’s a good local community gym, which people use and enjoy. “This was a test and it worked. We originally wanted to open lots on the outskirts but realised in the current climate, areas like this don’t have a lot

Daniel Summerson wants to open 10 clubs under the Be Fitness name. of money. So we decided [with the second club] to compete with the big boys.” Over in Sheffield, Be X Fitness reached a membership of almost 1,000 people within three months of opening and Daniel is already thinking about further expansion, with plans in the pipeline to open a third site – also in the city – by the end of the year. He added: “We want people to have fun on the gym floor and to be able to give them lots of advice and support.

What we want to try and bring back is that personal side – but it has to be fun. “This is our second one but we want to get to 10 – that’s always been the goal. “By the end of the year we want a third club, but it has to be the right site, of the right size and at the right price. We are independent so they are some of the things we have to think about. “We’re really pleased with how it’s going. It’s long hours but worth it.”

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YOU HAVE THE BEST GYM TEAM IN THE COUNTRY?

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St Michael’s Hotel and Spa in Cornwall has recently taken charge of four tennis courts

Wimbledon inspired tournament marks tennis programme launch Imago Burleigh Court and Holywell Park in Loughborough will host active-net 2015.

Venue confirmed for event ACTIVE-NET 2015 will take place at Imago Burleigh Court and Holywell Park in Loughborough, organiser Leisure-net Solutions has revealed. Following the success of the first active-net earlier this year, the 2015 event – on May 29 and 30 – will consist of a similar mixture of educational seminars and workshops, combined with focused one-to-one buyer supplier meetings.

Leisure-net joint director and activenet organiser, Mike Hill, said: “We’ve listened to feedback from the 140 key industry figures who attended the inaugural active-net and, as a result, the second day of the 2015 event will be re-formatted. We also have some exciting new developments planned to ensure all attendees get to participate in high-level thinking, meaningful debate and real decision making.”

ST MICHAEL’S Hotel and Spa in Cornwall has held its own Wimbledon inspired tournament to celebrate the launch of its tennis programme, in partnership with the Falmouth Tennis Company. The hotel has recently taken charge of four tennis courts, giving health club members the opportunity to take part in various programmes throughout the year, including cardio tennis. Fitness manager Harry Taylor said: “We wanted to host a tournament for our members that enjoy using the courts and thought that the morning of the Wimbledon Men’s final would be a perfect time to do it.

“Each team that entered had the chance to win a night’s stay in the hotel. After the tournament we had a cream tea reception, medals ceremony and we watched the final in our hotel’s very own ‘Royal Box’ on the big screen. “It was a huge success and we’ll definitely hold more of these tournaments where the main emphasis is to have fun, improve your tennis skills and meet other members of the health club. “Perhaps in the future we will theme the food after with the tournament as well… croissants for the French Open, hot dogs for the US open and a BBQ on the beach for the Australian Open.”

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NEW TO THE INDUSTRY BUT ALREADY MAKING AN IMPACT?

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A family run gym in Ayrshire, which prides itself on offering that all important personal touch, is celebrating 30 successful years in business Workout discovered the secrets of its lasting success.

A dozen members took part in the challenge at MRC Fitness in Dalry, alongside support from employees, local businesses and other members.

Family-run gym marks landmark anniversary with 30-hour event MRC Fitness has been part of the Dalry community for the last three decades after originally being opened by director Lorraine Wallace’s parents Malcolm and Helen Clark. The business started off in the basement of the family home, after Malcolm – himself a successful bodybuilder – decided to follow his dream of owning a gym. Over the years, the club became more and more popular and the family had to gradually increase space to accommodate the growing business. This eventually led to a move in 1996 to bigger premises, where they have been ever since. Lorraine explained: “Dad was

involved in bodybuilding for years and his aim was always to own a gym. “It just took off over the years and we have third generations coming to the gym now – sons and grandsons of members.” This year, the club is celebrating its 30th birthday and to mark the milestone achievement decided to organise an ambitious charity event – raising over £11,000 for Erskine Hospital. When the business turned 20, staff ran a 24-hour sponsored workout, so decided this time, they would go even bigger and better, staging a successful 30-hour event. A dozen members took part in the

challenge, alongside support from employees, local businesses and other members who came down to cheer them on and make donations. Lorraine added: “It was a fabulous event and a great weekend. We started of at 12pm on the Saturday and ended at 6pm on Sunday. “Everybody has been so supportive and we raised over £11,000 for Erskine Hospital, so they were really delighted.” Creating a family friendly atmosphere has always been important at the club and even though Lorraine took over the business from her dad two years ago, he still plays an impor-

tant role – coming in to train himself and offering advice to members who refer to him as ‘the guru.’ She added: “We’ve always been part of the community and held charity events. We also hold social events, such as a Christmas ceilidh, and I take a team of girls to the Race for Life. “There are a number of members who have been with us throughout all that time. We treat everybody as an individual and as someone we want to get to know. We’ve always wanted to be a family orientated gym and for people to feel part of that family – and get that personal touch.”

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Welcome to WorkOut Weigh In – it’s your chance to have your say and share your views on industry issues. You can email us at ce@scriptmedia.co.uk or you can message us on Facebook or Twitter.

This month’s Recent interactions and posts top Tweets... for our Facebook followers @revitalizefit: Nice to see @SYSport in @WorkOutUK this month being supported by @HelenSkelton #girlsinsport #strongnotskinny @OliviaGTaylor: Sue Campbell asks: what is your gym doing to influence members into helping children to get active? Tell us @WorkOutUK @DrZaks: Pleased to say that @DrZaks features in the July edition of @WorkOutUK #LOAFISGOOD @kirstenpsmith: @WorkOutUK We're getting our members to match the daily kilometres cycled in the Tour De France as a whole club effort #TeamFerndownFitness @SchoolofPT: Great front page news piece from @WorkOutUK about our great partnership with @JonLipseymedia! @ChristinaEccles: Had a great day @mylfx. Enjoyed listening to some really inspiring talks and spreading the word about @WorkOutUK and @FitnessAwards. @RigsFitness: Delighted to hear that @HitmanHatton will be hosting this year’s @FitnessAwards with @CarolinePearce. Fingers crossed for another shortlist! @jordanfitnessuk: Still time to get nominations in @FitnessAwards. Who's entering our sponsored Functional Training Gym of the year? @Stetops: Being asked to be a judge in the National Fitness Awards (biggest in the industry) is a massive honour for me #proud

THIS month, we’ve also been enjoying interacting with our followers on Facebook... Here are a few of our recent posts and if you’ve been missing out on the conversation, come and say hi at www.facebook.com/workoutmagazine THE Workout team has had a great couple of days at ukactive's FLAME Conference and Awards. Look out for news from the event coming soon in the magazine... and here's Workout's Christina and Olivia enjoying the awards' ceremony! WE’VE enjoyed getting out and about over the last few weeks to visit some of our readers around the country. Did you see our articles on Burnley Leisure and Life Leisure following our trips there? Also look out for news coming soon from our visits to Eden Fitness, Everyone Active – Acton Centre, Virgin Active UK, Gymophobics Redditch and the gym at Telford Whitehouse Hotel. WHO is looking forward to the 2014

Workout's Christina and Olivia enjoying the FLAME awards' ceremony. National Fitness Awards?! Like or share this status if you're excited to find out who wins a top trophy at The Athena in Leicester on Friday November 28!

87 per cent of gym members who attend classes prefer original artist music, according to PPL research... What do you think? Is this the case in your gym?

race – and is gearing up for another one later this month! With Yorkshire still buzzing from its involvement in the Tour de France weekend and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow now in full swing, it will be interesting to see if Britain’s role in these major events has an impact on the fitness industry and encourages more people to become more active. It would be great to hear from gyms who have capitalised on the arrival of these – or other sporting events – in your area to get people through the doors of your facility. Or equally, if you didn’t feel the benefit at all, let us know why. Looking ahead to next issue, it’s that time of year again where we will be focusing on Leisure Industry Week, so if you’re gearing up for the show, send us your news for our round up of what to watch out for. We’ll also be marking our 21st birthday, so look out for celebrations on social media and feel free to share some of your memories of Workout over the years. Have a great month!

Christina Eccles

Editor’s Comment AS a team, we’ve been out and about all over the country this month, whether that’s reporting on conferences and events for the magazine or taking a more active role in participating ourselves. In recent weeks, junior reporter Olivia and I have been in Stockport at the LFX conference and Telford for ukactive’s Flame event; both of which provided interesting discussions, inspiring speaker presentations and valuable networking opportunities. I’ve also been in London where it was great to visit a number of gyms across the capital, including independent club Eden Fitness and impressive new facilities, Everyone Active Acton Leisure Centre and TRAIN. You can read about them all this issue, and as always, we’d love to hear what you think. Meanwhile, Workout’s Dominic and Chris have been showing off their own sporting credentials... Dominic shared in the excitement of Yorkshire’s role in the Tour de France as a ‘Tourmaker’ volunteer, while Chris completed a tough Total Warrior This month’s hot topic:

Who is looking forward to this year’s Leisure Industry Week? What would you like to see there? And if you’re @CarolinePearce: Announced as host of @FitnessAwards with @HitmanHatton in @WorkOutUK mag out now.

exhibiting, what are you taking to the show which we should be keeping an eye out for during our visit? Next month, we’ll be including a preview of the event, so would love to hear your thoughts. Send your answers to ce@scriptmedia.co.uk or contact us via Twitter or Facebook. We’ll print the best responses next issue.

