Balance September 2017 - 19

H E A LT H Y C A R E E R

t he manual

So you want to be a...

personal
trainer

For a life that's fit for living, look no further than the gym

T
career toolkit
TRAINING

Serious about becoming a
PT? It's crucial your training
provider is recognised by
the Register of Exercise
Professionals (REPs).
Without accreditation your
qualification may not count
in the real world. Check
exerciseregister.org for a list
of recognised courses.

COST

Ranging from £500 to
£3,500 depending on the
level of certification, the
average PT course will set
you back around £1,500
- but most institutions
offer payment schemes.

he UK's fitness industry is officially enjoying such
unprecedented growth that even pre-Brexit jitters
can't derail it. Memberships rose by 5.1% in the past
year, according to the 2017 State of the UK Fitness Industry
Report, which means, one in every seven people in the UK
is now a member of a gym or boutique studio. So, with more
clubs, classes and members - and a greater market value - than
ever before, thanks to the public's unwavering thirst for allthings wellness related, there really couldn't be a better time to
turn your passion for fitness into a successful career.
If spending your days in activewear, motivating people to
change their habits and be their best-selves, appeals, then
training to be a PT could be the right career move for you.
Whether you want to work one-on-one with clients or see
yourself heading up a high-energy group workout, the starting
point is the same - a certified qualification from a provider like
YMCA Fit or Premier Global. This will create a solid foundation
to enable you to build a personal and accredited industry profile.
Once qualified, you'll need to be prepared to work long hours,
develop your people skills and invest in further education
in order to produce effective results. Hone your USP and
area of speciality. Look for courses that cover your interests.
Becoming an expert in yoga, TRX or pre-natal exercise can
help differentiate your brand. Linchpin by Seth Godin (£12.99,
Piatkus) is a great book to help you know how to get noticed as
well as nurture indispensable relationships with your clients. B
Visit welltodoglobal.com to discover business and career
opportunities in wellness.

POINT OF VIEW

WORDS: LAUREN ARMES, ILLUSTRATION: RAMI NIEMI

RESOURCES

To excel as a PT, continued
education is imperative. Stay
up-to-date, explore new
strategies or connect with
like-minded professionals
via acefitness.org.

ACTION PLAN
LAUREN ARMES
Lauren is the founder
of Welltodo which
helps people build
incredible businesses
and careers in the
wellness industry.

I'd love to relocate
to another country one
day. Are UK qualifications
recognised internationally?
In a word - yes. At
present, REPs qualifications
are recognised in most of
Europe and Australia. The
US is yet to introduce an
overall standard.

I've noticed lots of PTs
are using social media
to attract clients, but
I'm not very media savvy.
Is it essential?
While a healthy digital
following certainly won't
hurt when it comes to
creating awareness, 'likes'
and 'follows' aren't the
only route to (or, indeed,
measure of) success.
Focus on building authentic
face-to-face connections.

TIMELINE

Full-time personal training
diplomas can be completed
in just six weeks, but there
are options for part-time and
distance learning, too, so
it's possible to fit this
around existing work.

FAQ

Ciara Madden
27, Mill Hill
'Following a five-year
stint in PR, I decided
to become a PT. At
first I still worked full
time, so I trained
my clients during
evenings and
weekends. Then
I decided to pack in
my office job. Now
I have more free
time and my salary
has tripled.'

Chris Pinner
27, East London
'So much of what
makes a good PT
is learned "on the
job". Academies
can start you off
on the path to
success but when it
comes down to it,
if you love what
you do and deliver
a great service
other people will
love it too.'

Tara Gadre
29, Bank
'When it comes to
personal training, my
advice would be to
learn your craft inside
out. Don't be scared
to ask experienced
PTs what they think,
and always go
above and beyond
for your clients.
Education beyond the
PT qualification is
definitely key.'

September 2017 BA LA N CE

q.
A.

After qualifying I'd like
to be self-employed. But
where should I begin?
While undeniably
attractive, self-employment
is not free from its own
challenges. Connect with
like-minded people via
industry events. And find
yourself a good accountant!

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Balance September 2017