Workout October 2015 by Script Media

October 2015

The UK’s No 1 fitness industry magazine

Innovative facilities celebrate shortlist

Embrace trends in technology, operators told By Olivia Taylor OPERATORS have been warned to embrace trends in technology in order to attract and keep members. Making your website mobile friendly and giving members the opportunity to purchase wearable technology from you were just two of the tips that IHRSA’s European director Hans Muench gave to delegates during a presentation at Leisure Industry Week. Industry professionals were told to prepare for the surge of technology already on its way, with predictions of 550 million people owning wearable technology by 2017. Providing members with the opportunity to buy wearable technology within the gym and offering them advice on how best to utilise it was a simple and effective tip given to listeners. Hans said: “Things have changed since the internet, everything is a lot more accessible. You don’t have to invent stuff yourself, find something that’s working well in another industry and duplicate in our industry.” According to Hans, with a growing number of the population using smart phones, making your club’s website mobile friendly is essential when it comes to attracting new business, as is

having a presence on social media platforms. He added: “Being savvy on social media is no longer an option, it’s a must – something that we have to do.” In a seminar focusing on international trends and their impact on the UK market, Hans also told the audience to be aware of cheaper alternatives to exercise; from budget gyms to low cost fitness apps that can be a cheaper and sometimes just as effective way of exercising. He added: “Expensive and exclusive clubs aren't necessarily doing it better than the budget gyms.” Hans also encouraged fitness professionals to focus on member interaction, making sure that all members are acknowledged and made to feel welcome in the club. “Meaningful interaction between staff and members is something that we need to do, and a lot of clubs have lost that, even if it’s just a connection by saying hello or smiling. “Provide unique connections to make people think it’s not only about the price – prove there’s other tangibles involved.” Look out for more LIW news next issue and if you were at the show, let us know your highlights by emailing ce@scriptmedia.co.uk

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Coronation Street star Catherine Tyldesley was among the special guests celebrating the opening of an exclusive new gym in Manchester. Elite personal training service Ultimate Performance has launched in the city following successes in London, Marbella, Hong Kong and Singapore. UP chief executive Nick Mitchell said: ”Opening up our first UP gym in England, outside of London, was a no brainer for me. Manchester is a vibrant and energy led city, and to set up in such an evocative site on the Manchester skyline as the Granada building is an added bonus.” For full story see page three.

INNOVATIVE gyms from all around the UK have been celebrating making the shortlist for the 2015 National Fitness Awards. Clubs from as far afield as Belfast, Jersey, Cornwall and Aberdeen will be battling it out for awards this year, with over 20 trophies up for grabs. Winners will be announced at a glittering ceremony on Friday December 4 at The Athena in Leicester, which will be hosted by Olympic bronze medallist swimmer and commentator Steve Parry and fitness entrepreneur and star of The Apprentice Katie BulmerCooke. Steve said: “It’s fantastic to be involved in the National Fitness Awards this year. I’ve spent my life trying to achieve in the world of sport and completely subscribe to healthy lifestyles. For that reason it will be great to see the leaders in this great industry.” Tickets for the awards are now on sale. Visit www.nationalfitnessawards.co.uk to book your seats and turn to our special NFA feature, starting on page 53, to find out more about this year’s event.

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Personal training gym opens in Granada Studios building By Christina Eccles FITNESS fans in Manchester can now enjoy working out in a new bespoke personal training gym situated in the famous former Granada Studios building. Ultimate Performance has taken up 5,000 sq ft of space and equipped it with the most modern fitness equipment from companies like Watson (UK), Canadian firm Atlantis and Life Fitness. UP chief executive Nick Mitchell said: ”Our culture is providing people with the opportunity to gain maximum results in minimum time. “We are the only international personal training business in the world and will be expanding into America and the Middle East after Manchester. “The Granada base is, however, temporary and we will have purpose built headquarters in Spinningfields in the summer of 2016.” To make the gym stand out from the

crowd, Nick has also launched a competition to commission a unique piece of art work from students in Manchester to enhance the walls of the club. He added: “We wanted to integrate and interact with the community and this will also help showcase a very talented student’s creativity. “We have asked the Manchester School of Art, which is part of Manchester Metropolitan University, to get students to submit their pieces, one of which will be selected to become a visual centre-piece in the gym.” During his career as a trainer, Nick has worked with an array of professional athletes and competed in strength and conditioning competitions himself. He has also helped film and pop stars change their physiques in record time and is now looking forward to helping people in Manchester achieve their health and fitness goals.

Firms join to produce new kit EQUIPMENT manufacturer and supplier Precor and creators of the Spinning indoor cycling programme, Mad Dogg Athletics Inc. have announced an exclusive worldwide agreement that will see Precor assume all commercial Spinner bike production for an entirely new line of Spinner indoor cycling equipment. Incorporating the strengths of both brands, the new range of indoor cycling products will include new engineering and design components co-developed by Precor and Spinning, as well as new technologies and educational elements to bring customers an enhanced Spinning experience. CEO of Mad Dogg Athletics, Inc.

John Baudhuin said: “We wanted to find the best partner to serve our global dealers, education representatives, clubs, gyms and studios, as well as the worldwide Spinning community. “Over the past 30 years, Precor has been recognised consistently for its top-rated customer service and quality, and also for the reliability and integrity of its cardio products. “Considering these factors, as well as the global reach the company has as part of Amer Sports, Precor is the ideal strategic partner for our brand moving forward.” The companies will announce a new line of Spinner bikes in late 2015.

Emmerdale actress Gemma Atkinson with UP personal trainers at the opening of the gym. He added: “I have taken people with untrained bodies under my wing for three months and they have ended on the front pages of the highest circulating fitness magazines.

“There are many reasons why people want to get fit and look good. What we set out to do is offer the best advice and best equipment so people can achieve that goal.”

At Script Media, we try to get things right but occasionally, we make mistakes. If you have a complaint about a story featured in our magazine or on our website, please, in the first instance, contact us by email: ce@scriptmedia.co.uk We abide by the Editors’ Code of Practice as demanded by the Independent Press Standards Organisation. For details on the code and what to do should you be unsatisfied with the way we handle your complaint, please visit www.ipso.co.uk

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Boutique business to open new sites and grow brand By Christina Eccles A BOUTIQUE fitness business is gearing up for an eventful 2016, with plans in the pipeline to open more sites and further grow the brand. BOOM Cycle offers its innovative group cycling classes across two clubs in London’s Holborn and Shoreditch, with big ambitions for the coming months to spread the word even further. CEO Rob Rowland said: “It’s been a fantastic year. We’ve seen an average of 167 per cent growth in our Holborn site and 78 per cent growth across the whole group from 2014. “The exciting thing is how much further we really feel we can push the brand and there are so many more opportunities for further growth. “We’re working on some more sites for 2016 as well so it should be a very busy but exciting year.” Rob also told Workout why he believes niche independent operators such as BOOM Cycle are doing so well at the moment, with many successfully carving out an identity in an increasingly competitive marketplace. He added: “I think it’s for two reasons. Firstly the good operators have worked hard on their offering and

Boom Cycle communicating this clearly to the consumer and providing a good experience, consistently. And secondly the consumer market is now understanding the offering and the advantages of boutique studios – we provide fitness experiences far beyond what a general gym can provide and all with no commitment. “We were the first ones on the block and started with so little money and even less experience so we’ve learnt through a lot of mistakes. We are still a small team but are putting all those years of lessons into practice and that’s showing in our huge growth in the past year. But we’re not done yet, we still have some exciting plans in the pipeline and are looking forward to a big 2016.”

Staff from Bracknell based gym Absolutely Fitness have taken time out to volunteer for a good cause. 15 staff volunteered at Norwood–Ravenswood village, home to 130 people with learning difficulties set in the backdrop of the Berkshire countryside. The team formed a party which redecorated three of the residents’ rooms, as well re-painting outdoor furniture in one of the 13 care homes on the site. Club manager Jack Bishop said: “We are delighted to have continued to uphold our company values and would like to thank all the staff that volunteered their time to help Ravenswood Village to continue to deliver help to those that need it.”

Spa launches Caudalie treatments THE Verulamium Spa at Everyone Active’s Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre has partnered with luxury French skincare brand Caudalie. The spa will offer the brand’s luxurious Vinothérapie treatments exclusively in St Albans and the surrounding area. General manager of the

Verulamium Spa, Victoria Batey, said: “We are very proud to be working with Caudalie. We have always offered something very special here at the spa – it’s a hidden Oasis here in St Albans – and we wanted to offer our discerning clientele something they cannot find anywhere else in the area.”

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Entrepreneur to discuss the importance of social media By Olivia Taylor

An adventurous personal trainer has completed a charity skydive to raise money for a local charity. Alex Seckham, who owns Pursuit of Healthiness, raised funds for Samaritans of Barnsley; taking on the challenge after being inspired by some of his members who volunteer for the cause. He said: “I wasn’t nervous one bit when coming to do the jump. Even with my legs hanging off the plane, I just couldn't wipe the beaming smile off my face. The whole experience was amazing and I would highly recommend to anyone.”

THE importance of social media and marketing will be the topic of fitness entrepreneur Katie Bulmer-Cooke’s seminar at the first National Fitness Conference, taking place in Leicester ahead of the 2015 National Fitness Awards. Since appearing as a candidate on The Apprentice last year, Katie has proved herself to be an inspiring speaker, addressing a range of different fitness and business delegates. She will join other industry experts including retention guru Dr Paul Bedford, the ‘father of fitness’ Ken Heathcote, CEO of CFM/MYZONE Dave Wright and LFX founder Graeme Hinde at the conference, which takes place at the National Space Centre in Leicester on Friday December 4. Katie will also be hosting the awards in the evening at the nearby Athena, alongside top Olympic swimmer Steve Parry. She said: “The conference and hosting the awards are the biggies for me this year, I’m really looking forward to the events. “I’m really enjoying speaking, I’ve been in the industry for 13 years so I feel like I’ve got a lot to offer. “I was there once and I’ve made a lot of mistakes but I’ve got a few things right too. 13 years of hard work has paid off.”

