One of the biggest challenges faced in the UK today is encouraging people to get off their sofas and become more active. Almost one third of adults fail to meet the minimum level of activity recommended; whilst almost one in five children are classified as obese by the time they leave primary school. With obesity levels on the rise, how can we tackle these worrying trends?

We constantly refresh and revise our qualifications to make sure they meet industry requirements and our own high standards. From 1 October 2017 we are replacing the Emergency First Aid at Work and First Aid at Work qualifications with new, improved versions to bring them up to date with the latest guidelines.

What’s the difference between the old qualifications and the new versions?

We’re thrilled to let you know that we will soon be launching our Level 2 Mandatory Units assessment workbook in Y-Mark, our pioneering digital auto-marking online resource. And to help you keep your options open, it will also be available in a paper-based format to download and print.

YMCA Awards are delighted to announce that our Chair-based exercise manual is now available.  

This new edition to our portfolio explores: 

•    The values and principles of adult social care, current perspectives and benefits

•    The value of chair-based exercise with frailer older adults and disabled adults

•    How to plan, deliver and reflect on providing chair based exercise with individuals and groups

 + much more - a real must for everyone studying and wanting to refresh knowledge. 

Lady Andrée Deane-Barron returns to the helm of YMCA Awards

We conducted a study with 26 further education centres to find out about the key issues faced by centres today. We wanted to understand their concerns for the future, any obstacles blocking the efficiency of their delivery, as well as their attitude towards digital.  The general consensus reveals that while digital tools are welcome, some find it difficult to integrate them into their delivery. Furthermore, colleges aren’t reaping the full benefits of these tools.

By Rob May, YMCA Awards Director.

The Chancellor’s spring budget includes a glaring oversight. The pledge to pump £500 million into the introduction of new so-called ‘T-Levels’ – technical qualifications, as an alternative to A-Levels for 16 to 19-year-olds means that classroom-based vocational education routes for more than half of UK occupations have been left out in the cold.

The Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) recently issued a Post-16 Skills Plan which sets the scene for what will be a far-reaching reform of the skills system.

21 students from across the UK competed at Loughborough University’s Holywell Fitness Centre, in a bid to become one of the 14 WorldSkills UK Fitness Trainer Competition finalists for 2016. 12 Gym Instructors and nine Personal Trainers competed and all demonstrated their skills, knowledge and professionalism throughout the day, before they were whittled down to the final eight Gym Instructors and nine Personal Trainers.

In an ever expanding industry and such a fast-paced field, it can seem like a mammoth task to start a new business and most importantly, achieve longevity. But despite a crowded market, there are still many opportunities to make it happen.

Here are my top five insights to help you get started with a successful fitness business: