Careers in Health and Fitness

Health and Fitness is a dynamic, rapidly growing industry with more and more people of all ages and backgrounds taking up regular exercise in any number of environments including health clubs and leisure centres. The Government is keen to promote a healthy nation and to encourage people to take better care of themselves. Almost 50% of all adults say their lives are more stressful than they were just five years ago, and two-thirds think that their lives are busier than they were five years ago.

There are over 3,500 private fitness clubs and over 1,500 leisure centres in the UK, employing over 50,000 people, and the industry is worth over £1.5 billion a year.

A range of very different jobs contribute to the successful day-to-day running of health and fitness centres, and some of these require high level technical skills. They range from membership sales to fitness instructors to receptionists and studio co-coordinators.

Since the development of a Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs), a SkillsActive company, two years ago, the interests of people who are using the services of exercise and fitness instructors, teachers and trainers have become safeguarded. The Register uses a process of self-regulation that recognises industry-based qualifications, practical competency, and requires fitness professionals to work within a code of ethical practice. Members of the Register are given a card and registration certificate to prove their qualification and membership. Also known as the Exercise Register, it operates in the UK and is recognised across the world to acknowledge the personal achievement and competencies of qualified fitness professionals. The Register currently has over 26,000 members.