Katie Bulmer-Cooke Katie will be advising delegates on how to use social media to promote your fitness business – an area which she has vast experience in. She added: “It’s so important to have a different presence on social media now more than ever. We need to do something different to make people notice and stop focusing on what our competitors are doing. “You’ve got to be on social media, it’s not going anywhere it’s only going to get bigger.” As well as being involved in the con-

ference and awards, Katie is also keeping busy with her own fitness business and is set to expand her group exercise ‘Good to Glow’ concept, which allows fitness fans to burn calories by following an upbeat choreographed routine incorporating lights and glow sticks. Instructors can also get involved with the programme, with training courses on offer. She added: “It’s a really nice feeling seeing people getting involved with it. I enjoy giving instructors the platform to be versatile.” As well as offering people in the region the opportunity to come to her exercise classes, Katie also provides those further afield with a range of successful online training options and home workout DVDs. She added: “I love working with all the people in Sunderland, but to be able to connect with a bigger geographical audience is amazing. “To know there’s people in Australia and Thailand watching my DVDs and doing my online programmes is crazy.” To hear what Katie has to say about how you can market your business and gain new fans via social media, make sure you come along to the National Fitness Conference. For more details or to book your tickets visit www.nationalfitnessconference.co.uk

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Trust reveals sponsorship SHEFFIELD City Trust has announced a major, multi-venue sponsorship deal with the north of England’s biggest car supermarket. The SCT Group has secured a two-year partnership with The Car People, which has a 10-acre showroom in Sheffield, as well as sites in Manchester and Wakefield. As part of the sponsorship, The Car People will be exposed to millions of customers across SCT’s portfolio of leisure venues including Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, the English Institute of Sport Sheffield and iceSheffield.

Charity event BODYLIMIT Gym in St Albans has hosted its second charity personal training weekend, raising money for Rennie Grove Hospice. The weekend saw all of the gym’s personal trainers offer their time free of charge. People taking part booked a 50-minute PT session and made a donation to Rennie Grove instead of a payment to the trainer. The club is also planning more charity events for the autumn, as well as a charity calendar, which last year raised over £1,000 through sales.

Team’s second gym to be even bigger and better By Christina Eccles THE team behind a successful Scottish gym is preparing for the launch of its second club, which is shaping up to be even bigger and better than the first. The new site in Kirkcaldy follows the success of Gym 64’s flagship club in Dunfermline, which has been shortlisted for Regional Gym of the Year Scotland at this year’s National Fitness Awards. The new club, which opens its doors this month, boasts an array of kit from Matrix Fitness, an on-site hair and beauty salon, a protein/cafe bar and a steam and sauna area, with capacity for up to 4,000 members. Regional manager Scott Wallace said: “We have been doing pre-sales from 10am until 3pm on Saturday and Sunday and from 2pm to 8pm Monday to Friday and we’ve already sold 70 memberships. Things are going really well.” Group exercise will also be a big draw at the new gym, which will offer over 200 classes per week. The facility will house five studios including a purpose-built functional training studio and a Les Mills studio, which can accommodate up to 80 people and offer some of the brand’s most popular classes such as BodyPump, Grit and CXWorx.

The new Gym 64 facility in Kircaldy. Scott added: “We want to give people something of at least the same level as what we have got at the other club, if not higher quality. “Existing members for a few extra pounds a month will be able to upgrade from £39 to £45 to use both.” The club will celebrate its opening by officially launching its new Les

Mills classes at an event featuring international master trainers Lyndsey Morrison and Matt Molloy. How are things going at your gym? If you’re looking to expand or introduce something new for 2016, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us at ce@scriptmedia.co.uk or on Facebook or Twitter.

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Powerhouse competition is launched BRITISH Weight Lifting is launching The Powerhouse Games – a new elite team competition which will be held on December 5 at the REP Theatre in Birmingham. The one-day event will combine a UK coaching conference, including a host of highly respected speakers, with a team weightlifting competition showcasing the power of the elite male and female British athletes in the sport. British Weight Lifting chief executive Ashley Metcalfe said: “British Weight Lifting is always looking for new ways to improve fan experience and engagement, and we see The Powerhouse Games as the perfect opportunity to do just that. “We anticipate an exciting event with a lively atmosphere and plenty of athlete-supporter interaction. “The event will appeal not only to our core weightlifting fan base, but by hosting it on a Saturday night in a city centre location we hope to attract general sports fans looking for an entertaining night of elite competition.”

Data reveals fitness feats

BRITISH fitness fans ran the equivalent of 794,133 London Marathons on treadmills and crossed the English Channel 158,692 times on rowing machines in 2014, figures have revealed. The data from tracking firm Gymetrix with additional statistics from Precor, has been compiled and analysed by ukactive and released to mark National Fitness Day. It also shows that last year, the 11,171,062 hours spent in the gym using treadmills, stationary bikes and resistance training meant Brits cycled around the Earth’s circumference 743 times on bike machines. In addition, data from parkrun, which organises free weekly 5km runs on Saturday mornings in parks up and down the country, found that its average 45,000 weekly participants clocked up over 1m hours of running time last year.

Improve efficiency to grow your club By Denise Williamson FOR club managers, the primary goal is to increase profitability for their facility and this can be achieved in a number of ways. Whether this be a gym, health club or sports centre, expansion should always be the number one goal and this can be done by increasing turnover, growing your customer base or providing a better customer experience for current members, to improve member retention. Improving efficiency should play a key role in the expansion process by ensuring your facility’s existing human and physical resources are used to their maximum potential and to identify new means of revenue generation. Like in most leisure venues, particularly larger facilities, efficiency can be a major challenge, which can often be neglected due to the already high demands on staff and other physical resources. However, for a business to grow it is important that all processes within the club are streamlined whenever possible to ensure full capacity can be achieved across all areas within the facility. For most clubs an effective allocation of training space and equipment can often make the difference between a high-flying venue and one struggling to break even. It is important that records are kept to be able to pinpoint periods when a training studio is sitting empty or a sports hall is

within the facility. Booking software packages are available which can forecast the amount of resources needed for each fitness class or activity taking place within the venue, allowing all resources to be tracked and audited throughout the day. Have a clear process in place for room booking Training all workers on how to use the booking system will ensure that all staff members can see the room availability for the whole venue and be able to allocate spaces effectively when need be, improving service quality for members. Denise Williamson only half full. This can then give managers the option to offer additional sessions or classes, or even allocate the space to an external party such as a personal trainer or class instructor. They can generate additional revenue, whilst offering something new for members. Furthermore, a scheduling system, which identifies unused rooms, can also reduce energy costs and allow easy class timetable creation, reducing the demands on staff and creating a more efficient and profitable environment to work in. A few tips to improve resource allocation and increase club capacity are as follows: Improve transparency of resources Ensure an inventory or system is in place to allow all members of staff to track the availability of all the spaces

Secure records Ensure all member records are kept up to date and secure. These are a great way to provide an insight into your customers for marketing purposes and identify opportunities for additional spend. Simplicity is key By being transparent and flexible, leisure facilities should meet the needs of all stakeholders, improving the experience for all its staff and members. A simple room booking and resource allocation system will streamline processes for all and ensure that the venue operates at full capacity. Denise Williamson is managing director of scheduling software specialists, BookWise Solutions. For more information visit www.bookwisesolutions.com

Women to take on the boys in rugby challenge AN intense 12-week rugby themed fitness course, which has already helped 76 Warrington men lose a total of 93 stone, is set to launch a female only version of the programme. Fit to Tackle for Her will follow the same format as the men’s course, which aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people who don’t usually exercise by challenging them to take part in three physical activi-

ties every week and helping them to improve their diet. More than 70 women have already registered for the free programme which is run by LiveWire and Warrington Wolves. The fitness teams at the organisations will challenge the women to three sessions a week covering all kinds of physical activity including Touch Rugby to improve their strength and to help them shed the

pounds. Senior LiveWire advisor for exercise, Neil Morley, said: “The programme has been a tremendous success and has proved popular with not just men but also their female relatives which led us to set up Fit to Tackle for Her. “The women have now got the chance to compete with the men and prove that they can be just as successful.”

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Clubbercise joins with Street Step

A team from Core Health and Fitness, plus their customers and distribution partners, have taken on an epic charity challenge. The 18 strong group cycled 75 miles per day from Buckinghamshire to The Cotswolds and back, raising over £2,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

Rugby stars give new spa thumbs up PLAYERS from a North East rugby team have given the thumbs up to the region’s newest spa – and launched a package aimed at Rugby World Cup “widows.” Members of the Newcastle Falcons took time out to check out the facilities at the Spa at Ramside, the multimillion pound spa which recently opened its doors at Ramside Hall Hotel, County Durham. The visit coincided with the launch of the spa’s Scrum Diddly Umptious package – aimed at providing some rest and relaxation for anyone whose partner will be glued to the Rugby World Cup. The afternoon package includes a drink on arrival, use of the spa facilities for up to three hours and afternoon tea and costs £47 on Monday to

Newcastle Falcons players enjoy the facilities at the Spa at Ramside. Thursdays and £50 on Friday. Spa director Jill Russell said: “We were delighted that the Falcons came to try out the spa and to help launch our Rugby World Cup package.

“This is a great offer for individuals or for a group of friends who might want to get together and enjoy an afternoon of spa treats away from the rugby.”

DANCE fitness workout Clubbercise has joined forces with Street Step to support young people into work. Launched earlier this year as part of the Street League charity and supported by their founding partner, Barclays, Street Step is a social enterprise that works with 16-24 year olds who face socio-economic barriers, to help build their confidence and enable participants to discover employment opportunities. Clubbercise will be delivered as part of Street Step’s employability programme as many key employment skills can be learnt and nurtured using the Clubbercise format, such as: body language, communication, first impressions, building self-confidence, overcoming nerves and working well with others. Clubbercise co-founder, Claire Burlison Green, said: “We’re really excited to be part of the Street Step initiative and love how the class will be used to build confidence but also give them the key skills needed to make it in the industry. “We recently partnered with the This Girl Can campaign so have seen first hand how positive engagement and reinforcement makes a huge difference to people’s lives.”

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Five questions to answer with your marketing ... By Dave Wright ALTHOUGH the different forms of marketing that may have evolved over the years – be it from push to pull, print to digital etc – there are fundamental principles you must address to make sure your message does not go to waste. So before you sign anything off make sure you answer the following five basic questions with your marketing. These five questions are the What, Why, When, Where and How of your message. What? What is the offer that you are trying to advertise? This is the crux of what you want your message to portray in the market place. It may be a specially reduced joining fee, a time free period, or a certain discount on the monthly dues. Why? Why are you offering what you are? This naturally follows on from the what as you are looking at a justifiable reason for your message. In a

campaign, this builds the urgency of the offer and answers the scepticism that people may think as to why you are offering what you are. This might be the fact that it is a New Year celebration, or that the gym is under new ownership. Where? This needs to answer where the club is located or where you want people to meet for a pre-sale etc. It sounds simple, but many times, clubs get excited about the catchy phrase of their marketing and accidentally leave off the club’s address. When? When also covers the time frame of what you are offering. You may want to tell the public you have limited memberships available or simply that they need to call when you are open (hence including your opening hours). This also allows you the ability to apply some form of urgency to your campaign to entice people to respond within a set time. How? Once people understand the what

and why of your marketing, they know where and when to obtain it, they would need to know how they can obtain it. This may be a coupon that encourages the prospect to bring in to the club on a particular day or the club’s phone number for them to call. As you can see, it all is very simple, but prior to putting any advertising to the market, if you quickly check the What, Why, Where, When and How, it will remind you to get back to the basics of your marketing and advertising objective. Dave Wright is the CEO of CFM (Creative Fitness Marketing), CEO and creator of MYZONE®, owner of the Feelgood Fitness & Voyage Fitness Club Chains, a former Board Director of UK Active and founder of the IOU. With offices in Chicago (US), Nottingham (UK) and Melbourne (Oz), Dave’s companies have worked directly with over 5,000 health clubs across 30 different countries, encouraging people to be more and stay more physically active. He may be contacted on Dave@myzone.org

Dave Wright

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Perfect Gym to bring 20 new fitness facilities to market By Christina Eccles ASPIRING gym owners have been given the opportunity to open their own facility for a fraction of the upfront cost, thanks to the launch of Perfect Gym. Perfect Gym is offering 20 licences to open a gym under the brand, with licensees able to access over £80k of set up materials including fitness equipment, IT systems and sales and marketing resources. Perfect Gym will work with the licensee to create their ideal club at a venue of their choosing, with those signing up benefiting from a package which includes essential IT systems such as a front of house membership system and direct debit collection software and all the latest fitness equipment for no upfront fee. CV and strength equipment, as well as free weights and indoor cycles, are included in the package and all equipment comes in excellent condition from Pulse resale with a full service history. For added piece of mind, the licence includes a maintenance contract for all the equipment. Perfect Gym will also provide a central website with a personalised online brochure as well online joining and session booking capabilities.