@kimingleby: Really looking forward to judging #NFA, get those entries in, focus business progress, refine values, celebrate clients success @WorkOutUK.

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LIMITED CATEGORY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE

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Hundreds of key industry figures gathered at The International Centre in Telford for this year’s ukactive Flame Conference, where they were treated to an inspirational line-up of speakers, thought-provoking break-out sessions and practical top tips to take away on how to improve their own businesses. Workout’s Christina Eccles and Olivia Taylor joined them...

800 people gathered to honour the best in the industry at the annual ukactive and Matrix Flame Awards (left). Earlier, delegates heard from England World Cup winner Will Greenwood.

Delegates urged to examine sector’s future at conference THE theme of this year’s conference was ‘today’s vision, tomorrow’s reality’, which encouraged delegates to examine the future of the physical activity sector; identifying trends to watch out for and taking a closer look at the difference they can make within their own organisations. First up to the main stage was the day’s keynote speaker – renowned futurologist Magnus Lindkvist – who spoke about the two types of change, horizontal – taking something which already exists out to a wider population – and vertical – where something previously thought impossible becomes a reality. He urged the audience to be brave in their choice of whether to compete or create in business – telling them they shouldn’t be afraid of making mistakes or overcoming setbacks on their journeys to success. Also on the speaker line up was Jo Fairley, founder of organic chocolate company Green and Blacks, who revealed her tips on how to build a successful ethical business – and her vision of ‘changing the world one square of chocolate at a time.’ Jo, whose career has been inspired

by the mantra, “If you don’t do it, you’ll never know what would have happened if you had done it”, said the industry can play an important role in looking after the environment and becoming more responsible. And even though it can seem like a daunting process to start with, businesses should not let that put them off getting the ball rolling when it comes to sustainability. Her tips for operators included: Brainstorm ideas with staff – and members and clients who may often have a different perspective to people within your organisation. Introduce a reward scheme for sustainable ideas put forward which are then implemented into the business. Encourage members to tally up the miles they clock up on your equipment – for example running on a treadmill – and get them sponsored for charity. Get members/clients exercising outdoors to appreciate green spaces. Reduce your club’s carbon footprint through initiatives such as sensor lights or serving Fairtrade tea and coffee in your cafe area. She added: “The fitness industry can

do a great deal in terms of corporate social responsibility and the environment. “People are afraid to start this process because you can’t be perfect at it overnight. But the process begins with just starting. “Feeling that a company is making a difference is great for staff retention and when people feel a greater connection with the company they are working for, they are less inclined to leave.” Founder of freerunning Sebastien Foucan was also among the day’s speakers, explaining why understanding freerunning – or parkour – can help people think about their own attitudes to boundaries and difficulties in other areas of their lives. He believes the industry could do more to implement a playful element in to exercise, encouraging participants to think in terms of play and having fun, rather than seeing working out as something they have to do. He added: “Everything should be about play. “In society, we are very goal and performance orientated but play equals passion – and passion can reveal tal-

ent. “We are born to walk and run and climb. Gyms can be very limited as everything is fixed and contained. Play brings you to different environments. “Everything we are is influenced by the environment. If you want to change people, you have to change the environment.” Rounding off the day’s main speaker sessions was ex-England rugby player – and World Cup winner – Will Greenwood who encouraged delegates to think about the importance of teamwork, whether that be in a sports team preparing to play in a major tournament or in a business environment. He also urged visitors to think about the small changes they could make – those critical non essentials – which would drive them closer to their goals and build confidence. He added: “It’s not about getting the best individuals, it’s about celebrating the best skills set through different pairings and combinations. “We knew doing 100 things, one per cent better would make us world champions.”

Flame “really was truly special” Industry’s best honoured THIS year’s Flame was a great success, according to CEO David Stalker, with ukactive receiving great feedback from attendees. He added: “When you run an event as successful as Flame was last year, you approach the next year with some trepidation that the bar is already pretty high and it’ll take something pretty amazing to top it. But this year’s Flame really was truly special, starting with a picture perfect day for golf and networking. “At the conference itself, keynote speakers from such a broad range of vocations pulled the sector audience from their comfort zone challenging us all to think differently, take risks, create more and collaborate more to be

more. The panel and breakout sessions gave people the opportunity to deep dive into specific topics with some of the biggest innovators in those areas. “We also used the conference to launch National Fitness Day to the sector and we’re delighted with people’s enthusiasm and eagerness to get involved in that on September 26. “The awards and Ball of Fire in the evening captivated guests who were all in the mood for celebrating the industry’s ‘best in class’. And to top it all off the social media noise and engagement around the whole event from golf day, to pre-conference reception, conference and awards was phenomenal with everyone wanting to be part of the conversation.”

THE day culminated in the ukactive and Matrix Flame Awards and Ball of Fire, where 800 people gathered to honour the best in the industry. Winners: Go Outdoors – Nordic Walking. UKGo Green – 1Life. Workplace Wellbeing – Southampton Solent University. Shaping the Future Generation – Legacy Days from FitforSport and Everyone Active. Healthy Partnerships Project – Herts Sports Village. Health Club of the Year: Streamline – Living Well Health Club, Maidstone. Health Club of the Year: Multi-use – The Club Company, Benton Hall

Golf and Country Club. Leisure Centre of the Year: Stream line – GLL, Little Venice Sports Centre. Leisure Centre of the Year: Multiuse – Places for People Leisure, William Gregg VC Leisure Centre. Spirit of Flame – Joakim Valsinger, British Military Fitness. Spark of Innovation – DNA Fit. Supplier of the Year – Lifetime Training. Outstanding Achievement – Stevenage Leisure Limited, Gymtopia and Pool Platforms. Health Club Operator of the Year – Spirit Health Clubs. Leisure Centre Operator of the Year – Places for People Leisure.

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ENTER YOUR CLUB FOR A TOP INDUSTRY AWARD...

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GLL ‘fittest place to work' GLL has been named the fittest workplace after a team of staff put on their running shoes to claim a number of wins at the ‘5K your Way' race in Hackney Marshes in London. The race – a not-for-profit, wellbeing initiative for public sector employees run in partnership with London Sport and MOTIVATE – saw GLL’s Tereza Francoza the first lady home with a personal best result; Keith Griffiths celebrated a top four win; and Stephen Winfield came first

in his age category. With such a solid finish throughout the top 20, this meant the GLL team secured the coveted overall prize. Managing director Mark Sesnan said: “Congratulations to all 22 GLL staff who ran the race, and especially for doing so well. With a relatively small number of members compared with much larger teams from different organisations, it was great to see us win the ‘Fittest Workplace' title, proving it really is quality over quantity.”

A new Fit4less by énergie gym has opened in Long Eaton, with a pre-opening membership offer of £11.99 per month generating interest ahead of the launch. Ben Houghton, who will be representing England at the amputee World Cup in Mexico later this year, kicked off proceedings by cutting the ribbon to officially open the gym, which includes the latest Precor kit, large free weights section and studio for classes. Owner Gary Sheridan said: “Long Eaton is a fantastic location to open the new gym, we’ve had a lot of local interest and we’re excited to become a pillar in the community and provide high quality fitness equipment for a very competitive price. Fit4less is fitness for everyone and anyone no matter what your fitness levels are, abilities and also budget.”

Fitness instructor launches military endurance event Surrey Sports Park hosts Five arenas were taken up by some of the biggest names in group exercise.

A PROFESSIONAL bodyguard and fitness instructor is set to launch his military inspired endurance race into the mainstream following the success of several secret events. The HQrecon events have been designed to test both physical fitness and mental agility, with the aim of the game to infiltrate as many ‘zones’ as possible within a 3.5-hour time limit to collect intelligence codes located within each zone. Each code collected equals points, however, ‘the hunters’ – professionally trained security personnel – will be in pursuit. If participants get caught in a zone, they lose points and are sentenced to a time penalty in the form of an energy-sapping 15-minute military-style circuit training session led by an ex Royal Marine. Founder Will Bayley, a bodyguard

and instructor with the British Krav Maga Association, said: “The popularity of fitness and endurance events that offer something in addition to just running or cycling, or following a linear path, has grown hugely in recent years, however, I believed there was a gap in the market for a fitness event that truly combined both a physical and mental challenge, and that offered a competitive element. “HQrecon offers all of those things and more, and the ‘secret’, small scale events we have held in the past have been hugely successful. We are therefore very excited about hosting our first public events later this year.” The first HQrecon will take place at Charlton Park in Wiltshire on September 6, with the second event at Cornbury Park in Oxfordshire on September 27.

annual Fitness Festival FIVE arenas at Surrey Sports Park were taken over by some of the biggest names in group exercise for this year’s Fitness Festival. Favourites such as Zumba, Les Mills Body Attack, Pump and Combat lined up against newcomers to the festival including Armageddon and Hot Pod Yoga. Alongside the group fitness classes, Life Fitness ran demos on the new HD Elite Rack and Star Trac demonstrated its new BoxMaster equipment. Visitors could also have the opportunity to browse the retail village and buy discounted fitness related products, as well as grab an exclusive Fitness Festival tee from official festival partner Sweatees. Health and fitness manager at

Surrey Sports Park Joanne Wade said: “The line-up for Fitness Festival 2014 included the new programmes Les Mills GRIT Series, Les Mills Body Vive, Booiaka, Armageddon and Hot Pod Yoga. “It was awesome to showcase these at Surrey Sports Park and hopes they were enjoyed by all who attended. The presenters were first class and really made the event come alive. We were also lucky enough to have Life Fitness showcase the HD Elite Combo Olympic Lifting Rack and Star Trac showcasing the BoxMaster, both incorporate small group training, which bought a different element to the event and highlighted different ways of training making exercise fun for everyone.”

