ISSUE 1 May
WEEKLY
Issue 60 - 30 July 2021
YOUR REGULAR ONLINE UPDATE FOR THE UK FITNESS SCENE
York Sport signs partnership agreement with YOUR Personal Training to support demand
page 3
Power Plate teams up with Myzone page 4
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Sport and physical activity in Leicestershire chosen as one of eight ‘trailblazers’
Gym and fitness sector invited to enter awards
FITNESS and gym providers are being invited to enter this year’s bfa HSBC British Franchise Awards as the prestigious event returns this year. Known as the ‘Oscars’ of the franchising industry, the awards celebrate the innovation, dedication and devotion of franchisors and franchisees, with the awards night set to take place on November 30. Pip Wilkins, CEO of the British Franchise Association, said: “There have been incredible displays of commitment to franchising over the past year. “It has been an extremely tough year but fortunately, many franchise businesses thrived with the support we were able to provide, such as training and helpful information. “With the vast number of redundancies or career changes that many have experienced – especially during Covid - franchising is a great route to self-employment. “It has the potential to turn someone’s passion into a career alongside a positive work-life balance. “Community is a huge part of the franchising world, and these awards are a place for everyone to come together to share their experiences and celebrate their achievements. “I have been overwhelmed by the resilience of the whole franchise Group Editor: Judith Halkerston Tel: 01226 734639 jh@scriptmedia. co.uk Group production editor: Dominic Musgrave Tel: 01226 734407 dm@scriptmedia. co.uk
Sales and marketing director: Tony Barry Tel: 01226 734605 tb@scriptmedia. co.uk Sales manager: Louise BristoweHarrison Tel: 01226 734699 workout3@ scriptmedia.co.uk
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network during the challenges of the past 12 plus months. “I can’t wait to hear from the many franchisees and franchisors who have really gone above and beyond and become shining examples of the very best the franchising industry can be.” After a challenging year, the British Franchise Association welcomes entries from its fitness and gym members who are invited to share their story. Non-members wishing to enter will be able to enter the HSBC Best In Class Multi-Unit Leader award only. The categories for the bfa HSBC British Franchise Awards 2021 are: Franchisor Categories n Franchisor of the year: Bronze, Silver & Gold n Emerging Franchisor n Leadership and Culture Franchisor n Business Resilience n Sustainable Warrior Franchisee Categories n Lifestyle Franchisee n Next Generation Franchisee n Local Focus Franchisee n Resilient Riser n HSBC Best In Class Multi-Unit Leader (open to non-bfa members) n Franchisee Of The Year - People’s Choice Entries close on August 13.
A BID from CIMSPA, Leicestershire Colleges and the East Midlands Chamber has been selected as one of eight Local Skills Improvement Plan trailblazers, and one of 18 Strategic Development Fund pilots, as part of the Government’s £65m Skills Accelerator programme. CIMSPA, together with Leicestershire Colleges, Leicester and Rutland Sport and the East Midlands Chamber, put together a successful bid based on the vital role that sport and physical activity can play in the overall health and prosperity of the Leicestershire and Leicester city areas. Tara Dillon, CEO of CIMSPA, said: “It’s fantastic news that this joint bid has been chosen for these two initiatives. “This is a significant recognition from the Government of the vital role that our sector can play in the health and prosperity of the population within Leicestershire, but also across the nation. It is also recognition of the progress made in recent years to professionalise the sector and its workforce. “Sport and physical activity directly contributes to the physical health of a population, but can also help to tackle inequality, mental health, loneliness and community cohesion. “As a profession, we have an excellent track record of providing high quality, highly skilled job opportunities for young people and providing career pathways that encourage social mobility. “This will benefit all parts of the sector, including further and higher education institutions, training providers, awarding organisations and employers. “We see this as a blueprint for the future and, if successful, we will aim to roll it out nationally.” CIMSPA and the colleges involved – Loughborough College, Leicester College, the SMB Group, and North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College – will explore how the further education and physical activity sectors can play a role in health and the wider economy – particularly around preventative health and long Covid recovery, as well as other social issues such as youth crime, education, the ageing population and social mobility.
Tara Dillon
The bid set out the case for positioning sport and physical activity as an extension of the National Health Service, in alignment with the Government’s Sporting Future and Sport England’s Uniting the Movement strategies. It also highlighted that the sport and physical activity sector is significantly ahead in its development of an employer-led skills system, with CIMSPA leading the development of a single set of professional standards and the alignment of more than 1,000 instances of training including apprenticeships, National Diplomas and Degrees. For the past nine months, a collaboration between CIMSPA, County Active Partnerships and local further education providers on six pilot projects has also led to successful engagement with large numbers of employers. Jo Maher, principal and CEO at Loughborough College, added: “Collaboration is the key to supporting the skills-led recovery from Covid. The impact on human health has never been more important to understand and to improve. “We’re so delighted to work with all the Leicestershire general further education colleges, CIMSPA and the Chamber because, through our shared value set and excellent employer network, we can support our fantastic region, and beyond, to thrive.” The Local Skills Improvement Plan trailblazers are designed to set out the key changes needed to make technical skills training more responsive to employers’ skills needs within a local area, backed with £4m of funding.
