Over the last six years Britain’s gyms have seen a 58 per cent increase in membership, with £1.25 billion being spent in 2000 alone. Yet what these figures don’t show is the considerable number of people who fail to utilise their memberships due to lack of motivation. While people clearly have the money and desire to get in shape, joining a gym is often not enough.
This is why the demand for personal fitness trainers is increasing. What used to be the preserve of the rich and famous is now viewed as a more effective, and affordable, option for everybody, from housewives to businessmen.
While some fitness instructors strike out on their own simply to escape notoriously badly paid gym work, others turn to the profession in search of a flexible career that allows them to do something they enjoy and be their own boss.
What is it?
Once you have decided which area you want to specialise in, (for example helping people to lose weight by combining fitness and nutrition, working with pre-natal women or training elite athletes), you must find a suitable and respected course that will give you the training and qualifications you need. While there is no singular qualification that allows you to be a fitness instructor some are better respected than others so it is worthwhile weighing up the alternatives.
Other than the cost of training, which can be anything from £300 to £5000 depending on your speciality and prior knowledge, other overheads are limited. Insurance is a must, and will often be in the region of £100 per year, and transport is also vital, but other costs depend on you. Most personal fitness trainers work from their clients homes so investment in the necessary equipment, such as free weights or a blood pressure machine for example, is usually an early outgoing, with equipment being replaced or updated perhaps every couple of years.
In terms of marketing yourself, most trainers will agree that word of mouth is the most effective – and cheapest – way of raising awareness. Roger Bradley, a fitness trainer based in Witney, Oxfordshire claims that one client will often lead to another.
“I have a number of fairly affluent clients and I will go to their houses and work with them. Recently I started working with both the head chef and the nanny of one client purely as a result of my work with their boss.” Linda Grave, a personal fitness trainer based in Suffolk, echoes his thoughts, saying, “Most of my clients know each other because friends have recommended me to them.”
Bradley has also invested in a cost effective way of not only publicising his services but giving his business a more professional look. He spent in the region of £7,000 on a van that would accommodate all his equipment and an additional £450 on having his name and logo painted on the side. A cheap way of getting his name known wherever he travels.
Many personal fitness trainers have also set up a web site to give themselves a broader reach, but generally find it isn’t as effective as it can be for selling other products and services because the nature of the job traditionally requires close geographical proximity. But there does appear to be a growing market for training people virtually. “I have three clients who I deal with mainly by email, sending them workouts, receiving their feedback and adapting the programme accordingly,” comments Bradley, who spent £500 on setting up his site. “I then meet up with them once every two months.” This often suits busy but motivated people who require the expertise to achieve a particular goal but are happy to carry out the training themselves. It remains to be seen if this market grows.
But while being a personal fitness trainer might sound attractive because of its limited overheads, hungry market and opportunity to earn, the job will not suit everybody.
