Category: Personal Trainer

09:21:58 GMT • 14 January 2025

The top 5 benefits to becoming a personal trainer

4 April 2017

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4 mins read

Contributors

Mandy has been with Starpeak Insurance Solutions since 2018, starting in sales in the consumer department and mov...

Thinking of a change in career? Why not join the thousands of other Brits making a living as a personal trainer? Protectivity Insurance provided insurance for over 7,000 PTs in 2016, and with that number growing again it seems as if the fitness boom is set to continue.

But what are the best things about choosing this career pathway? Luke Hughes, co-founder of health and fitness training and course provider, Origym picked out the top five benefits of becoming a personal trainer.

(Almost) Unlimited Earning Potential

Whether you are offering one-to-one training, boot camps or aerobics classes, you control what you earn. You set your rates that you are happy to charge your clients and if they are fair, those clients will come. If you can take on a larger number of clients at one time, then your earning potential increases.

So, how much can a personal trainer earn? Within reason, the sky is the limit as to what you can make from a career as a PT. Do bear in mind though, it’s about quality not quantity. If you take on so many clients that you can’t offer them an excellent service, numbers will soon drop off.

Flexible Working Hours

Similarly, you can choose when you work as well as how much you earn from it. A personal trainer’s working hours are essentially controlled by yourself. You manage your schedule to coach clients when you want. So whether you are a morning person that specialises in the early morning workouts, a weekend warrior that likes to spend Saturday and Sunday training or a workaholic that doesn’t know when to stop, it’s up to you.

Become Your Own Boss

Controlling your earnings and your hours, you become your own boss as a personal trainer. The benefits to that are vast. You can take your business in the direction you want it to, without the need to cut through endless red tape. Whether you want to try new things or stick to a traditional method of training, it’s entirely up to you. As your own boss you also have the perk that should you wish to take some time off, you can! Just make sure you keep your clients well informed as to your availability in the meantime.

Make a Difference to People’s Lives

Yes they may be your customers, but as a PT you can really connect with your clients. They have placed their trust in you as a personal trainer to help them reach their desired goals.

Be it weight loss or muscle gain, if you can deliver the service they require, it can go a long way to changing someone’s life. The sense of satisfaction when you guide a client to another few kilos off their waist, or a few more added to their dead-lift, is second to none.

True Job Satisfaction

The benefits above all help achieve one thing as a personal trainer – true job satisfaction! It’s easy to see why so many people are turning their hand to a career as a fitness professional. From choosing your own hours to improving someone else’s self esteem, a career as a personal trainer is really second to none.

If you’d like to learn how to begin a career as a PT and discover the courses available to you, check out Origym’s website.

Already taken the plunge and are in need of personal training insurance? Protectivity’s comprehensive liability cover is a true market leader.

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09:21:37 GMT • 14 January 2025

What qualifications do Personal Trainers need?

9 February 2017

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6 mins read

Contributors

Mandy has been with Starpeak Insurance Solutions since 2018, starting in sales in the consumer department and mov...

Making the decision to become a Personal Trainer represents an exciting time, as a career in the fitness industry is certainly one which can be both rewarding and profitable. Indeed, the sector is steadily growing an, according to Ibis World, there are almost 25,000 personal trainer businesses in the UK. Nevertheless, to be able to get started as a PT you will need to make sure you are fully qualified to offer your fitness activities. Without the proper qualifications you could find yourself invalidating your insurance.

So, the next question is “what qualification do I need to become a Personal Trainer?”. This article will look at some key considerations.

Industry regulation

While there is no legal requirement to hold a qualification to call yourself a personal trainer, the fitness industry in the UK is regulated to ensure safe practice. Most employers, gyms, and insurers require personal trainers to hold accredited certifications. The key regulatory bodies in the fitness industry include:

CIMSPA (Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity) – The professional body for the UK’s sport and physical activity sector, ensuring trainers meet professional standards.

Ofqual (The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation) – Regulates qualifications, exams, and assessments in England to ensure their validity.

UK Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) – Though now replaced by CIMSPA, many still use REPs as a benchmark for professional credibility.