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CAN YOUR CLUB FLY THE FLAG FOR YOUR LOCAL AREA?

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Why Ricky thinks you should get involved in the NFAs ... LAST issue we revealed that boxing legend Ricky Hatton will be co-hosting this year’s National Fitness Awards with Caroline Pearce. This month, we talk to Ricky about why he thinks operators should get involved with the event, what impact the fitness industry has had on his life and discover the benefits for clubs which get on board with The Hatton Academy. Why would you encourage gym owners to enter the National Fitness Awards? I think everyone who works hard should try and be recognised for it. These awards cover so many categories so I think there’s something for every gym. If they put the work in, they should have the opportunity to get a little something back. What advice can you give clubs about how to make their business stand out from the competition? Just keep doing new things. I think it’s easy to get stuck in a rut of doing the same things over again when you really need to freshen things up to keep people interested. If your gym isn’t offering something new, you can bet the one down the road is and it won’t be long before

est with you. I had to train like a demon for my world title fights and that included learning about the best equipment, the best nutrients and the best supplements. I think most people know my downfall was not taking things as seriously as I should have outside of training camp. I’d let myself go a bit too much and that probably cut four or five years off my career. Making the mistakes is a blessing in some ways, though, because I know what to advise the lads I train against.

your customers start going there. I think you’re always learning as well. If you can meet new people, you can pick up tips that you can add to your own set-up. Before I met Jon Eade, who is our training and educational director, I’d never really thought about boxing for fitness courses, but look at us now. We only launched the Academy last year and it’s already one of the best courses in the country. Can you tell us more about the work the Hatton Academy does? The Academy is basically a training scheme that helps fitness instructors to learn boxing skills which can then be used as part of classes. There’s other boxing for fitness programmes running, but I like to think ours is the best because it includes many elements that others don’t. I boxed for over 20 years so I picked up a few things along the way and we’ve included some unique parts in the courses. We also run workshops where people can come along and do bits of padwork and bag work with me. They usually book up within hours of us announcing them and it’s great to be able to get hands on with people who

National Fitness Awards co-host Ricky Hatton. are learning new ways of keeping fit. What sort of impact has working in the fitness industry had on your life? It’s had a massive impact, to be hon-

Any other plans for the coming months you can tell us about? My promotional business is ticking along nicely. We’ve got three Aussies that are making names for themselves and I’ve got two boxers, Zhanat Zhakiyanov and Sergey Rabchenko, that have won European titles and are very close to world title fights. The lads I train myself are all coming along nicely as well so I think there’s big things to come in the next 12 months. The Academy is going well also and we’ll be looking to extend it further in the next few months with more workshops and courses.

Zone dome to provide best indoor running experience RUNNING Unlimited has unveiled its new, improved Zone dome, designed to provide users with the world’s best indoor running experience – and help operators offer something different in a competitive marketplace. Unveiled at this year’s ukactive Flame Conference, the Zone domes, which include surround vision technology, immerse the user in HD films, taking them through iconic cities and inspirational landscapes across the world, enabling users to run somewhere new every time they visit the gym. CEO Kevin Hewitt said: “The need we saw was simple. A step-change in

experience is needed by the higher end of the health club sector to defend themselves against the assault by incredibly well-funded, budget gym operators that are rapidly eroding membership margins. “We set out to create the world’s best indoor running experience. We’re calling it ‘business class running’ as the all-new Zone domes deliver the giant experience leap forwards gym members are crying out for.” After releasing a version in spring 2013, the last 12 months have been all about development for the Running Unlimited team. Kevin added: “Ultimately, our deci-

sion to continue the pursuit of our Zone dome vision boiled down to the answers from two simple questions: would people use Zone domes repeatedly and would they recommend their Zone dome experience?” “The results came out strongly in favour, with 87 percent of people saying they’d absolutely use the Zone domes again (and on nearly every gym visit), and 91 per cent recommending their Zone dome experience to others. “Zone dome users love the experience and we know our all-new Zone dome will wow users and gym operators alike.”

Running Unlimited’s new Zone dome.

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An exciting new class is working up a storm at Virgin Active clubs where members – and instructors – are enjoying getting to grips with ViPR 3D sessions. Christina Eccles tried out a class – and discovered why operators could benefit from adding it to their timetables.

Classes provide effective workout for all abilities ViPR uses a concept called Loaded Movement Training, which effectively challenges and conditions every system in the body, making it an effective workout for all ages and abilities. A 30-minute format also makes it a time efficient class, while different sized weights allow members to choose their entry point and how quickly they progress. All this combined with the fact participants don’t have to get to grips with complicated choreography, makes it easy to see why ViPR 3D classes are becoming a popular choice with people who want results, but don’t have lots of spare time to spend in the gym. Instructor Chris Stanton said: “There is a huge market for a 30minute class. It’s all about variety and getting people to try new things. “We as fitness professionals have to educate people. When members understand what they are getting from it, they want to do the class. “It’s very easy to teach when you believe in what you are doing. I enjoy inspiring people in fitness.” Apart from the ViPR, no specialist equipment is required to deliver a class, with instructors simply needing

adequate studio space, music and a microphone. And according to account and training manager Holly McNamara, there are many benefits to clubs which decide to add ViPR Group Fitness sessions on to their timetables. She added: “ViPR caters for all levels due to the differences in weight from 4kg to 8kg. “It is recommended as a 30 minute class allowing clubs to place ViPR Group Fitness 3D and Athletic classes

back to back in a one-hour time slot. “This makes it more accessible to club members in their time poor lives and more cost effective for clubs to service the members. “It can also be used as a 45-minute class with additional breaks and active recoveries.” She added that although at first the classes may be so different to what members are used to doing they may feel out of sync, after a few sessions they will pick things up and start to

feel confident enough to progress further. “ViPR is a new concept and a different way of moving. Initially members will identify that it feels different, and may even feel uncoordinated. “However, within two or three classes members will feel the benefits of working with ViPR. As they gain familiarity, strength and coordination they can move onto a larger weight which will take them to a whole new experience.”

Christina found the ViPR 3D session energetic, upbeat and challenging, but without being overcomplicated.

A winning formula as class flies by in no time WHEN a 30-minute class flies by in what seems like next to no time, you know you are on to a winning formula... And that’s exactly what happened when I tried out Virgin Active’s latest group exercise offering, ViPR 3D from FitPro. The session was energetic, upbeat and challenging, but without being overcomplicated; meaning even as someone with little coordination, on the whole I didn’t struggle to follow

the moves. Throughout the class, the instructor was motivating, the music uplifting and routines really well choreographed, with shifts in intensity to ensure participants could push that bit harder if they felt they wanted to – without overexerting themselves. I also found it useful that we worked in blocks of movements, which meant we could focus on getting the technique right, rather than worrying about losing timing by

continuously having to change the position of the ViPR. This also ensured the class flowed well as we worked our way through the exercises. The session was small enough that each person could benefit from individual attention from our instructor should they need it and as the ViPR is available in different weight increments, it means people of all abilities are able to join in the same class. With plenty of choreography

options available to instructors and a comprehensive education programme in place, which will stop routines from ever becoming predictable, it’s easy to see why members are loving taking part – and coming back for more. This is also a class with plenty of room for progression for those who stick with it, and as it takes just halfan-hour to achieve a great whole body workout, it’s the perfect lunchtime exercise option.

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WANT YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS TO BE RECOGNISED?

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Heart attack survivor gives his backing to major gym project A HEART attack survivor has given his backing to a major gym refurbishment project at the local sports centre which supported his recovery. Terry Green was referred by his GP to Concord Sports Centre, in Shiregreen, where he has used the Fitness Unlimited gym and cardiac rehabilitation classes to exercise his way back to good health. Terry is now supporting a new gym development project at Concord, which is run by SIV – part of local charity Sheffield City Trust – which will see SIV investing to expand and improve the gym. Concord’s new first-floor gym will boast 45 pieces of new cardio equipment. Members will also benefit from a transformed ground-floor level gym area which will house a dedicated functional area, new cable machines and Olympic incline and flat benches. A new lift and staircase will also be installed as part of the two-phase project, which is expected to be completed by September. Terry said: “The new gym is going

Clubs across the UK have been put through their paces.

Escape rolls out Virgin Active’s functional kit Terry Green and Dave Birds, SIV’s GP referral manager. to be fantastic. It will certainly help even more people in the local community to get fit and healthy. “Without Concord, I might not be where I am now, able to enjoy spending time with my wife, Rita, daughter, Jennie, and grand-daughter, Beth. I owe them a lot which is why I wanted to support the new gym project.”

ESCAPE Fitness has been working with Virgin Active to roll out its range of functional equipment to clubs around the UK. Virgin Active clubs in Glasgow, Didsbury, Twickenham and Aldersgate have been put through their paces with Escape’s range of equipment including the TIYR and Fitness Bulgarian Bag. Through interactive training workshops, the aim was for Escape to educate and train Virgin Active’s team of trainers so the products could be successfully rolled out into clubs around

the UK. Escape Training’s director of education Tommy Matthews said: “We are immensely proud to be working with Virgin Active and showcasing our range of functional equipment to their trainers. “It’s an exciting opportunity for everyone concerned and members should really benefit from this work when they walk into a Virgin Active club. “The level of investment they are showing towards their team of staff is a great example for others to follow.”

