Get your career up and running with a new role in the fitness industry

GET your career up and running with a job in the fitness industry.

Before the pandemic, the sector was already growing at almost ten per cent a year.

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And since Covid, health and wellbeing has become a top priority for almost half the nation.

The success of fitness stars such as Joe Wicks and Leanne Hainsby is inspiring many to go into the industry, which employs more than a quarter of a million instructors, personal trainers or support staff in gyms and health clubs.

This week is the busiest of the year for seeing people decide to get fit — and the number of vacancies is pumped up too, with 20,000 on offer across the country.

Daniel Stott, 34 worked at Just Eat before setting up fitness platform Class-ify.com to support personal trainers in building their own online or face-to-face business.

Daniel, of Peckham, South London, said: “It’s clear there’s a real appetite for fitness products as the world comes to terms with the new normal in the fitness industry, which is a combination of both digital and physical options.

“Working in fitness start-up won’t be as easy and sexy as you think, but do it if you have the urge. You won’t regret it.”

As well as flexing your muscles as a trainer or instructor, there are jobs for gym managers, cleaners, receptionists, therapists, catering staff and specialist gym equipment engineers.

Routes into the industry include apprenticeships and recognised courses.

Some staff begin in admin roles before switching to take professional qualifications.

Salaries for gym managers average £29,000. Fitness instructors earn around £27,000.

There is also an increasing number of roles in the fitness tech industry, from wearables such as Fitbits to apps and support websites.

Find jobs at leisurejobs.com, better.org.uk/jobs and leisureopportunities.co.uk

Charm of farms

Made famous by its rigorous inspection of Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm, NSF International audits more than 30,000 UK farms to ensure they are complying with Red Tractor food standards and other major assurance schemes.

The firm has more than 30 vacancies ranging from food safety experts to technologists and water account managers.

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Janatha Stout, Head of Operations at NSF International, said: “Our teams support the production of food from farm gate to factory including animal welfare, food safety and environmental issues.

“Auditing might not be a career you dreamt of, but it is rewarding and you can really make a difference to the nation’s farmers.”

See bit.ly/3zqXJUZ

Four’s fantastic

Will your firm forge ahead with the four-day week?

The trend is being touted as the future of work, with Atom Bank the largest business in the UK to have made the switch.

All the bank’s employees have been moved to shorter hours, with no drop in salary or, it says, customer service levels.

The lender claims the move has led to a 500 per cent surge in applications, allowing it to choose the best talent.

Atom’s Anne-Marie Lister says: “We firmly believe a four-day week is the future of work for many (employers).

“We want and expect to see more companies introducing increasingly flexible working practices in 2022, as people continue to reconsider what they want from their careers.”

It pays to ditch and switch

Is landing a pay rise at the top of your New Year resolutions?

New research reveals the average job switcher adds a hefty seven per cent to their earnings compared with staff who stay put.

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Mikaela Elliott, above, from job site Indeed, shares her tips for negotiating a better salary with your current employer.

She says: “Salary remains THE most important consideration when it comes to a job.”

1. Research the market and calculate your individual value before going into any negotiation.
2. Deciding when to discuss your salary can be just as important as the conversation itself. The best time to ask is after you’ve won promotion, gained new qualifications, are taking on a leadership role or when your experience level no longer matches your salary.
3. Outline the reasons why you deserve a pay rise and rehearse your pitch so that you feel as comfortable as possible going into the conversation.
4. Be flexible and willing to collaborate with your employer. They may not be able to give you the exact amount you want but may offer more holiday leave or better hours. Evaluate the overall worth of what they’re offering.
5. Don’t be afraid to walk away, but first ensure that you’ve explored all avenues.