How do I know who is endorsed?

To do this you need to use a useful tool on the CIMSPA website. This tool will allow you to check if any provider you are looking at is genuinely endorsed by CIMSPA. (Tip: just because a provider chooses to display the CIMSPA logo does not necessarily mean that they are endorsed – always do this check).

Awarding bodies for personal training qualifications

If you are looking to become a personal trainer, it is crucial to select a qualification from an accredited awarding body. The most recognised awarding bodies include:

These organisations ensure that your certification meets industry standards and is widely accepted by gyms and fitness establishments.

What personal trainer course to choose?

Depending on your level of experience and career goals, there are different types of personal training qualifications available.

To be a qualified Personal Trainer, you need to look for a CIMSPA endorsed Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training. Before you do this, you will also need to complete a Level 2 Certificate in Gym Instructing – however most providers will offer these two as one course. It is important to note that all CIMSPA PT qualifications have Level 3 Nutrition automatically embedded.

Beginner Level

Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Instructing – This is an entry-level qualification that allows individuals to work as a gym instructor but not as a personal trainer.

Intermediate Level

Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training – This is the minimum requirement to work as a fully qualified personal trainer in the UK. It covers anatomy, physiology, nutrition, and program design.

Advanced Level

Level 4 Specialist Personal Trainer Certifications – These qualifications allow trainers to specialise in areas such as lower back pain management, obesity and diabetes, or strength and conditioning.

Highest Level

Degree in Sports Science or Strength & Conditioning – A university degree is not required to become a personal trainer, but it can provide advanced knowledge and open doors to elite sports coaching and research roles.

How long does it take to get qualified?

The time required to become a personal trainer varies depending on the chosen study method:

Full-time courses – Typically take between 6-12 weeks.
Part-time courses – Can take 6-12 months, depending on flexibility and study commitment.
Online or blended learning – Usually self-paced, allowing students to qualify within 3-12 months.

Routes into personal training

There are several pathways to becoming a personal trainer:

University Degree

A BSc in Sports Science, Strength & Conditioning, or Exercise Physiology can provide in-depth knowledge, but it is not a necessity to work as a PT.

Apprenticeship

A Level 3 Personal Trainer Apprenticeship allows individuals to learn on the job while earning a wage, making it a viable alternative to traditional courses.

Vocational Courses

Private training providers offer Level 3 Personal Training Diplomas in flexible formats, making them the most common route into the industry.

Additional Skills and Certifications

While a Level 3 qualification is the minimum requirement, additional skills and certifications can enhance career prospects, including:

First Aid & CPR Certification – Often required by employers and insurance providers.
Nutrition & Weight Management Certifications – Helps expand service offerings.
Specialist Training (e.g., kettlebells, HIIT, pre/post-natal fitness) – Enables trainers to work with a wider client base.
Business & Marketing Skills – Essential for personal trainers looking to start their own business or work as a freelancer.

To finish…

As you embark on your PT career, you should now have a better idea of choosing the best Personal Trainer course for you and getting started in the fitness sector.

Once you have those qualifications in place, make sure you’re covered with our specialist Personal Trainer Insurance.

Affordable Personal Trainer Insurance from Protectivity

Personal trainer cover from as little as £3.86 a month, get a quote today!

At Protectivity, we can cover you for a wide range of training activities, from traditional PT, yoga or aerobics instructors and many more. Simply choose a personal trainer insurance policy, select your activities and you’ll be protected as a personal trainer in minutes.

You’ll find public liability insurance from £1 million included as standard, professional indemnity cover and £500 worth of equipment cover. To reinforce your policy, you can increase your cover or include optional extras, employers’ liability, personal accident and overseas extension.

Please note, you are expected to hold a certified qualification in the activity you are instructing. In the event of a claim, failure to disclose this may invalidate your insurance.

Specialist personal trainer insurance

Get a quote

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15:56:55 GMT • 5 February 2025

How will Professional Indemnity protect a personal trainer?

9 January 2017

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2 mins read

Contributors

Mandy has been with Starpeak Insurance Solutions since 2018, starting in sales in the consumer department and mov...