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IS YOUR GYM A POTENTIAL AWARD WINNER?

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Rebecca Leam, yoga teacher at Tall Trees Yoga and Pilates studio.

Open day marks studio’s launch A NEW studio has held an open day to celebrate its arrival in Doncaster. Tall Trees Yoga and Pilates studio opened its doors so visitors could try free classes, meet the teachers, enjoy vegetarian refreshments and take a look around the facilities. Yoga teacher Rebecca Leam said: “The studio is a much-needed antidote to the hectic lives we all live today. “Tall Trees is a place for people to

find a moment for themselves as soon as they step through the doors. “Yoga and Pilates have proven benefits for everyone of all ages and lifestyles – from teenagers experiencing exam stress, to office workers who are hunched over their desks all day, to people with chronic illness. “It’s all about taking a moment to connect with the mind, body and spirit and listen to what the self needs.”

Operators wanted to distribute surveys LEISURE-NET Solutions has launched the 12th Health and Fitness Omnibus Survey – and is looking for operators willing to hand them out in their local area. The survey is the only annual barometer of UK consumers’ attitudes towards health, fitness and physical activity and Leisure-net is aiming to question more than 1000 consumers during September. Operators taking part will benefit from a discounted Community Survey and will get their results benchmarked against the national benchmarks which HAFOS establishes. Leisure-net managing director Mike Hill said: “Our most recent HAFOS revealed a dramatic shift in consumers’ perceptions towards this industry – for the first time, the

majority of the public said they want to do more exercise. “This year, our focus will be on budget and niche gyms, and whether this avenue of physical activity provision is likely to attract more of the consumers who don’t currently exercise to our facilities.” For the first time, HAFOS 2014 will link up with CIMSPA, who are partnering Leisure-net on the survey. CIMSPA’s interim chief operating officer Tara Dillon added: “As a sector it’s vital that we fully understand consumer attitudes to our business, and HAFOS is the only market survey which gives us this information. CIMSPA members will benefit from the intelligence HAFOS reveals as they will get a free summary of the report.”

A team from Star Trac has recently returned from an epic three-day Cotswolds cycle tour to raise money for Marie Curie. The team cycled between 60-65 miles each day to generate funds for the charity and can be sponsored via their donation page; https://www.justgiving.com/Tour-de-Star-Trac.

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LIMITED CATEGORY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE

The damage caused at Workout Gym when the River Humber burst its banks.

Independent gym set to reopen after flooding AN independent gym in Hull is preparing to open its doors again, after recovering from floods which hit the club late last year. Workout Gym was flooded last December when the River Humber burst its banks, but has bounced back bigger and better – and will re-open later this month following a full refurbishment. Gym owner Tony Lawson said: “I was upstairs at the time of the flood. The water was about five foot high, it was just river and sewage water. “We were all gutted. Some of the members have gone to other gyms because they need somewhere to

train, but hopefully they’ll all come back when we re-open. “There’s been a lot of speculation but I knew from day one that I wanted to open the gym again.” The new gym, which was fitted out by Fitness Systems, will offer something for everyone, with a mixture of strength training, functional training, boxing and cardio machines on offer to members. Tony is also introducing cross fit and classes to his gym with the addition of a new rig. He added: “Fitness Systems have been really good, I couldn’t have asked for anything more.’’

The new equipment at Workout Gym in Hull.

Freemove secures contract to extend training facility PARKOUR facilities provider Freemove has been commissioned by North Lanarkshire Council to extend the largest free to use Parkour training facility in the UK. The contract, worth £100,000, involved extending the second phase of the West End Park in Coatbridge. The extension quadrupled the purpose-built site after its users identified a need for larger facilities. Freemove area sales manager Diarmuid McNamara said: “We have carried out extensive consultation with local user groups to ensure we cater for a wide variety of practitioners, ranging in age and skill level.

“Our in-house design team has also addressed the need to use natural materials which are functional and enhance the existing facility. “As a result, the whole site has been resurfaced with a bonded rubber mulch safety surface.” NLC’s play services officer Ross Dunn added: “NLC fully support this development and the benefits it brings to the local area. “The opportunity for increased physical exercise, social interaction and diversionary activities for our young people are a positive step for the community and a fitting legacy within North Lanarkshire.”

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GOT A MEMBER WHO’S ACHIEVED SOMETHING SPECIAL?

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Death, taxes and reduced mobility By Mark Laws, Jordan Fitness WHETHER we evolved over millions of years from monkeys or fish, or whether we can all trace our family tree back to Adam and Eve… undoubtedly we have survived for a long time and each one of us is born with the incredible gift of an unlimited potential. Few things are certain about our lives, but for at least 300 years ‘death and taxes’ have been widely cited as being ‘certainties’. Is it time to consider ‘reduced mobility’ as a third certainty? Look around at the people you work with, the people you see in the gym, people walking around the aisles of your local supermarket. Look at their posture, their gait, their physical dysfunctions. We all have them. The sad fact is that only a tiny minority of us actually use our bodies for physical activity anymore. Of the small amount of us who are regularly active, an even smaller minority of those are performing efficient movements with safe techniques. This means that the vast majority of our population are becoming weaker, less mobile, more injury prone, or a combination of all three. Mobility specialist, Kelly Starrett, says that “all human beings should be able to perform basic maintenance on themselves” and he has a point. Imagine a car lover who had a prized 1967 Porsche 911 (which is fast approaching its 50th birthday). Do you imagine for a second that he would put the wrong fuel in it or leave it to gather moss and rot away under a tarpaulin in his backyard? Not a chance. He would polish it with the finest cloth that money can buy and would take great pleasure in taking it for a careful spin at weekends - just to hear the purr of a timeless, healthy engine that has been well maintained, and at 47 years old performs better than ever. So do we become less mobile because we get old? Or do we just look/act/feel older because of our

Mark Laws reduced mobility? Obviously we cannot turn back time, our bodies will always diminish slightly as we get older, but good mobility can be prolonged and really enhance the quality of our lives…making us feel younger as we get older. All it takes is some care and attention of our most cherished possession. You all know the benefits of exercise, as do the fitness professionals who work at your facilities, but never underestimate the value of improving your clients/members range of motion, mobility and flexibility with a well-designed ‘functional’ training programme (email marklaws@jordanfitness.co.uk to arrange a ‘Functional Training Workshop’ at your facility). A good accountant will reduce your tax bill, good genes and a good diet might even be able to postpone death (for a while), and by using our bodies to their full potential we can at least enhance our mobility and quality of life, rather than joining the masses of our peers who look and feel older than they should…which should give us all something to smile about and get us back down to having only two certainties to worry about.

A team from the énergie Group head office took part in a charity dragon boat race at Willen Lake, reaching the semi-finals of the competition. The 13th Dragon Boat Festival this year raised money for Age UK Milton Keynes, a local independent charity that provides support and services to 12,000 elderly people in the borough of Milton Keynes. The énergie All Stars reached the semi-finals of the contest which hosted 50 teams.

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CHANGING ROOMS AND WETSIDE

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Addgards make branded Management tool stations for Active4Less cuts paperwork ADDGARDS were commissioned by Active4Less to produce Wet Wipe Stations for all their UK gyms in their corporate colours with logos. Active4Less were looking for a station that would blend and fit in with the overall look and design of their gyms. Simply by providing a jpeg of their corporate logo, Addgards produced a Wet Wipe Station tailored for Active4Less,at no extra cost. Des Elliott of Active4Less said: “Hand and Handle wipe stations have proved to be a great success within our club, the vibrant stands help motivate our members to keep the equipment clean by wiping down after use and promotes a hygienic environment that is of benefit to everyone. “The provision of antibacterial wipes motivates our members to maintain the equipment and encourages an awareness of their environment.”

The station conveniently combines a wet wipe dispenser and bin for the used wipes in one unit. Freestanding, it is perfect for studios, weight rooms or high-traffic areas and can be moved easily to anywhere in the gym. The Wet Wipe Dispenser holds rolls of up to 1,000 Anti-bacterial wipes. The wipes will kill 99.9 per cent of germs, have odour neutralisers built in and will clean and disinfect not only all gym surfaces but are also sensitive enough to use on hands. For more information visit www.addgards.com

Gyms among places Brits would sue GYMS, supermarkets and hospitals are among the places Brits would consider suing if they take a tumble while on the premises, according to a survey by safety flooring experts Tarkett. The poll asked 1,000 people and top of the list of organisations were supermarkets. Gyms or leisure centres placed seventh in the top 10, named

by 15 per cent of respondents. Tarkett UK brand manager Sarah Igglesden said: “The results of this survey show that society is getting increasingly litigious and with more than 8,000 major injuries caused by slips, trips or falls reported to the HSE last year, there is a strong possibility that an organisation could be on the receiving end of a legal suit.”