“The Perfect Gym model works with venues from 1,500sqft right up to 5,000sqft so finding the right venue is very achievable.” All Perfect Gym facilities benefit from a strong visual identity and ready to go artwork for signage and sales and marketing, also saving licensees money on design costs. Perfect Gym director Jamie Mair said: “Perfect Gym has been designed to empower PTs and fitness entrepreneurs to open their own fitness facility. “By removing the funding barrier we are helping PTs get to market for a fraction of the cost. “With assets for just 20 sites available we are expecting a high level of interest which will see all the facilities opening over the next few months.” Having set up his own club, Fithub in 2012, Jamie is well aware of the challenges of opening your own facility.

A typical layout of a Perfect Gym. He added: “I was lucky enough to receive fantastic support from a range of companies including Pulse Fitness and I wanted to create a solution that would make it easier for other fitness professionals to realise their dream of having their own gym.” Licence holders simply pay one fixed fee for the equipment and systems once their facility is operational and is generating revenue. Whilst the licensee is responsible for

the venue, Perfect Gym professionals are on hand to provide site finding advice and planning assistance. Jamie added: “The PT will know their own local area, but we will visit and advise on feasibility of particular venues to ensure they have the best possible chance of success. “The Perfect Gym model works with venues from 1,500sqft right up to 5,000sqft so finding the right venue is very achievable.”

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Last issue, expert Deniz Paradot revealed more about Mindfulness and why it’s so important to practice in our daily lives. In the second part of Workout’s special feature, he reveals his practical tips on how to introduce Mindfulness into work, life and exercise.

How to introduce mindfulness into work, life and exercise IT all comes down to one thing: we need to train our brains to focus on the present moment and weed out distractions. As with any exercise, the more we practice, the stronger we become. There are a number of ways to achieve this focus, and we can and should practice any of these exercises whenever and wherever we feel the need: 1. Mindful breathing Bringing awareness to the breath initiates a calm and clear state of mind and regulates shallow breathing caused by anxiety. Take a few minutes to pay attention to your breath. Sit comfortably, close your eyes and notice your breath. Without force, inhale fully, feeling the coolness of the air enter your nostrils, notice how your belly expands and contracts as you exhale completely. Practice this whenever you feel anxious and need to find clarity, calm and focus. 2. Body scanning Body scanning helps release tension, quiet the mind and bring awareness to your body in a systematic way. This

exercise can be done lying down, standing or even sitting. With your eyes closed focus on the toes of the left foot, noticing any tension, whether they are cold, tingling, hot – any sensation. Focus your attention here for a few breaths before moving on to the sole of your foot and doing the same. It’s all about noticing sensation, honing your awareness to the part of the body you are focusing on. Repeat the process as you travel from your foot to your ankle, calf, knee and thigh. Bring your attention to your right foot and repeat the process. Continue up to your hips, lower back, stomach, chest, shoulders, each arm, hands, neck and head — maintaining your focus on each body part and any sensations there for a few moments. Breathe into any areas that are holding tension and try to release it with your exhale. 3. Internal and external messages Pay attention to the tone of your internal dialogue as well as the way you communicate with family and friends, as this reflects, maybe even shapes, your state of mind more than

you might think. Notice your thoughts and emotions, but don’t judge them or become attached to them. Instead, let negative thoughts go and choose to think and speak in positive terms of what you want to achieve.

Deniz Paradot 4. Intention and visualisation Elite athletes have been using intention and visualisation to enhance their performance for decades; we can apply this technique to our whole lives not just our workout routines. It’s important to set the intention for what you want in your life as being a part of your life now, not tomorrow or next year. Whilst visualising what you want to manifest, be completely grateful for what you already have in your life, then set your intention to achieve what you desire. Too often people tend to think of what they don’t want to happen in life for exam-

ple, “I don’t want to put on weight.” Don’t give creative power to doubt, fear or any other life-draining thoughts. Instead, frame your thoughts and intentions with a positive approach: “I am going to enjoy my body and care for myself using Eattitude (mindful eating) and exercising mindfully to be happy and healthy in myself now.” When we pay attention to the present moment, the future takes care of itself. Practicing the techniques above, before or after a meeting or when you’re struggling with a project or a colleague, helps to detach your mind from distractions such as fear or unhelpful emotion and focus on the task at hand. Over time you’ll be able to call upon these practices easily to return to a state of calm, clarity and insight. Look out for the third part of the series coming up next issue where Deniz reveals how to implement Mindfulness into a gym routine, plus some useful tips to pass on to your members. For more information on The Way of the Chimp programme, visit www.human-business.co.uk

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Sheffield City Council leader Julie Dore traded the town hall for the sports hall when she took part in a netball session as part of the This Girl Can Campaign. The session took place at the English Institute of Sport Sheffield and as well as taking part, Julie spoke to other players – who work at EISS – about their participation in sport and why they would encourage others to take up physical activity. General manager of EISS, Paul Hudson, said: “It was great to see Julie join the netball session and we hope it inspires other women and girls to give it a go. It was about demonstrating that sport is not just about elite success, but everyday women like Julie enjoying physical activity.”

Dignitaries celebrate the official opening of Eldon Leisure.

Event marks project’s completion By Christina Eccles AN official opening event has celebrated the completion of a £3m project to transform Eldon Leisure, following the public opening of the new facilities in June. The works were completed in just over six months and include a new eight-lane tenpin bowling centre and fully licensed café bar, state-of-the-art new fitness gym and studios, indoor Vertigo Adventure Climbing Arena and Jungle Jack’s Adventure Soft Play Area with adjoining café. Eldon Leisure, situated in INTU Eldon Square Shopping Centre in Newcastle, is managed by local charity North Country Leisure, part of the GLL group, who took over in July 2014 as part of an asset transfer arrangement from Newcastle City Council.

The opening was attended by a range of people who all played a part in bringing the project to a successful completion, with Roger Tames, chair of the NCL Newcastle Board of volunteer trustees, carrying out the official duties on the day. He said: “Everybody who comes into Newcastle City Centre can see the tremendous redevelopment underway in Eldon Square but they might not be quite so aware that inside Eldon Leisure the changes are just as spectacular. “This official opening should remind everybody that although our end of Eldon Square is still a few months away from completing a fantastic makeover, here at Eldon Leisure we’re already open for business and excited about a new era for one of the City’s most valued facilities."

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 top Tweets...

Picture of the month

@ChristinaEccles: Great to meet @BradyPoppinga @L_I_W. Look out for news on his latest venture coming soon in @WorkOutUK!

@James_Foley_007: Great to see @chicotimechico @Block_Fit at the @WorkOutUK stand @L_I_W ... thanks for the photo @ChristinaEccles :) @Rookery_Spa: We are thrilled to announce that after winning last year, we have been shortlisted for Best Hotel Facility in the @FitnessAwards 2015

@clubzestfitness: @WorkOutUK @FitnessAwards Zester's are showing their support! #memberlove @followthechimp: Picked up my copy of @WorkOutUK from @L_I_W great to see the mindfulness article @GymcoBelfast: Check out @WorkOutUK September’s edition for a feature on GymCo Belfast. Thanks to @OliviaGTaylor for the editorial. @DFC_Neil: Fantastic to see this editorial for @247Gym in @WorkOutUK this month #innovative @debitfinance #valuedclient @Burlexercise: Check us out in @WorkOutUK this month! With a cheeky discount on our training days too! @Oomph_PT: Check out the #GT30 write up in @WorkOutUK @dwsportsfitness @BSNsupps_UK #bsn #personaltrainer #grouptraining @thinkfitnessgym: Leicester here we come! #TF4L been shortlisted for #nationalfitnessawards Club of the Year! @MYZONEmoves @WorkOutUK

Staff at Pennyhill Park Hotel and Spa sent the England Rugby World Cup team on their way to Twickenham from their official team base. The club in Surrey – a past National Fitness Awards’ finalist – wished them luck for the tournament, with general manager Julian Tomlin and chairman of Exclusive Hotels and Venues Giuseppe Pecorelli pictured with head coach Stuart Lancaster, players and staff.

Excitement builds for National Fitness Awards Over on Facebook, excitement is building for the National Fitness Awards. Here are just a few of the comments we’ve received so far from our shortlisted gyms... Catherine Barker: “Very proud that Pink Ladies has been shortlisted for this year’s Fitness Awards, a truly fantastic event. Words can not say how we feel. Proud to be an independent gym, full of amazing people.” Bubalu Bristol: “Absolutely stoked! Thought it was a wind-up when the call came in!” The Strength and Conditioning

Institute: “We are so excited! Absolutely delighted to be shortlisted, and this really is the icing on the cake for us in what is turning out to be the most incredible year for The SCI. We cannot wait to share more of our journey with the judges when they visit. Thank you!” Mike Hind: “We're going to make this so special. It’s what we have been working towards since the 28th November 2014... just hope you have enough tables.” Rockets Health and Fitness Club: “Good news! Rockets have been shortlisted for the customer service

award in the National Fitness Awards 2015! That makes two years on the trot! Exciting times!”

