Latest Industry News

Here are some of the latest events, meetings and challenges facing the health and fitness industry...

SkillsActive Convention: 
The annual SkillsActive Convention took place in London on Tuesday 1st May 2007.  The Convention aimed to update all colleges, training providers, awarding bodies and industry workers on the progress Skills Active have made in the last year and what their plans are for the future, falling in line with recent government reports and targets.  There were many presentations at the Convention and some interesting statistics. 
    • 21% of people are taking part in regular physical activity and only 15% taking part in an organised sport.
    • Health club membership has increased to 25%.
    • The Government target is for an increase, year on year, of an additional 1% of the population exercising, culminating in a further 2 million people by 2012.
Following the Leitch Review, there will now be a spending review in August to ensure all the recommendations can be taken on board. 

 

David Lloyd Leisure for sale: 
Whitbread has confirmed that it is looking to sell its David Lloyd Leisure division to focus on its hospitality portfolio.  Announcing the leisure group’s preliminary results, CEO Alan Parker said: “We are considering approaches for David Lloyd Leisure but in the meantime, the turnaround and performance of the business is underpinning value.” Scott Lloyd, son of the founder of David Lloyd Leisure, is among those thought to have made a bid of around £1bn for the health club chain.

David Lloyd Leisure agrees BUPA deal: 
David Lloyd Leisure has teamed up with BUPA to create a new brand of centre offering medical and fitness expertise under one roof.  Aimed at people recovering from injuries or chronic illness, those on rehabilitation programmes following surgery, people with general lifestyle issues and members of the mature market who have become less active, the first Core Exercise Clinic recently opened in Enfield, north London. The centre is said to offer a higher level of medical care and fitness support than traditional health clubs with staff trained in physiotherapy, nursing, exercise physiology, sports science, rehabilitation, nutrition and fitness.


Children on the MEND: 
Experts will hear today how a community-based programme has helped obese children become healthier, fitter and more self-confident.   Children from 107 families took part in a nine-week programme from MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition…Do It) last year and showed significant improvement in body mass index, waist circumference, fitness, lifestyle and self-esteem. 

REPs Survey shows positive signs:
A recent analysis of the REPs database shows signs that qualifications and standards have significantly improved in the past few years.  More than 60% of all members are now at level 3 and the number of level 1 (unqualified) assistant instructors has fallen to 3%.