News Article
48% RISE IN APPLICANTS TO HEALTH AND FITNESS COURSES AS SECTOR SHOWS ROUTE BACK TO EMPLOYMENT
The rise in unemployment and increased competitiveness amongst
graduates is a worry for most people yet Premier Training International
has seen a 48% rise in applicants for health and fitness qualifications
as the sector's labour market continues to hold firm and expand.
The health and fitness sector is now worth £3.77billion and many
graduates and people made redundant are finding work in the sector –
and with it, a more flexible and better quality of life.
Premier Training International, which creates market leading syllabuses
and courses for the health and fitness industry, has trained in excess
of 5,000 people through entry level diplomas into the sector over the
past 24 months and has seen a distinct increase in the demand for
distance learning and part-time courses.
A large number of these new applicants are graduates and women and
parents; looking for a career that allows progression and flexible
working times, enabling them to save on the cost of child care.
Furthermore, 95% of people taking Premier courses pass them.
Jobs have increased through direct investment and Privately Funded
Initiatives (PFI’s) and local authority gyms have also increased in
number. In addition, the public is now more likely to visit a gym,
either private or public, than they were and members are more likely to
use niche or specialist services such as personal trainers or attend
group exercise classes which require skilled instructors in order to
help achieve their goals.
As a result, many fitness trainers are accessing training and through
career progression are becoming personal trainers, leaving room for
fitness coaches to fill their vacated roles.
Debra Stuart, Chief Executive Officer at Premier Training International,
said, "We put the increase in demand for our courses down to the fact
that the health and fitness sector has proven to be virtually recession
proof.
"People are finding that there is more flexibility in a career in
health and fitness, especially among graduates and parents. Many
employers said this week that graduates should be prepared to ‘flip
burgers’ – when compared with an engaging and active career in health
and fitness, you can see it’s a no brainer.
"16-24 year olds make up the majority of our course applicants but
there are older students too and those looking to retrain after either
changing careers or exiting the armed forces or emergency services.
"Coupled to this there are larger health club operators who are
demanding health and fitness trainers. Demand for staff out weighs
supply, so much so that we guarantee our graduates interviews for jobs
with the major health club networks.”
The courses, run by Premier Training International deliver Health and
Fitness NVQs (levels 2 and 3). The company provides ground breaking
training content developed with its awarding body Active IQ, it is also
the sole provider of National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)
methodology in the UK, and this methodology underpins all of the
training courses, meaning that Health and Fitness coaches will be
trained to the very highest standards.