Editor’s comment WHEN was the last time you learned something new or pushed yourself out of your comfort zone? For many operators, the day to day running of their businesses can be all consuming – and it can be very easy to say you haven’t got the time to attend an industry event or that it’s too expensive to book on to an educational course. But in today’s fast moving world – and in the face of ever increasing competition – it’s more important than ever to keep up to date with new trends, listen to other people in your field – and in other industries – and take advantage of networking opportunities to ensure your club moves with the times. In recognition of this, we’ve launched the National Fitness Conference with the aim of providing an affordable, valuable event for forward thinking gyms who want to improve their businesses – without breaking the bank. The event will take place in Leicester prior to The National Fitness Awards on December 4, and with speakers as diverse as Katie Bulmer-Cooke, Dr

Paul Bedford and Dave Wright, plus a range of top exhibitors showcasing their latest products and innovations, it’s shaping up to be a great value for money day at just £35 per ticket. Find out more or book your place at www.nationalfitnessconference.co.uk or look out for the next issue where we’ll be including a special conference feature, revealing the full line-up and agenda for what promises to be a must-attend event. The value of education and networking was also recently demonstrated when we visited a refreshed Leisure Industry Week at the NEC. Over the two days, the Workout team enjoyed meeting many visitors in our popular trade lounge area, spoke to lots of exhibitors on the show floor and attended some great seminars. Look out for show news in this issue and plenty more to come next month in our LIW review feature – and we’re already looking forward to seeing how the event progresses further for next year. With events like the National Fitness Conference and Awards, LIW and

Christina Eccles many others in the calendar, there are so many opportunities for the industry to work together, learn from each other and drive up standards across the board, which can only be a positive for all of us. So if you aren’t already playing your part, what have you got to lose by getting involved?

UK FITNESS SCENE

Children’s inactivity has been high on the agenda in recent months, with figures revealing the number of children achieving the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity each day is at a record low. A second pilot scheme of Fit for Sport’s Engage to Compete programme has proved a hit with both children and teachers, as well as creating successful partnerships with leisure operators and local communities. Workout found out more.

Fit for Sport’s Engage to Compete programme has been successful with both children and teacher, as well as creating successful partnerships with operators and local communities.

Pilot scheme proves a hit ENGAGE To Compete increases children’s participation in physical activity and competition while simultaneously engaging adults and leisure providers. Fit For Sport provides training, support and mentoring for school staff – including classroom assistants, playground supervisors and lunchtime leaders – to enable them to deliver activities at playtime, lunchtime and after school. The Engage to Compete programme brings structure, focus and new ideas to schools. As such, it’s an important tool in the fight against childhood obesity and gives vital support to help schools implement effective activity programmes. The Engage To Compete project ran from January to July 2015 in 44 schools across Sandwell, Birmingham

and Tower Hamlets, London. A total of 14,525 children took part and 590 teachers, PE co-ordinators, lunchtime supervisors and support staff were trained. Focusing on activities that help build ‘physical literacy’ – such as throwing, catching, running and jumping – Engage to Compete develops co-ordination, agility and fitness. The programme incorporates activity throughout the school day and engages all children – not just the sporty ones. Typical activities include hula-hooping, bean bag throwing, skipping, ball challenges and games to support team skills. Engage To Compete engages adults and leisure/community providers in the local area through hosting interschool Legacy Games Days and community events. These partnerships are

vital to ensuring the raised level of activity remains into the future. Community partnerships were formed with Sandwell Council, Tipton Sports Academy, West Bromwich Leisure Centre, Black Country Community Sports Partnership, Portway Leisure, London Sport, GLL, Mile End Sport Centre and Poplar Partnership. Head of sport and community participation at GLL, Phil Lane, said: “Fit For Sport is a valued partner for GLL and the Engage To Compete programme has proved to be an innovative way to engage primary school pupils in fun activities with a measurable outcome. “The large number involved in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets is a great start and we’re looking to build on its success.” By training staff, engaging with par-

ents and creating better community links with local leisure providers, Engage To Compete becomes embedded in the local areas to give it the best possible chance for continuing long into the future. The future looks bright with figures from the first pilot conducted in Manchester and Somerset in 2014 show that one year on, there is an 85 per cent retention and continuation of the programme. CEO and founder of Fit for Sport, Dean Horridge, added: “The results from our second Engage To Compete pilot fills me with confidence that we have the right tools, skills and partners to deliver, monitor and improve physical activity in junior school children. “I honestly believe this programme can help make physical illiteracy and inactivity a thing of the past.”

UK FITNESS SCENE

Stand and deliver… By Mark Laws, Jordan Fitness A LONG term study was conducted on 30,000 men aged between 35 and 64 who worked for London Transport in 1950. The hypothesis was that physically active men had lower incidents of CHD and related illnesses than physically inactive men. So the study looked into the medical records of bus/train/tram drivers (who sit all day) and conductors (who stand all day). To cut a long story short, three in every 1,000 drivers suffered from CHD, whereas only two in every 1,000 conductors suffered from CHD. Seems like a small difference but for those who remember studying maths at school you will recognise that the drivers are 50 per cent more likely to suffer from CHD than the conductors…and that is HUGE. The conclusion of this, and many other similar studies from all around the world, is that employees in positions that require higher physical activity have lower rates of heart disease. Armed with this information what did we do? We spent the next 65 years developing gadgets to do our work for us and minimise the amount of physical exertion we had to do.

Now conditions such as obesity and Type 2 Diabetes are at their highest, people are fatter and weaker than ever before. You can sit and argue that this is not true until you are blue in the face, but while you are sitting and arguing I am walking around looking at the state we have gotten ourselves into – and I am not going to accept that the general population is healthy. So what can be done about it? There are two options, we can carry on as before and hope things get better, or we can make some changes. For nine years I worked on my feet all day every day and felt great. For the last two years I have been predominantly desk bound and have felt terrible – tired, lethargic, headaches, back-aches…I could feel weakness oozing through my entire body. Last week I moved my computer onto some Plyo boxes (benefits of working for a fitness equipment manufacturer) and I feel alive again. My two years of bad habits sitting down have been undone in almost two weeks of standing up. If we have known about the benefits of standing vs sitting for so long then why do so few people do it? Standing up at a desk to work is not a new phenomenon that I am claiming to have invented – Winston

Mark Laws Churchill had a stand up desk which he used to write at, as did Ernest Hemingway. Numerous studies have of course been conducted regarding stand up desks with some really interesting results – reduced symptoms of back pain, reduced symptoms of arthritis, increased calorie expenditure, increased productivity and reduced blood sugar levels are just some of the main benefits of standing up. The problem we face is the excuses people come up with as to why they CAN’T stand – “my feet will hurt”, “my back will hurt”, “I won’t be able to work properly” etc etc etc – well as always I aim to lead by example and after two weeks of standing up from

9-5 here are my conclusions… I don’t get tired in the afternoons. I sleep like an absolute baby every night. I wake up feeling fresh before my alarm. I get more work done. I am happier. I am more alert and most notably my backside has turned to stone…which has made me stronger and faster. Maybe your job is busier and more stressful than Churchill’s. Maybe you have won more Nobel/Pulitzer prizes than Hemingway. Maybe sitting at your desk has made you stronger and healthier than ever before. In those cases you may be just fine as you are. However for the majority of us it might just be worth working really hard to find an excuse to spend a couple of hours on our feet now and then. Ever heard the analogy about the woman who didn’t realise her husband was an alcoholic until one day he came home sober? Well maybe you don’t realise how bad sitting has been for you until you stand up for a few days. Remember – if you do what you have always done, you will have what you have always had. For more information email mark.laws@jordanfitness.co.uk or visit www.jordanrbt.com to see a course schedule.

Rubicon Sports launches XPT – the ultimate training partner AT LIW, Rubicon Sports launched the XPT – the ultimate training partner. This power rack combines the desired benefits of free weights with the safety of machine weights by including a patented quad lock braking system with a unique linear guided barbell. The barbell is incorporated into the rack but unlike a Smith Machine it enables vertical, horizontal, diagonal, lateral and rotational bar movement

and this engages all muscle groups as in free weight training. The patented quad lock braking system incorporates two levers on the bar. These are closed by the hands as they grip the bar and when breaking is required, simply opening the hand automatically releases the lever and engages four solid steel locking pins, catching and stopping the bar in any position. The XPT was designed by Brady

Poppinga, a Super Bowl winner with the Green Bay Packers, to enhance his own top end speed, power and explosiveness at the end of his career. He used it very effectively to do Jump Squats amongst many explosive movements and found he reduced his 40yd sprint times even after he was 30 years old. This had the effect of prolonging his career by a few years. For the health club market, it is just the right machine for the free weight

area. As well as being able to enjoy the benefits of explosive movements, the gym owner need no longer worry about the safety aspects associated with free weight training, confident/secure in the knowledge that the XPT has the patented quad lock braking system. To see a YOUTUBE video of the XPT in action visit www.rubiconsports .co.uk or for more information email info@rubiconsports.co.uk

UK FITNESS SCENE

New survey reveals rise of gym selfies ONE in three young consumers have admitted to taking gym selfies, according to new research from The Gym Group, which shows how social media plays a part in fitness motivation. The operator surveyed a nationally representative UK poll of more than 1000 consumers and a sample of its membership base to understand how people see fitness as part of their identity. The findings revealed 38 per cent of people aged 18-29 say they have taken a gym selfie as social media accelerates an appetite for exercise. More than one in three young Britons (37 per cent) say they follow

health and fitness accounts and half (52 per cent) say that posting their own sporting progress, or seeing their friends’ fitness updates (54 per cent) motivates them to keep fit. COO of The Gym Group, Jim Graham, said: “It is great to see that young people are increasingly interested in sport and fitness and that social media can be a useful tool for inspiring people to lead healthy and active lives. “While conversations about sport and fitness are booming online, the majority of people are most motivated by getting out there and exercising with a friend or working towards a certain goal.”

Everyone Active hosted a day of exciting activities at all their centres to encourage members, guests and colleagues to get involved in the most active day of the year. On National Fitness Day – September 9 – local communities had the chance to participate in an activity challenge held in clubs. They were challenged to cycle, run and row at least 1km on each activity, as well as being encouraged to swim as many lengths as possible in 30 minutes. Participants were asked to donate a minimum of £1 to take part in the challenges, which went directly to the Anthony Nolan Trust.

Ray Thomson (seated on the floor, right) with class members.

Jason Eaton, general manager of theclub at Cadbury House.

Health club and spa to benefit from refurb A LEADING South West health club and spa is to benefit from a major extension, adding further to its award-winning facilities. theclub at Cadbury House in Congresbury will gain a new quiet and relaxation area, sun deck, outside sauna and hot tub, plus eating area, thanks to a £350,000 investment. Opening in early 2016, guests and members will be able to enjoy the views over the North Somerset countryside while in the winter, those brave enough will be able to enjoy the outside sauna as well as hot tub, adding to the atmosphere and ambience of the club. General manager Jason Eaton said: “We’ve seen a steady rise in the demand for spa days as theclub has

become the venue of choice for those looking for pamper day or weekend in the region. “Add this to our 4,000-strong membership means we are able to extend our offer here further. “We’re constantly looking at ways in which we can improve what we provide our guests and members and the outside area plus quiet zone have been something we’ve been missing. “We’ve also had a lot of feedback over the years asking if we were ever going to provide and outside area so it’s great to respond to that feedback. “By continually improving members and guests’ experience is what sets us apart from all other health clubs. “All being well, we plan to open this new area in the New Year 2016.”