A SCOTTISH leisure trust has helped its swimming instructors cut down on paperwork – and improve retention – by investing in an innovative course management tool for its swim programmes. Borders Sports and Leisure Trust operates 13 sites across the Scottish Borders region, including state-ofthe-art sports facilities, leisure centres and swimming pools. The trust first implemented Gladstone’s Learn2 course management tool at Galashiels Swimming Pool last October, and following a successful trial period there, has now rolled it out to its other five pools. Marketing manager Emily McGowan said: “One advantage of the software is that it has enabled us to go paperless at the poolside, as our teachers can now take registers and make notes via their portable devices. Thanks to the system’s automated payment reminders, we have also seen a significant reduction in the number of customers not paying. “We expect that by far the greatest benefit of Learn2, however, will be its impact on retention. One of the most common complaints from parents under the old system was that they did not know how their child was getting on in lessons. Thanks to Home Portal, they can

Borders Sports and Leisure Trust has implemented Learn2 at its pools. now easily track their child’s progress online rather than having to find time to speak with the teacher. “Although we purchased the software for swimming, it quickly became apparent that it would work just as effectively for any sports programme with progression criteria, and earlier this year we launched it for football at our 3G Arena site. “The next step will be to incorporate Learn2 into our cycling programmes, although now we know how versatile the software is, we will also be reviewing our other programmes to see if there is a fit.”

The smart choice for your changing room lockers IS locker key management a problem at your gym, health club or spa? Do changing room locker keys get lost, stolen or broken on a regular basis? A simple upgrade will do the trick. Make locker key management a thing of the past by replacing key cam locks with smart-looking digital locks from KitLock. The compact KL1000 digital lock is designed specifically for securing changing room lockers without the use of keys, coins or tokens. Its slim design means it can be fitted in righthand or left-hand, horizontal or vertical orientations. Members simply enter a four-digit

code on the keypad, ‘lock and go’. If a member forgets their code, the locker can be opened using a technician code. This allows the lock to be opened without affecting the code selected by the user. Employees can use the technician code to open all of the changing room lockers at the end of the day to check for left contents and leave them easily accessible for cleaning. This process prevents lockers from having to be put ‘out of action’ while more keys are cut, saving both time and money. For more information visit: www.kitlock.co.uk/products/kl1000/ or call 01635 239645.

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YOU HAVE THE BEST GYM TEAM IN THE COUNTRY?

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Work begins on centre’s major improvement plan WORK has started on a major improvement plan at Adwick Leisure Centre, which includes doubling the size of the gym area, the creation of a new studio space and the addition of a 10-pin bowling alley and children’s soft play area. Doncaster Culture and Leisure Trust, who run the leisure venue, have obtained funding through Alliance Leisure to refurbish the centre. Chief executive of Doncaster Culture and Leisure Trust Michael Hart said: “This is a major project for Adwick and one which we believe will

improve use of the centre. “Our business plan is focused on increasing the size of our gym which includes building a mezzanine floor in the venue which would double the capacity of the current offering. “It is important that our community based venues offer a variety of activities to meet the needs of the local area. The 10-pin bowling alley and soft play areas will mean that more families will be attracted to use the centre and our current gym members are excited by the plans to improve this area.”

Wilton Centre’s engineering manager Andrew Walters and Nick Smith, MD of Health Performance. Bannatyne’s Health Club in Shrewsbury has held an outdoor, beach themed extravaganza to celebrate the re-launch of its Les Mills classes. Members, family and friends joined in a range of Les Mills classes, with a large stage erected in the car park to enable the gym team to lead classes and motivate participants. The day also included children’s activities, cake making and face painting. General manager Dave Hammond said: “Everyone had a fantastic day and even the weather was very kind to us. The Les Mills classes are incredibly popular because they are fun, funky, intense and really do work. We’re proud to offer the classes for our members and were keen to mark the introduction of the latest routines to the club and introduce Les Mills to even more of our members.”

Teeside business appointed to run new gym facility Refer-all Foundation to help By Christina Eccles A TEESIDE health and fitness business is set to grow after being appointed to operate a new gym facility. Health Performance based in Middlesbrough has secured the contract to manage The Lakeside Gym at Wilton Centre business park, which is set to open to tenants and their employees in September. Nick Smith, MD of Health Performance, who will be in charge of running the facility, is currently recruiting three health and fitness coaches to be based at the new gym to provide personal training and fitness classes. Further roles will be created once the club is fully operational. Nick said: “I am elated about the opportunity at Wilton Centre. I have been working on this project for the last two years so it is a huge relief that it is finally happening. “I have always dreamed of running and owning my own health and fitness club to allow me to deliver what I know members want and need, which is excellent levels of service. “Too many of the big names out there have lost this focus on the members and, more importantly, on

the employees that deal with them. “My philosophy is if you look after your employees they will look after your members. We aim to deliver the best service to our members and in doing so they will reap the health benefits through staying with us longer.” Wilton Centre’s new gym will include a wide variety of Life Fitness equipment and will offer a full programme of classes including Zumba, Pilates, Boxercise, spinning and various weight loss programmes. Once it has opened, its services will include access to treatments including physiotherapy, podiatry, chiropody, massage therapy and various beauty treatments. Wilton Centre’s engineering manager, Andrew Walters, who has overseen the development project, added: “It has been carefully designed so that there is something for everyone with everything completed to the highest specification. For instance, the changing rooms feature walnut doors and glass-fronted lockers. “Our aim has always been to provide tenants with a gym with a wow factor and we are delighted to be offering them a five-star facility without the five-star prices.”

achieve a healthy lifestyle EXERCISE referral software specialists Refer-all have launched a new foundation, to help provide more organisations with the tools to help people achieve a healthy lifestyle. The company offers a referral pathway for Exercise on Referral schemes from GPs via an online form. The referral from the GP appears instantly on the leisure provider’s dashboard, from where they can use Refer-all’s software solution to move the patient through their service. The Refer-all Foundation will now give other providers chance to join the scheme, with the successful applicant receiving a software licence for three years, valued at around £6,000, as well as set up, support, training and regular software updates. They will also gain access to a dedicated account manager, providing assistance and support, and to the Refer-all team of experts, who will guide their programme. Creative director at Refer-all Stuart Stokes said: “At Refer-all we are passionate about giving back to the industry and sharing information to make it even more beneficial for end

Stuart Stokes users in the future. “The Refer-all Foundation is an opportunity for providers of Exercise on Referral schemes, who share our passion about what they do, to assist their local community to become more active.” Applications can be made online at www.refer-all.net/#!foundation/c1s1k until September 22. The successful candidate will be announced at Leisure Industry Week.

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NEW TO THE INDUSTRY BUT ALREADY MAKING AN IMPACT?

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Commercial thinking was the theme of the latest LFX conference where industry professionals gathered at Stockport Sports Village for a day of speaker presentations, the chance to share ideas and take advantage of networking opportunities. Workout’s Christina Eccles and Olivia Taylor rounded up some of the day’s highlights.

Fitness delegates took part in a ViPR session led by trainer Adam Daniel as part of the day, while those in the management forum heard from speakers including GB swimming coach Sean Kelly. Photo credit: Dominic Hinde.

GB swimming coach among speakers at LFX conference THE idea behind LFX is to offer a business network for professionals working in the active leisure industry, with each event offering two streams; one for fitness professionals and the other for managers. While the fitness delegates were put through their paces with an outdoor ViPR training session, the management conference kicked off with a talk from top GB swimming coach Sean Kelly, who spoke about the importance of making marginal gains, whether in sport or business. Sean who is currently working with British swimmer Lauren Quigley, revealed how he is coaching her to compete with the best in the world by working on everything from technique in the pool to her diet, confidence and self belief. Using the example of a tape measure to illustrate the distance between Lauren’s best time and the current world record, he showed that by breaking down an overall race into smaller sections and working on making marginal gains in each of the areas – each saving a small fraction of time – what seems like a huge task to start with, can be broken down into much more manageable chunks. And great results can be achieved. Outside of the sporting arena, Sean also showed how these lessons learned from elite coaching can be applied to the leisure industry. He encouraged operators to think of some of the different strands which make up their business – anything from the cleanliness of the gym, to social media use, sales and customer service – where they can make their own marginal gains – improvements in each area which will help to improve the overall club performance. He added: “It’s a game of inches.

“The budget gyms helped us to wake up. It was a major wake up call for us...” [For Lauren] the goal is about time. “Whatever you want to do, do it to the best of your ability – and give it everything you can.” Other speakers on the day included Life Leisure’s managing director Malcolm McPhail, who revealed the strategy behind some of the award winning operator’s successes. He also spoke about how the company managed to fend off the arrival of budget clubs in the area by examining their own offering – and improving the experience offered to members. This strategy included offering new membership options – including a £10.99 a month introductory offer – plus a focus on winning back members who had left to to try out the low cost facilities and making sure staff felt valued and happy within the organisation. Malcolm added: “The budget gyms helped us to wake up. “It was a major wake up call for us and led to us asking, is what we are doing at this price as good as what they can do? “How did we respond? With a new culture and a new strategy specifically targeting the budget gyms, which we executed impeccably. “You have to let them go to experience the offering. They will come back – and you should welcome them back.”

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LIMITED CATEGORY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE

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Fitness fans in London can now benefit from even more choice with the opening of two new – and very different gyms – in the capital. Christina Eccles took a look around them both.

Boutique studio TRAIN is the only facility in the UK with FreeMotion’s FreeMotion Live Axis equipment and boasts a Myride indoor cycling studio and innovative video wall.

