ISSUE 1 May
WEEKLY
Issue 123 - 9 December 2022
YOUR REGULAR ONLINE UPDATE FOR THE UK FITNESS SCENE
Largest install of the new Precor StairClimbers in EMEA announced – page 2 Quest launches Exercise Referral Standard to rubber stamp successful schemes – page 3
WORKOUT WEEKLY
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Largest install of the new Precor StairClimbers in EMEA announced MEMBERS of UAE’s largest indoor multisport centre, Wellfit in Jumeirah Village Circle, Dubai, can now stay one step ahead of the fitness game thanks to the installation of innovative new Precor StairClimbers. The state-of-the-art club is the first in the Middle East to install Precor’s StairClimbers and has a total of eight, in the Black Pearl Colourway, to complement its other Precor kit. The 75,000 sq ft facility – which opened in November last year – also boats a full range of Precor equipment, including 135 cardio stations, as well as Precor’s Resolute Selectorized Strength line, Discovery Plate Loaded machines and Icarian multi-stations. The Precor StairClimber spent three years in development and testing to ensure its components withstand the test of time. It’s designed to cater for all exercisers with easy step-on and step-off platforms that have the largest step surface area on the market. The trademarked Dynamic Step Control™ creates a consistent step for every exerciser’s size and speed, with a range of between 20 and 165 steps per minute. The lost item slide design feature protects both the machine and users’ personal belongings. Anything dropped through a gap in the steps falls onto the ‘lost item slide’ and is returned to
Gareth Jones
the user at the foot of the StairClimber, rather than getting lost in the machine’s workings. The region’s largest install of the new StairClimbers has been supplied by Precor’s UAE distribution partner, Al Yousuf Sports Equipment, and is testament to the strong relationship between the two companies and Wellfit’s parent company, Arada. Gareth Jones, chief operating officer for Wellfit Dubai, UAE, says: “The knowledge and experience of Precor and its partners
is second to none, and AYSE and Precor have worked closely with us to ensure we are the most exciting fitness hub in town in line with our aim of inspiring, motivating and enabling ‘active living’ for everyone. “Thanks to the new Precor StairClimbers we remain a world class wellness and fitness facility, inspiring our community on its journey to health and wellness.” Arada already operates two commercial health clubs under the
Wellfit brand, in addition to residential communities. The company is currently building a flagship club 60,000sq ft high-tech Wellfit super club, which will be at the company’s Aljada megaproject in the popular Madar family entertainment district of Sharjah. Opening in June 2023 and spread over two floors, the fitness centre will contain separate men’s and women’s gyms, kitted with Precor fitness equipment. The new StairClimbers will feature alongside assessment areas, fitness studios, a Mixed Martial Arts space, yoga and indoor-cycling studios, as well as a studio dedicated for children. Rashed Al Sayegh, managing director at Al Yousuf Sports Equipment, added: “Our partnership with Precor has allowed us to become the trusted distributor of the world’s leading fitness equipment in the UAE, driven by technology, backed by science, putting customer experience at the centre of it all. “We are committed to provide our clientele with the right solution for their business, which makes us the unrivalled leaders in fitness equipment distribution across the UAE. “We are very excited to see the StairClimber at one of the best commercial clubs, Wellfit, and we are confident that the members will fall in love with this unique piece of equipment.”
Introducing the Power Plate® REV™ with VibeShift™ technology POWER Plate® has introduced the Power Plate® REV™. Inspired by the elite cyclists of the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix, the most challenging terrain in the sport, the product is the first of its kind to be integrated into fitness training. The concept is simple: vibration, when applied to riding, has been proven to drive significantly more muscle activation, increased oxygen uptake and greater calorie burn than traditional exercise. VibeShift Technology (patent-pending) delivers consistent, safe, precise, and predictable effective vibration through the pedals – a press of the lever shifts the mode from standard to full-on vibration. REV offers health and fitness clubs an
exciting vibration concept that delivers accelerated results to their members; maximum cardio, strength, and wellness benefits in a minimum amount of time while providing increased muscle activation.
“REV is a truly unique product”, said Lee Hillman, CEO of Performance Health Systems, manufacturer of Power Plate. “Resistance amplified by vibration delivers an outstanding experience that not only drives usage, but also delivers
real results. “When combined with Power Plate whole body vibration, the REV will enable integrated vibration-centred programming to create unique secondary revenue opportunities through circuit training, HIIT programmes, personal training and more.” REV’s proprietary programming meets a wide variety of needs, from better overall health to intense elite training. This creates a community committed to the results and benefits of vibration powered training for every type of member. REV also integrates with other training modalities on the gym floor for added variety and flexibility of use.
WORKOUT WEEKLY
Quest launches Exercise Referral Standard to rubber stamp successful schemes LEISURE operators offering exercise on referral can now have the quality and effectiveness of their schemes validated by Sport England’s Improvement Tool, Quest. The new Exercise Referral Standard assessment can be taken standalone or as part of Sport England’s Quest assessment process, which is designed to help facilities strengthen their core operational standards, as well as demonstrate the positive impact they have on their local communities. The Quality Standard for Exercise Referral assessment was originally developed pre-Covid by Right Directions in partnership with Suffolk Public Health, who had, in collaboration with exercise referral scheme leaders, health professionals and other key stakeholders across the county, provided a set of locally tailored operating standards for exercise referral schemes. The first of its kind in the UK, it was developed to reassure GPs and health professionals that they can refer in the knowledge accredited facilities are successfully delivering programmes that have been rigorously tested using ‘realworld’ criteria. Following a successful two-anda-half-year pilot, the Standard has been adapted into a module for Sport England’s Quest.