Industry veteran Ray shares his tips for staying successful By Olivia Taylor A FITNESS industry veteran has shared his secrets on how to stay enduringly successful. Harrogate based Ray Thomson started working in gyms 41 years ago and is still running one of the most popular fitness classes in the area after 25 years. He said: “I’m still as fit and as keen as I was back then, that’s part of the reason why the class has been going for 25 years. In our industry you really can see whose job it is and whose passion it is.” Ray is a firm believer in education, making sure he keeps himself up to date with the latest fitness trends by going on relevant courses whenever he gets the opportunity. He added: “The changes in the industry have been massive, we’ve gone from literally having two gyms to 50 gyms in the area. Instructors need to be more a lot diverse now.”

The fitness instructor believes he has got better at teaching as he has grown older and spent more time in the industry. He added: “As you become more mature you get a better understanding of the industry and of people’s abilities, this has helped me become a better instructor.” Ray’s classes get up to 60 people in attendance and he believes they’re so popular with the community because he makes sure everyone feels welcome and enjoys themselves. He said: “I make sure I speak to everyone that walks through the door, and we do fancy dress classes where people can win cash prizes – it’s like a mini party. “You need to be aware of what’s going on in the environment around you. You have to engage people to come along. It’s so much fun. I love it and I’ll continue forever and a day. “My enthusiasm for the industry is still there and it always will be.”

UK FITNESS SCENE

Mark and Kelly Harding with Adrian Waite, chief executive of Barnsley Business and Innovation Centre, which ran the competition with the Barnsley Chronicle.

Healthy foods brand wins newspaper’s competition By Mike Cotton A REVOLUTIONARY new brand of healthy foods free from wheat, dairy and gluten has won the Barnsley Chronicle's Barnsley Means Business Competition. FitEx has won a year's free office space and advertising worth up to £10,000 after coming out top in the search to find the most promising entrepreneurial start-up business in Barnsley. The firm aims to be a household name among people looking for a wide range of foods from gym-targeted protein bars to supermarket ready meals which will always be free of wheat, dairy and gluten and manufactured using only natural ingredi-

ents. “When I buy anything I always read the nutritional information on the label,” said Mark Harding, who is running the business with his wife Kelly, 29. “I want people to pick up FitEx products and know they don’t need to read the label, they’ll just know it’s made with healthy, natural ingredients.” The first product to be launched will be a protein bar – the first samples of which were made by a Barnsley bakery on FitEx's behalf with nuts and seeds milled in the Hardings’ kitchen. “The timing literally could not have been better for us,” added Mark, 34. “We avoid wheat, dairy and gluten in our diet, and we go to the gym five,

or maybe six times a week. So we need this sort of product to support what we do in the gym.” He said the only possible alternatives available at the moment are soya based products which the couple also try to avoid overeating. “I read a lot of entrepreneurial books, and it's simple really – if there’s a product that you need, and it doesn't exist you know you’ve got a product that can be successful. “Winning the competition will give us the boost we need to get the market penetration we need much quicker.” Mark and Kelly are now arranging to move into their new office at Barnsley Business and Innovation Centre at Wilthorpe.

Pulse kits out prestigious Manchester hotel PULSE has created a new fitness facility at a prestigious Manchester hotel. The gym at The Spa at The Midland has been fitted out with the highest specification from Pulse’s cardiovascular and strength ranges. The installation includes the Console Six, an 18.5” android tablet touch screen which comes attached to the Fusion Cardiovascular range and incorporates market leading technology to allow members to experience digital TV and radio, as well as full internet browsing with social media access while they workout. Pulse also installed a free weights area and bespoke functional training rig, with users also able to benefit from innovative member management software Smart Centre. Group leisure and spa manager for QHotels, Dave Heap, said: “Our new

The new gym at The Spa at The Midland. spa is a premium facility so we required a fitness facility to match. Pulse’s market leading technology really exceeds expectations. “We are also extremely confident in

the support that Pulse provide which includes training and an extensive warranty. They’re dedicated, supportive and they’ve helped add value to our hotels.”

UK FITNESS SCENE

Advertiser’s announcement

Operators need to understand the core service they are offering if they want to satisfy customers, improve retention and grow their business.

Get back to basics Rory McGown What’s your primary service? I’m constantly astonished by the number of health and fitness operators who think that good service is defined by the amount of contact that their staff have with their gym members. In fact customers using equipment that they do not own is a service and all gyms are selling equipment availability. When equipment is undersupplied and customers cannot get on it because other customers are blocking them from using it, this is bad service. If customers can easily get on the equipment that is good service. Each and every person who buys a gym membership is paying to share equipment with other customers. This has been proved, not only by our own research in hundreds of gyms across the UK, but also by other studies. TRP’s biggest research study of the health and fitness industry asked 10,000 members what they thought of their current gym; what they liked, disliked, what frustrated them, motivated them and kept them coming back. It found that members who have to frequently queue for equipment and found it annoying, were 50 per cent more likely to cancel than members who do not.

Earlier this year, Listen360, part of Retention Solutions, presented the findings of its analysis of feedback from over two million members, one of the largest studies of its kind in the fitness industry. The data showed that detractors, unhappy customers, the single biggest cause of complaint was to do with equipment, when asked what they thought about their club. What about other factors? Friendly staff, good customer service, spotless facilities etc. can all help to attract and maintain members, but at the end of the day people join a gym to use the equipment. That’s your primary service. Still not convinced? Well what would happen if you halved the equipment in your gym? How would this impact retention and membership? Undoubtedly, it would have a dramatic impact – members would get annoyed that

they couldn’t access the kit, customer satisfaction would plummet and members would leave. It doesn’t matter if you excel in everything else you do, if members can’t get on the equipment they want to use, they won’t be happy. Similarly, if you then returned the removed equipment, customer satisfaction would increase and you’d attract new members. Interestingly, we are consistently measuring lower customer satisfaction among male gym members, which shows that men are less happy with the availability of equipment than females. Looking deeper into our research, we can see this is because freeweight areas - generally more popular with male members tend to be less well catered for in gyms than cardio equipment, which are more popular with females. Essentially, this means that females are getting a better service in gyms

than their male counterparts when we view the service being sold is time sharing equipment with other customers. Similarly customer satisfaction scores fall in gyms busier January periods when gyms get busier and customers cannot access the equipment and also satisfactions scores are generally lower in the busy peak period in the evening than they are in the quieter parts of the day, because the service customers are receiving is lower, they can’t access the equipment that they want, when they want. Measure and manage it Operators who don’t understand that equipment availability is their primary service, don’t measure it. And if they don’t measure it, they can’t manage it. Without the facts, operators are effectively working blind unable to make the informed decisions needed to improve the customer experience and grow their business. Our studies measure the availability of equipment on your gym floor, identifying unnecessary waste and where you need to invest in more kit to meet customer demand and improve service. Clients who have measured this availability and acted on our recommendations have seen quantum leaps in customer satisfaction. But the benefits extend well beyond improved Net Promoter Scores to increased retention and a growth in membership. Equipment availability is the primary service that all gyms are selling and therefore the most important factor in customer satisfaction. Given that customer satisfaction is the leading driver of growth, operators need to appreciate the importance of equipment availability, once and for all, if they want to succeed. www.gymetrix.co.uk rory@gymetrix.co.uk

UK FITNESS SCENE

Advertiser’s announcement

Seminars mark launch of Les Mills’ new group cycling programme – SPRINT DID you know the average club cycle studio sits dormant for upwards of 80% of the day. Does yours? The market is changing. Exercise spaces are shifting. Despite their high cost, small boutique gyms with a single activity are becoming increasingly popular and people are moving away from typical, multipurpose fitness centres. Boutique cycling facilities have hit the UK hard and are rapidly stealing market share, reflecting the trend in the US where they are turning over more than £300,000 annually from a single 100m2 studio, and experiencing thousands of attendances a week. What would attendances like this mean to your business? Don't get left behind; find out how you can lead this trend in your area. Attend the Les Mills Insight Seminar: Indoor Cycling; the missed opportunity. “Indoor cycling is an area that’s

getting a lot of air time but don’t panic…there is an opportunity for clubs operating in the traditional fitness space, said Martin Franklin, CEO of Les Mills UK. “In fact, there are five key areas that clubs can focus on to beat the boutiques and we will be sharing our insight at our forthcoming seminars taking place nationwide from September. “The insight seminars mark the launch of Les Mills’ new group cycling programme – SPRINT. “The 30-minute class incorporates

high-intensity interval training (HIIT) techniques and is a fast, high-energy work out that will leave participants wanting more. As with all Les Mills programmes, SPRINT is backed by science and the HIIT workout is based on the sport of high performance cycle sprinting, giving participants a short, sharp workout. Short bursts of intensity followed by short periods of active recovery will push participants harder than other cycle programmes within the

market and help the class achieve and smash their fitness goals faster, all led by highly engaging and motivating Les Mills instructors. Martin added: “Obviously it’s great to be able to launch a brand new programme into the market place. “This development is hot on the heels of the success of LES MILLS GRIT™, our HIIT programme which is proving extremely successful for clubs which have launched it onto their timetables. “We believe SPRINT will help our partners tap into a young, ‘millennial’ audience and those who are increasingly time poor. “Instructor training begins in October and spaces are expected to sell out quickly as there is a great deal of excitement around this launch.” Les Mills SPRINT will join the family of other indoor cycle programmes that Les Mills offers its club partners; RPM™ Virtual and the TRIP, which is part of the IMMERSIVE FITNESS™ offering.

Register today to secure your place at a Les Mills Insight Seminar. Simply search for Les Mills UK at www.eventbrite.co.uk or for more information about SPRINT email LMUK.busdev@lesmills.com

FUNCTIONAL TRAINING

The new outdoor training space features nine SYNRGY BlueSky training stations.

University transforms outdoor training with new installation A COLLABORATION between the University of Nottingham and Life Fitness has seen the creation of a new outdoor training space featuring nine SYNRGY BlueSky training stations. The 1.7m outdoor active trail represents the continuing investment into sport by the university and extends across five sites on the University Park campus. The installation features two stations of BlueSky 14, one BlueSky 10 station and six BlueSky two stations. It was unveiled during Freshers’ Week when over 34,000 students and staff were on campus for the start of term. As an induction to the new outdoor training facility, the university’s sport and fitness team held a

day of 30-minute training tutorials to introduce users to fun, energetic workout sessions featuring circuit and interval training and fun challenges. UK vertical sector manager at Life Fitness, Craig Cocking, said: “Our partnership with the University of Nottingham has been hugely successful and following installations at their indoor training facilities earlier this year, helping them take functional training outdoors has been very exciting. “The introduction of this innovative and versatile outdoor training system delivers limitless options and creating this inviting and inspirational exercise space with SYNRGY BlueSky will help students as well as local people to enjoy fitter and healthier lifestyles.”