Contrasting gyms offer more choice to London fitness fans EVERYONE Active Acton Leisure Centre opened in a blaze of publicity with a successful open day attended by the likes of swimming legend Mark Foster and – most importantly – a wide cross section of the local community. Despite still being in its early days, membership numbers at the West London site are booming, with people of all ages enjoying the range of value for money facilities on offer, both inside the gym and out. General manager Luke Charlton explained: “We now have over 2,500 members and over 1,000 kids on our swim scheme, which is a fantastic achievement with only being open for two months. “We have created some really strong partnerships with children and adult services, the library, local community groups and the community itself. “Equipment such as Wattbikes, Total Gym, the latest Trixter XDream and the X Cube have been really well received as well as the Library and the community rooms – it's fantastic to have this all in one place. This is something the Acton community has been crying out for. “We also receive a lot of feedback on how well the building incorporates features from the old building with the new building, especially the heritage wall which is a major feature throughout the centre.” The club prides itself on being more

of a community hub than a gym, bringing together a wide range of users, not just those accessing the leisure facilities. Luke added: “The non fitness facilities offer so much to the community and especially the Library. “It gives members that extra option which they wouldn’t normally receive in any other ordinary leisure centres. The community rooms on the top floor offer something totally different and mean that the whole community can use the centre. We currently have things such as Japanese Ballet, church groups, weekend schools, birthday parties, award ceremonies and so on – a real variety.” Following the success of the open day, which attracted over 3,500 people, the club is now planning to host more events and forge even stronger links with community groups and partners in the future. Luke added: “My favourite part of the day has to be when the winner of our schools’ competition got to jump in the pool with Mark Foster. She had won the drawing competition we set up and her prize was to jump in and race with Mark. Her teachers and parents were so proud. We will definitely be holding more days like this in the near future. “There are plenty of plans in place to continue to work with the other partners in the centre and the whole Acton community.”

The gym at Everyone Active Acton Leisure Centre features kit such as Wattbikes, Total Gym and the latest Trixter XDream.

The X Cube has been really well received at Everyone Active Acton Leisure Centre. Across the city in Southwark is a very different but equally exciting proposition; boutique studio TRAIN. Home to a range of industry specialists, TRAIN combines world-class personal training, indoor cycling and group exercise sessions with the latest equipment to deliver a premium experience for users. The club is also the only facility in the UK with FreeMotion’s latest range of gym equipment – FreeMotion Live Axis – and is home to a Myride indoor cycling studio and innovative video wall where participants can enjoy a range of virtual group classes. The gym area itself is exclusively used by personal training clients, although studio classes can be bought on an individual basis or via block bookings. TRAIN director Steele Williams said: “TRAIN offers a one-of-a-kind, private training environment with a

team of outstanding fitness experts whose sole goal is to help our guests achieve the results they’re looking for effectively and efficiently. “An a la carte approach means guests can choose the fitness specialist (or specialists) they’d like to work with based on their goals and budget.” TRAIN is also an education hub for fitness professionals and companies including Reebok and Universal Pictures deliver their REPS-endorsed fitness programmes in its training environment, where they get access to the latest technology, as well as use of the gym for practical sessions. Group business development manager Amanda Hart added: “We have a real variety of students and also run regional courses. We want to create more of this type of facility and eventually want to replicate the model in every large city.”

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ENTER YOUR CLUB FOR A TOP INDUSTRY AWARD...

Commissioning retention By Dr Paul Bedford RETAINING members can make or break a business – if you focus solely on selling new memberships you could be losing up to half of your possible income. Whilst the number one question I get asked is ‘should we have a contract or not’, it is important to understand there is no one reason why people quit. It really is a cumulative effect stemming from several factors that clubs are quite capable of solving. First members become bored and feel they are not achieving their goals. Lack of goal achievement results in re consideration of the value of membership. So have your staff check in with members regularly to see where they are in relationship to their goals. Don’t take the member away from the exercise environment, do it where they are exercising – no sit down consultations. If you don’t address the lack of results you will end up with reduced frequency of visits and a shift in mindset. When members visit less frequently they begin to look for reasons to quit. If they can find fault in what you do they have an excuse to blame you and can disassociate from the problem of not actually turning up. Combine this with a sense of low quality service and you have a lethal cocktail of low visit frequency, lack of results and low service that leads to quitting. Frightening Facts Research shows that on average only one in 10 people are spoken to when they visit a gym, and this includes "hello" and "goodbye". The critical question therefore is whether consumers feel they receive a service or merely gain access to facilities? Interaction is key. Members want a sociable gym, but this does not mean

Dr Paul Bedford they want to socialise there. They want to be in a friendly and sociable environment. Provide all new members with a consultation session to discuss and establish their personal goals, which should result in a personal programme and follow up consultation. By offering these basic services, members receive professional expertise for their money and feel they are important and valuable to your business. You don’t have to give a full 60 minutes for all new members, just those who have never joined a gym before or those that have but have never really got going. However, make sure you don’t let experienced exercisers begin without meeting one of your gym team or you run the risk this is interpreted by the member as your staff are not worth speaking to, which creates a situation where the club undermines the value of its own staff. We have seen in the best performing clubs that service is proven to increase retention. You may need to revisit your business model and consider rewarding those who play a key role in retaining members. It is acceptable to reward or pay commis-

sion to the sales team who bring in new business, unless maybe you are selling one month agreements. I firmly believe that one member of staff, encouraging, guiding and reassuring members should be the base level of service and member interaction on the gym floor. Additional costs for this will be covered by your retained members. However, if this proves difficult, arrange for one person to be available at the busiest times so they impact as many people as possible. By measuring length of membership you can establish an average (median) length of stay. If you assign members that have inductions to specific members of fitness staff, you can create a caseload of members for each team member. Let’s say your current average length of stay is six months, then for each additional month the member stays you pay the member of staff one pound. If the member stays another month you pay another pound. Once the staff case load has reached 300-400 members it could be a bonus of £300-400 per month just for keeping members using the club. If you are charging £35 per month, a £1 outlay to staff for a £34 profit is not a bad return. Obviously you need to know your numbers, but commissioning retention could be the break though clubs need to have major impact on retention and income. It would also encourage staff to provide a high quality service and improved experience for the member. Dr Paul Bedford is the fitness industry’s leading authority on retention, attrition and customer experience management and the author of The National Retention Report. You can find out more at www.retentionguru.co.uk or by following @guru_paul on Twitter.

BOC cryotherapy brings cutting-edge treatment to ClanFit Glasgow MEMBERS at a Glasgow gym have been given the chance to try out pioneering extreme cold recovery treatment, which has been made available through an innovative mobile facility. BOC, the UK's leading industrial and medical gases and technologies business, visited ClanFit Glasgow to take members down to temperatures of -135°C as a part of an exercise recovery technique employed by football stars from the Premier League and elite rugby players from the Super League and Aviva Premiership. The cryotherapy treatment, which exposes users to short bursts of extreme cold, speeds up injury recovery times and gets athletes back working out days ahead of schedule after the strains of competitive action or rigorous training. BOC cryotherapy manager Michael Toole said: “As the UK’s most experienced handler of cryogenic gases, BOC is supporting growing public interest in strength and conditioning programmes such as Cross-fit with this revolutionary treatment in the safest way to customers across the UK

The mobile cold recovery treatment facility at ClanFit Glasgow. sport, leisure and health industries. "Also being a mobile chamber we can travel all over the country to bring leading training and health facilities and their members a taste of the latest recovery technique

employed by many of their sporting idols. “This combined with a competitive daily hire rate means that the treatment can be offered to members as and when they want it."

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YOUR CLUB FLY THE FLAG FOR YOUR LOCAL AREA?

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The new gym Impulse Leisure installed for Proctor & Gamble.

The re-opening of the gym is part of a number of recent site renovations.

Solihull Arden Club adds new kit as part of refurb THE gym at Solihull Arden Club has re-opened following the installation of over 20 pieces of new strength and cardio equipment from Cybex UK. The facility, which still houses some equipment from Cybex’s first installation at the site in 2006, now includes new 790T treadmills, 770 series bikes and lower body Arc Trainer. VR1 selectorised strength equipment was also installed, alongside the Bravo Lift functional training station and power cage. The re-opening of the gym is part of a number of recent site renovations, including the opening of a new spa

and resurfacing of seven of the 13 outdoor tennis courts. Gym chairman at Solihull Arden Club Ken James said: “Our aim at Solihull Arden Club is to provide a leisure facility suitable for everyone, regardless of age or ability. “The gym and racquet sports offerings complement each other greatly and we’re finding an increase in crossover of members between the two. Consequently, we need to ensure that we are able to meet the demands of our growing membership base and with the new gym equipment, we are able to do just that.”

Impulse opens gym in conjunction with P&G IMPULSE Leisure has opened a gym in Thurrock in conjunction with Proctor & Gamble. Impulse Leisure first began supporting P&G in 2012, launching healthy workforce programme, Vibrant Living. This involved attending the company’s factory site with fitness equipment such as bikes, rowing machine, functional equipment and Powerplates and encouraging employees to undertake fitness challenges, as well as offering nutritional advice. During an internal reconfiguration of the old canteen in the factory, a space for a gym was

created, and P&G asked Impulse to advise on the type and mix of equipment to be installed. Group health and fitness manager at Impulse Leisure Garry Tapsall said: “P&G were keen to ensure the new gym, although small, would have the versatility to give their 350 workers a workout space that worked for everyone. “Our agreement with P&G means we now manage the fitness suite, we’ve implemented our management systems into the facility and we provide fitness professionals on site to deliver group inductions to the employees.”