Phil Lown, senior Quest assessor at Right Directions, which manages Quest on behalf of Sport England as part of Moving Communities, said: “The Exercise Referral Standard will allow facilities running exercise on referral schemes to challenge and check the suitability of the programmes they are running, analyse how they are using funding and demonstrate clear patient outputs. This ‘rubber stamp’ should also give
operators the confidence to apply for further funding. “Health professionals will no longer need to find solutions to embed exercise themselves; they can simply refer patients living with a condition that would benefit from physical activity to facilities that have achieved the Exercise Referral Standard, reassured they will receive a high standard of care and a structured exercise programme
delivered in a safe environment.” The Standard aims to ensure exercise referral schemes are operating in line with the 2014 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines for exercise referral and behaviour change, and that pathways are in place for exercise referral aligned to evidencebased principles and best practice guidelines; as well as local health and wellbeing priorities. “The Standard isn’t limited to those offering exercise referral in a leisure centre,” added Phil. “It’s ideal for small, specialist community teams and exercise referral-specific projects, as well as specialist exercise referral teams who operate as independent teams within the community or within a leisure facility setting.” The assessment can be carried out as a stand-alone accreditation or on day two as part of Quest Plus at no extra cost, and covers all elements of exercise referral across four key areas: scheme safety, scheme delivery (including governance), information sharing and scheme monitoring and evaluation. It includes observation of a practical exercise referral session, which could be anything from a specialist programme review or initial consultation to an exercise class, group gym session or induction.
Customer experience enhanced as part of award win PARKWOOD Leisure’s new datadriven, customer-focused digital strategy has seen participation numbers boom and online sales nearly triple in 2022. The new strategy was developed to solve real-world problems with digital solutions, enabling members to easily connect with their local leisure centres through simple onboarding processes and effortless self-service bookings for a range of health and fitness activities. Working closely with user research company Mace & Menter, who uncover valuable customer insights through rigorous research-led discoveries, a three-month research Publishing manager: Dominic Musgrave Tel: 01226 734407 dm@scriptmediagroup.co.uk Studio manager: Paul Hopkinson ph@scriptmediagroup.co.uk Assistant studio manager: Scott Firth sf@scriptmediagroup.co.uk Sales: Tony Barry Tel: 01226 734605 tb@scriptmediagroup.co.uk
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project was conducted to generate a pathway for the company’s digitally led marketing approach. The participants in the research covered a broad range of users; from prospective customers, to new, long standing members, swim only and pay as you go customers, helping to form an understanding of the digital needs of each of these groups was vital in the decision making behind the new approach. The research suggested that customers wanted to easily connect with their leisure centre and its systems through a clear, simple joining and onboarding process before then going onto being able to
manage their membership through effortless self service. Parkwood’s digital solutions centred on the launch of a new website and CRM system with the focus on a seamless onboarding process and ensuring specific, accurate information about the leisure centres was available to customers. Since the website launch, unique page views have increased by between 25 per cent and 35 per cent whilst bounce rates have decreased between 15 per cent and 25 per cent but the largest impact has been seen in a 197 per cent increase in online sales since 2019. Replacing and redesigning the
app provided the ability to manage memberships more easily for members – booking classes was made easier and their membership profile was available to look at, at the touch of a button. Tablets have also been introduced at the leisure centres to simplify and automate the in-centre sign up process. As a result of the overhauls, all new customers are now set up with online accounts. A 27 per cent increase in class bookings via the app has resulted in a higher participation rate in classes across the centres. Users are also happier with the new experience, with the app store rating increasing to 4.5.
stands out from the competition is the ‘Escape Room’. “The training space is an ultra-modern training space that is a complete game changer taking the variety and quality of training we’re able to offer our members to a whole new level.”
The ‘Escape Room’ incorporates all manner of Escape Fitness functional training assets including lifting platforms, battle ropes, slam balls, medicine balls and core bags through to the Strongbox benches, plyo boxes and Bulgarian bags.
Gold’s Gym Northridge install ‘Escape Room’
GOLD’S Gym, Northridge, California, partnered with Escape Fitness to create a bespoke, standalone ‘Escape Room’ housing all of the latest functional equipment and providing an innovative training space for members that would inspire, motivate and engage them on their fitness journey. The ‘Escape Room’ is a boutique, boxstyle fitness room that combines the modern methods of functional training with traditional free-weights and lifting platforms. This adds a bespoke training environment, adding a new dimension to the incumbent facilities which include a Cardio Cinema®, signature turf track, boxing bag area, dry sauna and Olympic lifting platforms. Thomas O’Neal, general manager at Gold’s Gym SoCal Group Northridge, said: “One of the reasons our gym
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PHOTOGRAPHY Thanks to everyone who attended the event, it was a wonderful evening and we’d like to congratulate all our winners plus those runners up who were all worthy of being winners, there was a lot of tough decisions for our judges! If you had your photo taken and would like to see this and purchase copies to share and remember the occassion, please visit our online photography portal: www.script-events.co.uk/photography-2
You can view a low resolution, watermarked version of your images on our online platform. Any images purchased will be supplied as an 8x6 high resolution print, with no watermark present. If you’d like to purchase images please visit script-events.co.uk/ photography-2/ or by scanning the QR code on the right. Photographs purchased are £12 inc P&P each.