Members at Whitehaven Sports Centre can now benefit from a new dedicated functional training zone, designed to reinvigorate the club’s membership offering and tap into current trends. The club has converted one of its squash courts into the new zone, which is open to all pay as you go and direct debit members who can use it as part of their gym routine. Specialist functional classes and small group personal training are also on offer, with exercise referral clients also benefiting from the new space as part of their sessions in the club.

FUNCTIONAL TRAINING

Dynamax Inc promotes Fergus to global senior vice president position Functional training solutions by Absolute Performance STRENGTH and conditioning equipment specialist Absolute Performance has worked with professionals across all sporting disciplines from elite performance directors and coaches, to personal trainers and gym owners. As an independent company AP can offer products for a variety of budgets ranging from premium IWF accredited Werksan to their own AP Functional Training Series. Whether creating a training facility from scratch, refurbishing or needing help to source equipment, AP ensures customers get the best solution for their needs. Absolute Performance managing director Tony Buchanan said: “Our AP Functional Training Series of equipment has proved extremely popular, because they are cost-effective and

for example, the training rigs are custom designed and made-to-measure for each facility. “The rigs are also versatile, can have equipment add-ons and if wall mounted save valuable training space. When used with elite AP Heavyweight flooring the training area has a highly durable surface enabling a wide range of training exercises and options. “The ability to also brand training equipment with facility colours and logos definitely helps to create that truly motivational training facility for gym members, students, professional sporting teams and rising sporting stars alike.” For more information go to www.aperformance.co.uk or call 029 2036 2664.

INDUSTRY veteran Fergus Ahern has been promoted from global sales and marketing director to global senior vice president at Dynamax Inc. This means that, while his responsibilities will encompass the entire UK operation, sales and marketing, he will now oversee the entire global operation. Dynamax was founded in 1985 by two sports coaches, who created a medicine ball to fit the needs of their athletes, which was both durable enough to withstand the high impact of training and soft enough not to injure the hands. Already a popular choice with CrossFit-affiliated boxes, the emergence of Dynamax into the global commercial fitness market will be spearheaded by Fergus, supported by a newly appointed international commercial and education team. He said: “I am very proud to be leading the extension of the Dynamax brand into the global health and fitness market. “The intricacies of its design and manufacturing process combined with proprietary Velocity Movement Training methods make Dynamax one of the best functional training tools available.

Fergus Ahern “I’m looking forward to introducing the business to new UK, US and international partners and developing the education strategy to support our existing customers and distributors.”

FUNCTIONAL TRAINING

Physical Company launches own line of Titan Bags Instructors from Everyone Active have completed Lifetime Training’s Functional Resistance Training course.

Instructors broaden skills by completing course FITNESS instructors from Everyone Active have broadened their skills by completing Lifetime Training’s Functional Resistance Training course. The REPs accredited one-day course is designed to provide the science behind functional training, examining its role for fitness professionals, theory and movement patterns as well as providing functional exercise programming.

Group training manager at Everyone Active, Harvey Gosling, said: “Safe and appropriately designed functional training is hugely effective for people of all ages and abilities – and it’s fun too. “We invest in the latest functional training equipment at all our centres so it’s essential that our fitness motivators keep learning the latest techniques as part of their professional development.”

PHYSICAL Company is launching its own line of Titan Bags, developed in conjunction with Wild Training founder and personal trainer James Griffiths. Described by James as a fivemode system, Physical Company Titan Bags have been designed with two pairs of handles. One pair is on the body of the bag and the other as detachable d-rings on each end. The stitched-in handles allow for excellent control and a firm grip while performing a range of exercises such as power lifts, cleans, snatches and high pulls, where the bag should be kept still in the hands. The detachable handles make the bag effective when used in wideswinging, halo-style exercises and

other swing based rotational movements. James said: “For a long time I hadn’t really wanted to use sand or Bulgarian bags in both my own training and for my clients as I had bad experiences of sub-standard bags that would easily tear, weren’t shaped correctly and didn’t have the right handle configurations to allow the wide variety of exercises that we use at Wild Training. “I relished the opportunity to work with Physical Company to develop the Titan Bag and having been involved from the early stages, I know they have been designed to the point where everything I would ever want to programme with them can be done comfortably and effectively.”

FUNCTIONAL TRAINING

The new outdoor training space features nine SYNRGY BlueSky training stations.

FUNCTIONAL TRAINING

Fitness Hub in Letchworth has been taking members back to basics when it comes to training since opening last year, using a lot of bodyweight techniques and functional training kit.

Facility celebrates successful first year By Christina Eccles THE team at a specialist functional training facility in Letchworth is celebrating a successful first year in business. The brain child of personal trainer Michael Draper, Fitness Hub and CrossFit LGC became Hertfordshire's very first gym and combined CrossFit box when it opened its doors in 2014 – and the business has been going from strength to strength ever since. With a focus on training muscles in a functional way, Fitness Hub has

been taking members back to basics when it comes to training, using a lot of bodyweight techniques and functional training kit, such as the CrossCore 180, kettlebells, tyres, ropes and the prowler. Michael explained: “When people train at Fitness Hub their eyes are opened to a completely new way of training. “For years people have been going to the gym to slog it out for an hour on the cardio machines, with a few exercises on the fixed weight machines thrown in, so we're always

really excited to show them a new way of moving that will help them in their everyday lives.” Functional movement is at the heart of everything the team do at Fitness Hub. Mobility is a big focus for the instructors at the gym and is something they teach their members to continue at home. As well as a timetable bursting with classes that focus on functional training and functional movement, the instructors also take each member through a functional training pro-

gramme when they attend their gym induction. This includes everything from rope smashes and prowler pushes to bear crawls and tyre flips. Michael added: “It’s important for our members to learn how to move efficiently and effectively at the same time as working towards an end goal. “We really focus on community spirit at Fitness Hub as we want it to be a fun training environment for everyone who comes in, from advanced CrossFit members to absolute beginners.”

FUNCTIONAL TRAINING

TRX global head of human performance Chris Frankel at the two-day event at the Lomax PT Studio in Chelsea (left) and Chris Frankel shares his expertise (right).

Chris shares latest innovations at TRX seminar By Christina Eccles

TRX UK has welcomed global head of human performance Chris Frankel, plus a host of elite strength and conditioning professionals, to the Lomax PT Studio in Chelsea, for an exclusive seminar focusing on developing athletic performance with TRX. As part of the company’s expansion in the UK, Chris, who is the creator of TRX’s workout programmes and training protocols visited London to share his expertise with industry professionals. Attendees included the British Army, the LTA, Super League

rugby clubs and Premier League football clubs, as well as leading trainers from a number of key TRX accounts. With more than 25 years’ experience as a professional sports coach, trainer, educator and an established author, he shared his learnings from working with elite athletes, as well as his work with the US Marines, Navy, Army and Special Forces on how to maximise use of the TRX to deliver against a host of conditioning requirements. Over the two days, a series of discussions and interactive sessions took place concentrating on the importance of movement based

training for performance and durability; mobility training on the TRX Suspension Trainer; training clients for optimum performance and training high performance athletes and military personnel. Chris said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in London. We have had some incredibly knowledgeable, experienced trainers and passionate TRXperts in the gym. “The seminar enabled me to share some of the innovations in our training programmes that will underpin our new range of educational courses, launching in the UK over the next few

months.” TRX senior director EMEA Alan Holl added: “It’s been great to be able to get Chris to London to share the latest innovations in TRX training with key figures from UK elite sport and the fitness industry. “We will shortly be making a number of announcements about our new educational plans in the UK and as we start to communicate this it is important we begin to share this content with key influencers. “The two-day seminar in London has allowed us to do just this with some great feedback.”

FUNCTIONAL TRAINING

Six gyms which place functional training at the heart of their offering will battle it out to be named the country’s best at the 2015 National Fitness Awards. Shortlisted in Functional Training Gym of the Year are Banks O’Dee Sports Club in Aberdeen, Surrey Sports Park in Guildford, DMC Fitness in Glasgow, The Strength and Conditioning Institute in Kent and Gym 360 in Peterlee, as well as last year’s winner FSI Gym in North Shields (pictured) who will be looking to retain the title. The trophy will be handed out at a ceremony on December 4 at The Athena in Leicester.

Exigo: the experts in functional training equipment FROM its origins in rehabilitation, functional training has evolved to become central to any mainstream gym workout. It uses multiple muscle groups in an integrated way and is an inclusive form of exercise that is suitable for everyone, from complete novice to professional athlete. It can be tailored to directly support the movements required for any number of individual sports and

lifestyles. Exigo’s MFS and Club Series functional training rigs and equipment, cater for every aspect of functional training and for every type and size of gym facility, whatever your space. There’s a choice of 21 standard paint colours, plus other colours on request, along with a superb range of accessories. Our in-house design team can help you to bring all your ideas to life by producing a full con-

cept gym design. Exigo rigs are designed and manufactured in our own UK factory to ISO 9001 standards. When compared to cardio equipment, they offer low running costs, low maintenance costs and are guaranteed to meet the latest expectations of your gym members. For more information and to request our new brochure visit www.exigo-uk.com or call 0870 850 1822.

Spartan Rig whips up a storm at Courtside THE Courtside Sports and Fitness Centre in Milton Keynes has recently taken delivery of their brand new Gym Gear Spartan Rig. The re-developed facility now targets both class and personal training sessions as they have moved away

from being a traditional CV and strength station gym. This approach now ensures that the facility is able to compete on a new level against the chain gyms which have rapidly expanded in the local area.

The rig has been supplemented by additional items such as a Gym Gear Full Power Rack alongside a wide range of free weights and functional training equipment. For more information visit www.FitnessWarehouseUK.com

FUNCTIONAL TRAINING

Interlocking mats feature on three areas at LIW THIS year's Leisure Industry Week was different, but the fundamental demands of leisure service operators remains the same. Facilities continue to adapt to the forever changing sands of time and changing landscape of the industry. So solutions that are fit for purpose and have a degree of flexibility are popular. The IDASS interlocking mats were on three LIW feature areas; group training used firm mats, which were colourful and provided some give; around the pool, rubber mats were used for durability and we had a small weights area by the Jordon Training zone. Interlocking mats were on the whole of the Physical Company stand, where the need was for a weights and a functional zone so rubber and firm mats were used. Rugged Interactive had their interactive lighting system which uses IDASS mats. IDASS also had their printable mats, with their 360 degree pattern, using a

large format flatbed printer any artwork can be printed on the black mats. Interlocking mats are loose laid so you have flexibility to grow or change your floor. You have a high quality floor with the flexibility to change. It was a successful LIW for IDASS this year and we hope to see the show flourish and meet many more customers in future years. If you would like a sample pack of IDASS mats, just e-mail info@idass.com with your postal address. Rob Thurston and Scott Lamber.