Active IQ joins with CIMSPA ACTIVE IQ has announced a partnership with CIMSPA, prior to the launch of new management and leadership qualifications in October, including a new level five assessment for senior managers. Following the agreement, Active IQ will be endorsed by CIMSPA as its awarding organisation partner for

leisure operations and management. The new qualifications include the Active IQ Level Five NVQ Diploma in Management and Leadership, developed to support those working as managers, senior managers, heads of department, directors and those working in a range of other senior management positions. Strictly Come Dancing favourite Vincent Simone took time out of his performing schedule to ease his aching muscles at the newly refurbished £250,000 spa at Matfen Hall Hotel, Northumberland. Vincent, who with partner Flavia Cacace has been wowing audiences with their highly acclaimed Dance ‘til Dawn show, stopped off while in the North East to perform at Newcastle’s Theatre Royal. He said: “Because of the dancing I usually have a massage every week but the one I had here was one of the best I’ve ever had. This place is just amazing – everyone should come here.”

Sarah offers free fitness advice

Doors have recently opened at Havant Leisure Centre’s brand new gym, which is the latest development for Horizon Leisure. The new gym has over 180 pieces of fitness equipment – supplied by Life Fitness – a jogging track and a separate programmable area for ladiesonly, teenagers and family-only sessions. Horizon’s chief executive Howard Broad said: “We are delighted that the new Gym at Havant Leisure Centre is now open. The excitement has been building for some time amongst members eager to use this fantastic new community facility.”

FITNESS expert Sarah Maxwell offered free advice and consultations to shoppers at Reebok’s Basildon FitHub, as part of the company’s vision to help people get fit. The FitHub launch event was held inside Debenhams, Eastgate Shopping Centre, and shoppers also had the opportunity to win trainers and sign up to the Reebok Fit Club where they could receive 10 per cent off Reebok clothing on the day. Sarah said: “Reebok’s vision is to offer people a free and accessible route to fitness and help them achieve fitness goals, not only for this summer but long term.”

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WANT YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS TO BE RECOGNISED?

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KETT Fusion has many facets THERE are many facets to KETTFusion including: A full mentoring service to all new KETTFusion instructors Plain and simple, tried and tested business hints and tips to fill your classes Developer and CEO,Michael Ross more than anything wants you to realise your potential and be very successful in your own right. KETTFusion offers different class themes, varied musical playlists, eight different class formats and much, much more. The KETTFusion class ethos is simple – have fun, while getting fitter, faster. For more information on KETTFusion instructor courses, presenter confidence seminars and KETTFusion in general go to www.kettfusion.com, email kettfusion@gmail.com or call 0781 057 6303.

Operator appoints new team OPERATOR Impulse Leisure has appointed a new marketing team to help drive the business forward. Bringing with him more than five years’ experience of working on public health marketing campaigns, Michael Hurcum has joined as the group’s new marketing manager. Further changes include the appointment of two marketing coordinators. Group operations manager at Impulse Karl Hayes said: “The structure of our marketing team has evolved to operate on a more focused,

streamlined basis. “Supporting Michael are two marketing co-ordinators, Sheryl Kirkby and Lauren Bullen, who will handle marketing activity in their respective areas – Thurrock and West Sussex. “We also plan to advertise for a third marketing coordinator who will handle corporate campaigns across all sites.” The team is finalising a new campaign, designed to encourage people to think about their health goals and embark on a fitness journey with Impulse Leisure.

The Fitness Factory in Stourbridge has recently celebrated 20 years of business by hosting a family fun day, which raised over £500 for local charities. The event boasted bundles of local talent including local comedy group The Fizzogs, a through the decades dance show performed by children who attend dance classes at the gym and a Strongman 2014 contest with male gym members competing. Gym manager Gemma Webster said: “We are very proud that our family run gym is celebrating its 20th birthday. We are very grateful to our wonderful customers and hope we can continue to provide fun, affordable fitness for all of the family for at least another 20 years!’’

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INCLUSIVE FITNESS

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The event at VVV Health and Leisure Club raised more than £5,000 for the Lancaster Bulldogs Wheelchair Basketball Junior section and children’s charity Unique Kidz and Co.

Gym hosts 24-hour KRANKcycle Spinathon By Christina Eccles A 24-hour KRANKcycle Spinathon has taken place at an independent gym in Morecambe, building on the success of a similar 12-hour event the club hosted last year. The challenge took place at VVV Health and Leisure Club and was organised by members Shaun Gash and Andrew Hartley, with support from gym owner Simon Cranston and supplier Matrix Fitness. Both Shaun and Andrew, who are wheelchair Paraplegics, completed the challenge with a group of members and non members, raising over

£5,000 for the Lancaster Bulldogs Wheelchair Basketball Junior section and children’s charity Unique Kidz and Co. The club’s sales and marketing manager Sarah Howick-Sheedy also got involved, helping to turn it into a family fun weekend including swimming galas, fun runs and activities in its studios, which showcased the facilities to visitors and helped them see what fun they could have trying out different forms of exercise. Shaun said: “The first six hours flew past as we watched the sun go down over the bay and having to move inside the BMW studio ready for the

long haul of a night. “Midnight until three in the morning, an 80s themed session was arranged where we dressed up and kept up the spirits and determination through this period as we reached 12 hours. “From then on it was difficult, the graveyard shift aptly named, was gruelling. Spirits were low, stiffness setting in, muscles seizing up brought everyone closer and supportive as we drove through this period. “As the sun was rising and the studio became light, new instructors turned up to see some tiresome bod-

ies still spinning, KRANKing and rowing. Sunday morning – another glorious day. As we moved outside again, spirits were lifted and the next six hours didn’t seem as far away as we thought. “Local radio station, The Bay, provided a four hour live broadcast to see us to the end. There were 14 members who completed the full 24 hours, with an additional 40 plus people all being part of this challenge booking on at different times.” Shaun is now looking towards his next challenges, which include Born Survivor in September and a sky dive next year.

The pro5 has Stage Two Inclusive Fitness Initiative accreditation.

pro5 accessible for wheelchairs FITNESS operators seeking accessible whole body vibration training equipment can look no further than the Power Plate pro5. The pro5 has Stage Two Inclusive Fitness Initiative accreditation, signifying it can be safely used independently by people with a wide range of disabilities. Several key features make this Power Plate accessible to those in wheelchairs, including the low platform, enabling users to place their feet on the plate, and work independently and unaided as they enjoy the benefits of whole body vibration. The plate itself is one of the largest across the Power Plate range, providing the maximum surface for exposure to the vibration technology. The pro5 has adjustable straps to allow users to perform upper body exercises and enjoy the benefits of

vibration training, even if their feet are not in contact with the plate. The straps are set low on the device, within easy reach of people in wheelchairs, and have contrasting colours to help those with visual impairments to locate them. Large, tactile icons on the pro5 operating panel make it easier for partially sighted people to programme the device while the second display console lower on the column enables easy access and view from a seated position. The Power Plate pro5 is very versatile. Approved for use by people with disabilities, it is also popular among other gym members, thus clubs can invest in this knowing all members can enjoy the benefits of whole body vibration training. For more information visit www.Powerplate.com/uk

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INCLUSIVE FITNESS

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Helping disabled users Life Fitness – solutions for get a grip in the gym exercisers of all abilities

ACTIVE Hands gripping aids could be a cheap and simple solution to opening your gym up to those with weak hand function. They enable users to get a firm and safe grip on equipment typically found in gyms, eliminating the need to buy specialist equipment for this category of users. Those with disabilities such as spinal cord injury, stroke, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, injured servicemen and women use our gripping aids. They are suitable for those who are just starting out on rehabilitation or an exercise program to athletes training for major competitions. The gym packs offer a selection of

our best selling aids. The aids can be used on lat pull-down machines, freeweights, seated rowing machines, or Concept Two rowers (for those with leg function), seated high row, chin ups or chin up simulator equipment, cable and pulley multi-use machines and much more. They have been designed to be used easily and independently by the user. Paralympic gold medalist Josie Pearson said: “I've been using Active Hands for many years now and without a doubt if I didn't have them I wouldn't be the successful athlete I am today.” For more information email info@activehands.com, call 0121 247 9152 or visit www.activehands.com

SCIFIT changes its strapline SCIFIT Systems, Inc. is recognised as one of the leading manufacturers of specialty-cardio equipment for both inclusive fitness and medical exercise markets worldwide. Prescribed for Progress evolved as the new strapline to reinforce their continued growth within the inclusive and medical markets. Their comprehensive range of IFIaccredited machines includes the PRO1 Upper Body and PRO2® Total Body Exercisers, a Treadmill, Recumbent Bike and the newly accredited StepOne™ Recumbent

Stepper. These models are often used alongside non-specialist CV machines to ensure the needs of the members who fall outside the ‘generally fit’ population are properly catered for in the gym. SCIFIT’s medical models all have CE Class II Certification making them suitable for use as medical devices in rehab clinics. Find out more at www.SCIFIT.uk.com