Health and safety accolade no accident SANDWELL Leisure Trust has been awarded the highest possible accolade in the internationally-renowned Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents 2021 Health and Safety Awards. The Black Country-based company has landed the coveted Order of Distinction (for 15 consecutive annual Gold Awards) and is the only leisure trust nationwide to ever achieve this distinction. Gold Awards are awarded for superior health and safety performance and excellence among companies that primarily offer services direct to guests and visitors – and this latest and 15th continuous accolade is for the period of January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. Chief executive Ash Rai said: “It’s a massive achievement to be consistently successful in the toughest health and safety competition in the world. “This is fantastic news and testament
to the team’s sterling efforts across all the Trust’s facilities over the past year – especially in these most challenging of circumstances. Maintaining the highest standards of health and safety continues to be a priority for the Trust. “This achievement again underlines the expertise and hard work of our teams to have safe and proper practices in place and also provide a Covid-secure environment for staff, customers and visitors across all our sites.” Because of the current social gathering restrictions, SLT will receive their awards by post in August – with a live Virtual Awards Ceremony held in early September, hosted by broadcaster and journalist Ed James, plus RoSPA president Baroness Jolly, and RoSPA chief executive, Errol Taylor. Lynda Bateman, chair of The Trust’s Board, added: “The RoSPA Award is
the most highly-respected health and safety accolade globally, so we’re extremely honoured again to be recognised as a world-leader in health and safety practice. “SLT was initially the first Leisure Trust to achieve the RoSPA Gold Award – and also the President’s Award for 12 successive Golds – but to retain the award over 15 consecutive years and be the first leisure trust awarded the Order of Distinction, really does demonstrate the consistent high standards achieved by all staff at all the Trust’s facilities.” The RoSPA Awards not only focus on commitment to accident and ill-health prevention, but occupational health and safety management systems, including practices like leadership and workforce involvement. It received some 2,000 entries from organisations around the world this year.
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York Sport signs partnership agreement with YOUR Personal Training to support demand YORK Sport has signed a 12-month partnership agreement with YOUR Personal Training to support its recovery post lockdown. The agreement will help many of the leisure operator’s 8,000 members to access exceptional personal training. York Sport operates sport and leisure facilities at the University of York, including two sites with gym facilities; York Sport Village and York Sport Centre. The partnership will see YOUR Personal Training providing PT services at both
locations. Ashley Smith, senior operations manager at York Sport, said: “Since 2012 we have developed and delivered exceptional facilities and services to the local community, staff and students. “We want to provide outstanding personal training services to our members too, but our current focus is on Covid recovery, member experience and retention; we are keen to meet and exceed the expectations of all our members and for this reason we are
really excited to be expanding our offer alongside YOUR Personal Training. “We are not looking for quick sales and low retention; this agreement has been made on the basis that PTs provide a quality, premium service to those who require such. “As life slowly returns to normal, the demand for personal training has increased hugely. “This partnership agreement with YOUR Personal Training will contribute towards our collective goals and targets
by allowing us to meet PT demand with a dedicated team of personal trainers, who will be able to provide sessions to members at times which suit them best.” Aaron McCulloch, managing director at YOUR Personal Training, added: “Quite rightly, York Sport wants to focus on its Covid-19 recovery by looking after as many members as possible. “This partnership enables us to provide services to meet that demand while York Sport focusses on general member welfare and care.”