Cybex agrees exclusivity deal with Jordan Fitness A successful gym in Tonbridge, which specialises in strength and functional training, is moving to a new state of the art development to allow the team to expand the business. Moving to the new Blossom Bank premises will enable The Strength and Conditioning Institute to double in size. The new facility will include an 800 sqft dedicated functional conditioning area and a 1500sqft strength training section. Director and head coach Alex Shoebridge said: “We opened in 2012 knowing there was a gap in the market for a world class training facility offering the quality of information and training that The SCI has become known for. The last three years has absolutely proven that, and we’re delighted to be expanding the business on such a scale.”

CYBEX International has signed an exclusivity deal with functional fitness specialists, Jordan Fitness, to provide their customers with the best in free weight and functional training equipment. The deal seals a long term relationship with the two companies who have traded for a number of years. Rob Thurston, Cybex commercial director UK, said: “It was important for us that we found the right partner to ensure our customers benefit from the same quality and functionality as the rest of the Cybex range. “With Jordan Fitness we know that not only are the products going to fit

our customer’s requirements, their service and fulfilment levels are also second to none.” As part of Jordan’s new customisation service they will be producing all relevant storage systems in the Cybex range of colours, utilising their new Powder Coating facility at the Jordan HQ. Scott Lamber, global trade sales manager at Jordan Fitness, added: “Cybex are extremely well respected around the world, so it’s a massive compliment that they have chosen to partner with us. We very much look forward to working together on a larger scale than ever before.”

FUNCTIONAL TRAINING

Jordan Fitness light up new look show ONE of the highlights of this year’s LIW was the Functional Fitness Zone powered by Jordan Fitness. The area wasn’t just loaded with the latest in functional training equipment but also crammed with some of the best coaches in the industry. The Jordan Training Academy pulled some of their biggest names out of the hat, such as Stephen Aish, Rachel France and Ben Coomber, who utilised the area and equipment to put on engaging and informative sessions throughout the show. Topics

covered included Biomechanics, Olympic Lifting, Mobility, NLP, HIIT Rig Training and a Q&A session with Ben Coomber in which he encouraged questions on absolutely anything. Tracy Sollitt, whose training team from Village Hotels took full advantage of the free sessions, said: “All sessions were extremely well received and all tutors were clearly an inspiration to my coaches. “I personally observed the sessions and was really impressed by how the

tutors interacted with my team. “They broke each element down to make them easy to understand so my team could take pearls of wisdom away with them rather than drowning them in indecipherable knowledge bombs. “My team haven't stopped talking about the experience.” Further information on functional training equipment and education from Jordan Fitness can be found at www.jordanfitness.co.uk www.jordanrbt.com or call 01553 763285.

KETTfusion demonstrates class at LIW SINCE it first launched in 2013, KETTFusion has increased in popularity due to the functional training nature of the class. Fusing together two proven fitness disciplines, KETTFusion offers something that has never been seen in the industry before – the use of lightweight kettlebells, interspersed with martial arts exercises performed to tribal rhythms. Already a huge hit in the North-East

of England and incredibly popular in gyms such as Life Leisure and Hatton Health and Fitness, Michael Ross, founder and creator of KETTFusion is struggling to keep up with demand around the rest of the UK. He said: "Everyone who has ever tried a KETTFusion class absolutely loves it because it gives a full body cardio, strength and conditioning workout in just 60 minutes. “People turn up and get involved,

get their heart pumping, burn calories and work up a really good sweat. The perfect ingredients for a successful fitness class." This year has been a busy one for the team, with class demonstrations taking place at The Scottish Fitness and Nutrition Expo and LIW and further demos booked at ProjectFit in November and FitJam in January. For more information visit www.kettfusion.com

Get the right kit for your gym’s needs WHEN kitting out a gym or functional space, nothing’s more important than making sure you have the right kit for your needs. With space and cost being a huge factor, being able to customise your set up can be a huge advantage, allowing you to incorporate as many winning features as possible into one reliable piece of equipment. Wolverson Fitness are one of the UK’s leaders in creating fully customisable bespoke rigging and storage solutions, offering a wide range of options including full paint jobs and logos, and a component design system which allows for virtually any existing set up to be combined and expanded. All metal work has a wide range of colour and finish options available (including galvanised or metallic coats). Wolverson offer a huge range of wall mounted or free standing options, and awkward spaces are no problem. Whether you have a £20k or £1k budget, they can create a solution to meet your exact needs, drawing on

years of design and installation experience across the country, such as this rope attachment rig recently installed at Deeside’s Number One Health and Fitness.

For a non obligation quote for building your dream rig, call Wolverson Fitness on 01922 618 780, email advice@wolverson-fitness.com or visit www.wolverson-fitness.co.uk

INTERACTIVE MEMBERSHIP SOLUTIONS

Simon Whitnall

New toolkit launched for personal trainers A NEW online toolkit has launched to help personal trainers grow their businesses. GetPTfit is the brainchild of personal trainer Simon Whitnall, who is also captain of the England Touch Rugby team, and Chris Mitchell, an experienced marketing professional. The toolkit helps personal trainers promote their business, increase their income and motivate their clients. Features include: Professional online presence including website, online bookings and payments, client app and online store. Business promotional tools including listing in a dedicated PT directory and promotion of fitness classes locally. Additional income generation via

online bookings and payments, online store and remote training. Motivating clients remotely with regular engagement between sessions. Online remote training enabling PTs to manage unlimited clients and share fitness and nutrition plans. Simon said: “Personal trainers often work long unsociable hours and have to become an expert in every aspect of their business, not just the personal training they enjoy but also sales, marketing, accounts, promotion, tax and finance. “Chris and I have combined our knowledge of the fitness industry with marketing and branding experience to create an affordable online platform that helps personal trainers better engage with their clients and grow their businesses.”

Fettle funds gym membership AN enhanced active rewards programme is set to shake up the industry, by enabling members to earn rewards through being active – and in particular through joining a gym. Fettle works in partnership with UK insurance companies and their clients and upon joining, people are instantly rewarded with membership to the gym of their choice. Fettle pays the operator directly and people are not restricted to certain options. Members are rewarded for personal improvement, progression and commitment – regardless of their starting level of fitness. They work towards their own personalised goals, earning credits which

can be exchanged for rewards of their choice. The Fettle platform also offers multiple benefits to operators; introducing new members including those who previously might not have considered them gym users. Fettle also funds up to four years of membership, more than two years longer than the average length of stay. CEO at Fettle, Brent Kelly, said: “Fettle is the biggest service enhancement the leisure industry has ever seen. It’s a revolution in active rewards and it will dramatically impact the way in which members engage with their own fitness journey.”

INTERACTIVE MEMBERSHIP SOLUTIONS

PHS launches active ageing strength and balance solution

Lancaster gym teams up with CFM for campaign CFM, MyZone and 3-1-5 Health club in Lancaster have teamed up to launch an innovative campaign in the Lancaster area. 500 local residents of the area who are currently classed as inactive and de-conditioned will have the opportunity to participate in a three year study and be inspired to the benefits of active living. 3-1-5 will offer participants a 50 per cent reduced rate membership to access the club as well as a MyZone activity monitor belt; the only technology in the market which individually monitors and motivates the client. £1m+ over the three years is being invested into this project in order to offer these benefits and ensure that clients complete the journey with tan-

gible results. It has been proven that clients who invest into their own health and are monitored and motivated have a far higher success rate that when enrolled in a project that is free and has no accountability. The drive to work together on this campaign came from the UKactive report ‘steps to solving inactivity’ which found that Lancashire had a national rank of 90 in terms of its level of inactive people, out of 150 local authorities and that 30 per cent of people in Lancashire were classed as inactive. If you would like to find out more about a CFM Memberdrive campaign to help you get more members please call on 0115 777 3333 and press option one or email uk@cfm.net

PERFORMANCE Health Systems has launched a strength and balance solution with adapted software specifically developed with age-related needs in mind. The Active Ageing Solution comprises a Power Plate my7 adapted with software and four preloaded programmes designed to help older people enjoy independent living for longer by addressing risk factors brought on by sedentary ageing including loss of muscular strength and balance and reduced mobility and range of motion. The programmes are activated via the touch screen embedded into the Power Plate head, enabling users to work independently or with support from a carer or instructor. Interactive video coaching gives clear guidance and coaching points to ensure correct form. Head of corporate wellness, elderly care and medical at Performance Health Systems Chris Brown said: “Our Active Ageing Solution is beneficial for anyone over the age of 55, regardless of their level of fitness or mobility. One Power Plate can cater to the needs of many older people at a gym, care home or day centre. “We offer a complete solution, combining specific programming, accredited

staff training and education, accessories, measurement and monitoring tools, specifically developed to align with NICE QS 86. “Any facility seeking to offer a falls prevention service can rest assured our Active Ageing Solution can help achieve evidence-based outcomes, grounded in improving functional, independent daily living and quality of later life.”

INTERACTIVE MEMBERSHIP SOLUTIONS

Operator leads the way with new digital developments By Christina Eccles INNOVATIVE operator Everyone Active has launched a series of digital developments to help its clubs stay ahead of the game. Developments include the new Everyone Active app, an interactive website with online induction and activity hub facilities and the introduction of tablets in centres. The app is tailored to each of the 102 centres that Everyone Active currently manages across the UK, so members can access centre specific timetables and are able to click and book activities and classes. It also keeps members updated with local centre news as well as marketing offers and a host of other centre-specific information. Everyone Active managing director David Bibby said: “The app is going to propel Everyone Active into an even more dynamic and interactive digital setting. “We hope it will encourage more members to achieve their recommended 30 minutes of exercise, five times a week by keeping them engaged, motivated and connected, both in and outside the centre environment.” The new Everyone Active website is an interactive interface that allows

customers to access their own user profile and complete their induction online, through a simple and unique five-step process. Anyone with an Everyone Active card now has access to their personalised Activity Hub in which they can view their timetable and manage their bookings as well as set their goals, seek training and nutrition advice and sync this with any activity tracking device they use. The site also ensures that users receive updates and news regarding only their chosen centres and, as the site is fully mobile, members will always be kept fully informed with real-time updates. Group marketing manager Steph Hibbert added: “Time is of the essence for most of our members and we were keen to create online platforms that offered a quick and hasslefree solution to carrying out an induction, making bookings and accessing information. “With over 50 per cent of our members visiting our site on their mobiles and this only set to increase, making the site fully mobile was a key requiremen. “What’s more, the site encourages users to be social, allowing them to easily share content and activity updates on social media sites. We

have a huge community on Facebook and Twitter with 76,931 Facebook likes and 36,749 Twitter followers, so the social element of the site was key for us.” To further enhance the digital offering, tablets will now also feature in all centres to allow both existing and prospective members to access the

online services in-centre. The tablets can also be used by fitness motivators and sales staff to introduce new customers to the facilities. Self-service kiosks, allowing members to manage their own bookings and payments, will reduce queuing time and further improve customer satisfaction.