AS a global leader in the fitness industry that has been involved with the Inclusive Fitness Initiative since inception, Life Fitness offers a variety of IFI accredited fitness equipment suitable for exercisers of all abilities. The products, which have fully integrated inclusive features, include the Signature Series Cable Motion Inclusive Dual Adjustable Pulley, the Elevation Series 95T Inclusive Treadmill, the Elevation Series 95R Inclusive Recumbent Lifecycle Bike and the Elevation Series 95C Inclusive Upright Lifecycle bike. Both the Lifecycle Exercise Bikes and the treadmill include a console overlay, as well as a keypad with dome switches accented by brighter colours making it easier for people with a visual impairment to navigate the console. Modified level controls on the exercise bikes handlebars allow users to more easily identify and reach level controls. The Lifecycles feature colour markings for the seat height adjustment mechanism, a tactile label for the seat positions and a pedal with a heel strap. The Inclusive Upright Lifecycle and the treadmill also feature a platform to reduce the step-up height on to the machines. In addition, there are contrast lines and a

larger logo on the edge of the treadmill’s running belt to assist all exercisers identify when the belt is rotating. Disabled people are very much at the centre of the accreditation process and involved in the testing of the products, together with a panel of experts who assess and provide feedback on each one. For more information visit www.lifefitness.co.uk

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SUPPLEMENTATION AND NUTRITION

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No compromise products available to gym owners Olympic athlete Anna Watkins and adventurer Mark Beaumont have celebrated the importance of including dairy products as part of a healthy diet at an event in London. Speaking at the annual Dairy UK dinner in London, 2012 Olympic rowing gold medal winner Anna explained why milk and yogurt was a big part of her training regime in the quest for Olympic glory, while Mark told the audience why throughout his career, dairy products have met many of his nutritional needs. Chief executive of Dairy UK Dr Judith Bryans said: “There is mounting scientific evidence to demonstrate the nutritional benefit of dairy products but the practical use of dairy in sport is brought much more life by athletes such as Anna and Mark who have enjoyed dairy as part of their training regimes.”

New app helps sufferers manage gluten-free diet CHARITY Coeliac UK has launched a new app for sufferers; Gluten-free on the Move. The app, which is available on iPhone and Android, aims to help people diagnosed with coeliac disease and those following a glutenfree diet to manage every element of their diet. This can be either shopping for food or finding somewhere to eat

out using the Venue Guide. Chief executive of Coeliac UK Sarah Sleet said: “Managing a gluten-free diet while out and about can be a challenge as our increasingly busy lifestyles mean we're doing more on the hop. “Coeliac UK is always looking for ways to better support people to do this and the app is a great way to get instant access on the move.”

BEAST Yourself sports supplements are without question the most scientifically advanced and highly dosed products available on the market. Beast Yourself is very much a hardcore phrase for ‘pushing yourself hard’ which is exactly what you’ll be doing to your clients when they supplement with this range. For the very first time this exciting range of no compromise products are being made available to gym owners to deliver you market leading profit margins and your members serious results. Serious results means happy clients who are happy to return and spread the word, rewarding you financially as much as your customers physically. Introducing the new benchmark in time released protein: Micellar Beast. Micellar Beast is a super-engineered, undenatured Gold Standard Micellar Casein formula containing an incredible 80g of pure Micellar Casein protein per 100g of product. Furthermore Micellar Beast is also a proven anti-catabolic, time released

protein that’s practically both carbohydrate and fat free (includes only 0.02 per cent sugars and 0.03 per cent saturates per 100g) Introducing the new benchmark In whey protein: Anabolic Beast. Do you know Glutamine represents 61 per cent of your skeletal muscle tissue? Likewise, did you know BCAAs make up 35 per cent of your muscle mass and must be present for muscle growth? So to really make a difference doesn’t it make sense to take an 80 per cent premium whey protein supplement fortified with market leading levels of both? Anabolic Beast is an industry first ‘three in one’ super-engineered 80 per cent Whey Protein solution that contains a staggering 20 per cent Glutamine and 16 per cent BCAAs – that’s 20g of the purest Glutamine Complex and 16g of BCAAs per 100g daily serving. Call Affordable Supplements on 01977 55 44 55 or email sales@BeastYourself.co.uk for free sample packs, trade prices and more information.

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PRODUCT NEWS

www.nationalfitnessawards.co.uk

Core Fitness adds Nautilus to its portfolio of products CORE Fitness LLC, worldwide marketer of StairMaster and Schwinn indoor cycling products, has added Nautilus commercial fitness products to its portfolio. Invented by Arthur Jones, Nautilus revolutionised the fitness marketplace with their unique cam designs for selectorised strength equipment. Today, Nautilus equipment trains fitness enthusiasts around the world. Vice president of sales and marketing at Core Fitness LLC Merrill

Richmond said: “Nautilus’ history of innovation, quality and education is legendary. We’re very excited to offer Nautilus commercial equipment along with our other breed brands; StairMaster and Schwinn Fitness. “Nautilus, StairMaster and Schwinn indoor cycling products and their aligned education and training principles provide club operators authentic fitness brands and products that deliver real results for members with every workout.”

Scotland’s first sport, fitness and nutrition exhibition is right around the corner. Aimed at anyone looking to better their knowledge of training and nutrition, there will be over 20 seminars over the weekend from the biggest names from across the globe, such as Layne Norton, Ben Coomber and Jamie Alderton. There will also be personal trainer specific seminars based on increasing clients’ numbers and improving your social media and website presence to attract more clients. Tickets are available at www.sfnexpo.co.uk/tickets

Jordan Fitness supplies kit for Basildon facility

Alison to endorse wellness app

THE team behind multi award winning independent club Ripped Gym have recently opened a second site in Basildon, featuring over 600 products supplied by Jordan Fitness ranging from dumbells to sandbags. The new gym follows on from the hugely successful Harlow facility, which Jordan also equipped, and is proud to be an Official Hammer Strength Training Centre. Jordan Fitness were chosen to supply the gym with a wide range of free weight and functional equipment including custom “Ripped” branded Urethane Dumbells. Sales director at Jordan Zak Pitt said: “Knowing the core values that have made Ripped Gym such a success over the past few years made it even more of an honour to be chosen as the supplier of choice for the func-

MINDBODY has signed Alison Sweeney, host of NBC’s The Biggest Loser, to endorse its wellness booking app, MINDBODY Connect. The app enables users to find, book, pay, review and share any beauty or wellness service within the MINDBODY network, all through one login. It streamlines personal wellness activities while making it easier for users to discover all available services

in their geographical areas. Co-founder and CEO Rick Stollmeyer said: “Alison has committed her career to helping millions of people to adopt healthier, happier lifestyles, and we are thrilled that she is now encouraging them with MINDBODY Connect. “Her personal story and inspiring example make her the perfect spokesperson for our app.”

tional equipment in their new facility. “The team have done a great job in creating a fantastic environment to train in and I am sure the members will appreciate all the hard work by Alper and the team.” Director at Ripped Gym Basildon Alper Kani added: “We consider Jordan Fitness to be our supplier of choice when it comes to functional fitness equipment. “Our custom branded “Ripped Gym” dumbells are the latest Jordan creation to hit our gym and they look great. “We have had a great experience with the team at Jordan with our last facility and this time was no different, we will definitely be using them for future projects.” For more information on Jordan Fitness visit www.jordanfitness.co.uk

Secure changing room lockers Multi-purpose new Deck with KitLock digital locks pushes the boundaries THE Escape Deck 2.0 is a new multipurpose, portable fitness system that can be used as an aerobic stepping platform and an adjustable strength training bench. It can be configured in 16 different ways, making this the perfect tool for bringing variety to Group X and studio classes. It’s safe too, thanks in part to its special anti-slip formula rubber mat surface. The textured grooves ensure the grip is greater in the areas where you most need it. The sturdy legs and low centre of gravity make the Deck extremely stable, while the rounded edges ensure the Deck won’t dig into a user’s sides when they are lying on it and using it as a bench. Brand ambassador and product developer Steve Barrett said: “I believe

the Deck is truly exceptional. Why? There are very few products that can be used with an absolute beginner and at the other end of the spectrum still be a credible solution to the needs of a conditioned athlete. “I've worked on the Deck with both types of people – the beginners are unfazed by its features and its robust construction instils confidence, while ultra-fit athletes can be drilled through extreme strength and conditioning workouts in a space of less than four square meters. “How versatile is the Deck? Well, so far I'm up to 400 exercises options and every one of them is credible, safe and highly effective.” For more information visit www.escapefitness.com or call 01733 313535.

PROVIDING members with somewhere secure to store their belongings while they workout is a priority for most health and fitness operators. Changing room lockers secured with keys is one option, but there is always a risk that the keys will get lost or stolen. KitLock is a range of locker locks designed specifically for securing lockers without using keys or fobs. To access a locker, members simply enter their own four-digit code on the keypad, then ‘lock and go’. The lock remains secure until the member returns and enters their code to reopen the locker. If a member forgets their code, employees can open the locker using a ‘technician code’. This process is far easier as the locker doesn’t have to be placed ‘out of action’ while you wait for new keys to be cut. There are three electronic locker locks to choose from in the KitLock range: the compact KL1000, the tough

KL1200 and the new versatile KL1500. Each product comes with an IP rating, making it suitable for use in damp environments. For more information on how to go keyless, watch the Introduction to KitLock video at www.codelocks.co.uk/news/welcome-to-kitlock.html

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50 AUDIO / VISUAL

EQUIPMENT

MARKETING

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EQUIPMENT

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52 LOCKERS

LOCKERS

MIRRORS

VENDING

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CLASSIFIED FLOORING

HYGIENE

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54 INSURANCE

FINANCE

CLOTHING AND MERCHANDISE

MANAGEMENT

SERVICING

WANTED

SOFTWARE

FOR SALE

LOCKS

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