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Friday 26th November 2021, The Athena,Leicester NOMINATIONS WILL REMAIN OPEN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR CLOSING ON AUGUST 31 2021. WWW.NATIONALFITNESSAWARDS.CO.UK
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Power Plate teams up with Myzone POWER Plate has teamed up with Myzone to provide its community with new class experiences and the opportunity to offer rewards based on effort, every time they move. As the global leader in whole body vibration, Power Plate is embracing Myzone’s MZ-Remote platform to host classes live online in addition to using MZ-Instruct to educate communities in the gym. Together these initiatives are set to bring big benefits to class participants’ strength, endurance, circulation, mobility, bone health and weight loss goals. “With the Power Plate community able to access products both at home and in the gym, this new class offering means they can continue to reap the benefits
of vibration technology and heart rate training, wherever and whenever they want to work out,” said David Stalker, CEO of Myzone EMEA. “It is the perfect way to cement the link between movement in the gym and at home. Flexibility is key to unlocking the next chapter in our great fitness and physical activity sector. The way we approach classes and programming has not changed, but the way that we measure investment and spend has, both as a business and as a participant. “Now the Power Plate community can reap the benefits of joined up thinking within their wider community. “The better the digital experience, the better the engagement is going to be all round.” Power Plate understands how
combining physical and digital spaces reaches more of the community as part of a movement that continues to grow. “With so many people adapting to find new ways of exercising during the pandemic, taking part in online classes such as MZ-Remote, going for daily walks, or exercising with their family, Power Plate recognises the importance of being able to track and monitor these workouts both at home and in the gym,” added Sandy Kolkey, chief marketing officer at Power Plate. Power Plate’s community will be able to get the Myzone class experience from any location, with full access to personal statistics and constant contact with their class instructors. Gyms and fitness studios will also benefit from the ability to incorporate
Power Plate into their training sessions and group exercise classes, connecting with members from any location – building loyalty and trust. By monitoring an individual’s progress, instructors can provide valuable feedback – keeping members engaged for longer. Transition Zone in London will be the first fitness studio to implement the Power Plate x Myzone combination. Owner Claire Finlay added: “I am really excited to further strengthen our sense of community. “Myzone facilitates this by tracking and rewarding all forms of activity be it walking the dog, playing football with the kids or a 25-minute Power Plate class. “Technology and community sit side by side, and for me it’s the future.”
Operator appoints new digital partner to enhance its member experience LUXE FITNESS has partnered with leading digital business management provider, Fisikal, to take its member experience to new heights. Operating in a highly competitive market, LUXE FITNESS has created a niche for its brand through the provision of a premium service at a budget price. The successful integration of digital services is absolutely critical to success in the market so the brand decided to seek out a partner who could alleviate frustrations in two critical areas of the business. “Our incumbent digital partner was struggling to meet our requirements,” said LUXE FITNESS general manager Allyn Condon. “This was causing frustration for us – we were unable to engage with
members the way we wanted, and this impacted on our ability to sustain or grow our revenue. “We needed to find solutions in both our access control and booking system requirements without compromising either service. “Meeting these business requirements and enhancing all other points of member engagement has been the key driver in our search for a new digital partner and I am confident we have found a good match with Fisikal. “Over the coming weeks, we will work with Fisikal to develop a bespoke member app which not only reflects our in-club brand in terms of visible appearance but also offers a comprehensive array of enhanced functionality.
“LUXE FITNESS offers 24 hour access, so it is imperative that our access control system is reliable and secure. “We also wanted to ensure a completely touchless solution, protecting our members against infection transmission, enabling entry to the club via the presentation of a QR code or RFID chip. “Fisikal has great pedigree in this area so I’m excited to get this up and running through their app. “We also wanted to improve the functionality around our digital bookings and payments. “We wanted a better ability for members to be able to view, filter and book classes based on their individual preferences and past behaviour creating a much more member-centric
experience, as well as extending the capability to include personal trainer bookings. “Fisikal’s platform is a high performer in these areas. Integration will enhance our member service and improve efficiencies, leading to better member retention and a healthier bottom line.” Fisikal is working with a number of gym and studio operators, creating bespoke apps and web-based platforms that drive up service standards and improve business efficiencies and revenue generation. If you would like to discuss your requirements, contact fisikal at https:// fisikal.com/contact/ or email info@fisikal. com for a free discussion and product demonstration.
SEPTEMBER
2021 Book now for your FREE place sponsored by
The Trade Fitness Event of the Year for the North of England, brought to you by Workout Magazine
BOOK YOUR DELEGATE PLACE NOW Lunch & refreshments included Goody bag & attendance certificate
The conference will be at the Bolton Whites Hotel on September the 14th and will be a 1 day show starting at 10.00am and closing at 16.30pm
SALES AND MARKETING
PREDICTING CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR
Dave Wright Chair – CEO My Zone Kate Landers – Digital Marketing Director CFM Sarah Watts – CEO Alliance Leisure Jamie Cartwright – founder of box 12 Mike Hind MBE – Owner MAS and Mike Hind Fitness
Grahame Hinde Chair – MD – LFX Academy Lynn Wilson - Volair Leisure Ian Mullane - Owner Keepme and club operator Andy King - Chair of GM Active and CEO at Your Trust, formerly Link4Life Peter Cleaver - The Sports Group
Register now as numbers for the conference and exhibition are limited at: www.tomorrowsworkout.co.uk
The Trade Fitness Event of the Year for the North of England, brought to you by Workout Magazine
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