INTERACTIVE MEMBERSHIP SOLUTIONS

Joined up online solutions Products to suit your requirement from Ashbourne at LIW ... AS the huge circular graphic on the Ashbourne stand at LIW 2015 illustrates (see picture), online membership solutions need to be part of a complete joinedup process that engages with your members at every point of the membership journey. Your members expect to be able to join online, book classes on their phones and receive ongoing info via an app about promotions and new developments in your club. Integrated versions of all of these services are available from Ashbourne. And just as your members can experience a seamless online journey, so the interaction between all the Ashbourne services for clubs is fully integrated too. A great example of this is our new online PAR-Q form – each of your members can complete this onscreen while in your club and then ‘sign’ the form by matching it to their swipecard/ fingerprint/ RFID used for entry control. No paper form to print, fill out and then file. Retrieval of each member’s PAR-Q details is easy, as it is linked to their online profile. All these Ashbourne interactive services are linked up: DD collection serv-

HARLANDS Group is a well-established BACS Approved Bureau currently collecting Direct Debit payments across a wide range of industries, with a range of products to suit any business requirement. BACS require all companies accredited to become a Bureau provider to pass the most stringent and rigorous tests. You therefore have peace of mind when allowing Harlands Group to collect on your behalf and can also feel comfortable that we will provide you with a reliable and trusted service, bringing a host of benefits: Collections can be made on your behalf regardless of whether you have your own BACS originator status.

Ours is an entirely flexible service to meet your demands. Our pricing models assist companies with high volumes, and there are no hidden charges. There is no expensive account set up charge. Once accepted by Harlands Group you undergo no further BACS registration process. Harlands Group aims to take the stress out of the Direct Debit collection and administration process and pay your money into your bank reliably and efficiently. We offer a range of services adaptable to your needs. For more information call 01444 449157 or visit www.harlandsgroup.co.uk

It’s not all about the size of the dumbbells?

ice; Entry/access control + turnstile; EPOS till system; KPI dashboard; tracking and retention tools (text or email targeted members direct from our system); and our new Scheduler+ facility and staff scheduling package. As well as being fully joined up, something else these services have in common is that they are all available for just one small fixed fee per member DD per month. For more info visit www.ashbourne-memberships.co.uk or call Ashbourne on 0871 271 2088.

SO what have you planned for your new gym business or refurbishment of your existing gym? New gym kit, new free weights, new cardio kit, new lockers; well the list could go on. But have you stopped to think about the things that make the business run smoothly? What will save your business money? Think about getting time back in your day-to-day routine, allowing you to focus on outreach marketing to grow your paying members, who will enjoy your club’s amazing facilities. It is the perfect time to plan how you can make some big changes, which will benefit both your members and your bottom line to achieve your financial goals. Would you like an integrated software solution that saves you time each day or are you going to be juggling

spreadsheets and paper or wrestle with that old software system you’ve had for years? Would you like to have up to date KPI dashboard (Key Performance Indicators) so that at a glance you can make important business decisions every minute of the day? Would you like to know the status of all Direct Debit or Standing Order members every time they walk in the club – have they paid this month? Would you like to have retention tools so you can keep your customers paying you for longer? ClubManager can answer all of these questions and a whole lot more including advice on dumbbells as we also know about those to. To find out more contact Wayne at ClubManager on 01245 807 360, visit: www.clubmanagercentral.com or email wayne@clubmanagercentral.com

SUPPLEMENTATION AND NUTRITION

Steam cooked chicken fillets using Gold Standard Nutrition THIS recipe was submitted by Dr Emma Kirke. To stay up to date with her recipes visit @DrEKirkeOstm on Twitter and www.medicinalkitchen.wordpress.co. uk. This recipe is made using Gold Standard Nutrition Steam Cooked Chicken Fillets. Easy, nutritious and with a great taste, this dish is a unique twist on a very basic dish.

Crossfit athlete Will Kane performing a Goblet Squat – one of the exercises in the challenge.

Multipower announced as Fit Brit title sponsor SPORTS nutrition company Multipower has become the title sponsor of Fit Brit 2015 – Men’s Fitness’ challenge to find the fittest athletes in the UK in Fitness First gyms. The challenge, which saw over 4,000 entrants in 2014, is a test of strength, agility and endurance over a series of nine gruelling exercises. Entry, at all Fitness First gyms nationwide, runs between August and October with the final taking place on November 28. This year’s event will see the introduction of two new categories, the

Team and Masters (over 40) sitting alongside the established Elite and Amateur categories. Marketing manager at Multipower UK, Shân Savage, said: “The Men’s Fitness Fit Brit Challenge is the perfect partnership enabling us to fuel some of the fittest men and women in the UK. “Following our launch of a market leading range of premium protein powders earlier this year we’re in a position to offer a full nutritional support package to help people push their limits, overcome their boundaries and achieve their goals.”

Ingredients: 1 Gold Standard Nutrition Steak Cooked chicken fillet. A large handful of spinach. Half an avocado. 1/8 cup of grated goats cheese. A few dried porcini mushrooms (if you wish). 1 tbsp coconut oil. Beetroot slices, sun dried tomatoes and a few black olives have been added to this version, but this is optional depending on macro allowances. Method: A very simple recipe, not only is this easy to make, it looks pretty impressive and has an amazing array of flavours. Place your spinach on your serving plate ready to wilt. In a frying pan cook your defrosted chicken in a tbsp of coconut oil. Sprinkle a little garlic powder onto the chicken before you flip it over. Turn the heat from medium to low and while this is cooking, slice the

half avocado. When the chicken has cooked though, lift it out of the pan and slice it width ways too. Pop the plate of spinach in the microwave for 30 seconds. Place the chicken and avocado onto the spinach once wilted in an alternate pattern, starting with a layer of chicken. Lightly sprinkle with cheese and then place under the grill to melt. Add the porcini mushrooms and serve. If you want to add a little cauliflower rice as a bed under the chicken like shown in the photo feel free. It adds extra flavour and a great texture to the dish.

UK FITNESS SCENE

Kettlercise® teams up with Fitness Fiesta

Cycling challenge helps charity RBS delivered a nationwide Cycling Challenge in aid of Sport Relief. The challenge consisted of a number of events as listed below: London to Edinburgh road cycling challenge – circa 120 riders cycled from London to Edinburgh over five days. One day road cycling challenge – a number if riders cycled one stage of the road event. Half-day cycling challenge – a number of riders cycled half a stage of the road event. Static cycling challenge – across 39 office based locations employees participated in static cycling challenges. Nuffield Health supported this event by providing training programmes, preparing riders for the challenge ahead. Six massage therapists and two physiotherapists were provided at each destination of the road cycling event to support recovery for the cyclists; and in partnership with Servicesport, in excess of 50 bikes were delivered to all of the office locations around the UK to facilitate the office based cycling challenges. Corporate wellbeing account director at Nuffield Health Lee Grimes said: “Servicesport currently provide servicing and asset management for our entire consumer and corporate estate consisting of circa 300 clubs nationwide. “They are a valued partner of Nuffield Health and were keen to take on the difficult logistical challenge of delivering bikes to all of the RBS office locations in support of Nuffield Health. Their contribution to this event was invaluable. With careful planning and prompt delivery and collec-

Conference tickets now available TICKETS are now on sale for the first National Fitness Conference in Leicester, organised by Script Events in partnership with Workout and headline sponsor Harlands Group. Taking place on Friday December 4 at the National Space Centre, speakers will include fitness entrepreneur Katie Bulmer-Cooke, retention expert Dr Paul Bedford and industry guru Ken Heathcote, who will advise delegates on how to boost their businesses – without breaking the bank. Visitors will also be able to enjoy a healthy networking lunch and chance to look around stands from specially selected exhibitors who will be showcasing their latest products and innovations. Tickets cost just £35 each. Book your place at www.nationalfitnessconference.co.uk or email events@scriptmedia.co.uk

tion from their professional team this event was a great success.” For more information visit www.servicesport.co.uk

A FITNESS Fiesta weekend is all about being happy and healthy with the emphasis always being on enjoyment, with fun, motivational exercise and relaxing classes to stimulate both the mind and body and leave you feeling both invigorated and relaxed at the same time. Various sports and spa weekends are offered at various dates and locations throughout both the UK and the Algarve. Fitness Fiestas offer something for everyone and are for all levels from beginners to real enthusiasts being able to enjoy a whole weekend of fitness and fun with top international fitness presenters that entertain and motivate. For the very first time this year, Kettlercise were approached to be a part of the jam packed fitness timetable and

join their prestigious presenters. Within a day of the October dates being announced Kettlercise classes were fully subscribed and another date was very quickly added. Co-founder of the Kettlercise programme, Guy Noble, said: “Kettlercise continues to go from strength to strength but even we were surprised at how quickly the Kettlercise classes booked out. Myself and our regional Kettlercise instructors are delighted to be a part of the presenting team and for Kettlercise to be on the exercise class timetable. Because Fitness Fiesta events are attended by enthusiasts and fitness professionals it’s a really great opportunity for people to try out a class.” For more information email sales@kettlebellseminars.co.uk or call 01282 698698.

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Features coming up in forthcoming issues include ‘Training and Recruitment’, ‘Indoor Cycling and Rowing’ and ‘New for 2016’. If you would like to contribute email ce@scriptmedia.co.uk POINT OF SALE

A new protein and health supplements range has been launched; the brainchild of two former international swimmers, Lee Forster and Charlie Turner. All Neat Nutrition’s products are GMO free, and have been responsibly sourced – the protein is sourced from grass fed cows – using 100 per cent natural flavourings. Charlie said: “Over the years we competed as international swimmers, we tried a whole range of different products allowing us to see the gap in the market for a range that is simple and pure. We therefore set out to create back-to-basics products, containing only clean and effective ingredients that are easy to understand.” The products are available online and in London based gyms Lomax, Equinox and Core Collective.

CLOTHING & MERCHANDISE

AUDIO / VISUAL

CLASSIFIED EQUIPMENT

CLASSIFIED LOCKERS

MIRRORS

HYGIENE

LOCKS

CLASSIFIED HYGIENE

FLOORING

MARKETING

FLOORING

UPHOLSTERY

DIRECT DEBIT COLLECTIONS

CLASSIFIED INSURANCE

FINANCE

MANAGEMENT

INSURANCE

WANTED

SOFTWARE

HYGIENE

SOFTWARE