Fundamentally people hire a personal trainer to act as a professional advisor on their fitness regime. Through the drills and routines they set for their customers, the end goal, whether it be strength training or weight loss, can be attained.

However, it’s not always that straightforward. Injuries can occur and on rare occasions relationships between clients and customers can grow fractious.

For example, a client may feel that a particular personal training session has left them with an injury. If they believe that it was the fault of the trainer, they may go on to sue.

The trainer, on the other hand, may disagree. They may believe that any injury has come about because of the client’s failure to execute an exercise properly.

Whether the blame truly lies with the professional or not, they will still need to defend themselves if their client sues.

That is where Professional Indemnity comes into play.

The costs of defending such a claim can soon stack up. Furthermore, the financial implications can become even more severe should the court side with the client.

When a personal trainer takes out a policy with Protectivity Insurance, the level of Personal Liability cover (£1 million) is matched by our Professional Indemnity cover.

This means that legal costs are covered should a client claim negligence on the trainer’s part which results in injury. That includes any damages that may ensue should the court rule that the trainer was in fact to blame.

Professional Indemnity is just one of the benefits of ensuring you have comprehensive personal trainer insurance.

All of Protectivity’s policies come with the aforementioned Personal Liability and Indemnity match. But they also benefit from £250 equipment cover and Personal Accident cover, should they injure themselves during a session.

If you are a Personal Trainer and are looking for comprehensive Public Liability and Professional Indemnity insurance, then buy your personal trainer cover online now.

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09:20:29 GMT • 14 January 2025

Personal Training for Children and Young Adults

5 September 2016

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4 mins read

Contributors

Mandy has been with Starpeak Insurance Solutions since 2018, starting in sales in the consumer department and mov...

According to the National Child Measurement Programme, the UK’s youth is worryingly overweight. The latest instalment of the government report stated that one-fifth (20.1%) of Year 6 pupils (10 or 11-years old) were classed as obese, with more than a third (34.5%) recorded as overweight.

The increase is slow, but the percentage of obese children in the country has grown year-on-year since the reports were introduced.

A number of governmental initiatives such as the introduction of the sugar tax have been introduced to stem the problem. But more and more parents are taking things into their own hand and turning to personal trainers to help keep their offspring healthy and active.

This undoubtedly presents more opportunities for personal trainers to earn extra money through a new client-base. But are the risks of training children and young adults higher and do you need to take extra steps to ensure these clients are trained safely?

A different way of training

There are of course, differences when training children and young people to adults both physiologically and psychologically.

Psychologically children will be less engaged with goals such as weight loss or number of reps achieved. Therefore, adopting a fun approach will be more beneficial with the focus on children enjoying themselves while being physically active. It is vital to know the boundaries and pushing a child to their limits as you would an adult can be more detrimental with a risk of causing them unnecessary stress and potentially deterring them from exercise in the future.

Physiologically, children and young adults have not fully developed and therefore a risk of injury is increased. Tendons and ligaments aren’t fully formed and therefore any weighted activity and resistance training should be adapted to ensure they are done correctly and safely for children and young adults. Muscles and bones are still developing and therefore injuries caused from poor technique can have long lasting effects.

So does this put a personal trainer at higher risk of a claim for injury? And does their personal trainer insurance cover them for this?

At Protectivity Insurance if a personal trainer has undergone the right training and hold a qualification for teaching children and young adults then this would be covered under our Personal Trainer Insurance. Trainers would need to have carried out all the usual risk assessments such as getting the parents to fill in a PAR-Q.

Tips for personal trainers to keep safe whilst training children:

Ensure that any child under the age of 18 has parental sign off
You have par-q or similar and are aware of any medical conditions
Ensuring correct posture and form is extremely important when training children/teens
Adapt exercises to ensure safe technique is used
Adjust goals as necessary, know their limits and do not push too hard

Qualifications and cover are essential

Before starting to train children, PTs should check the terms of their insurance cover and ensure there are no exclusions to claims relating to children and that their policy allows them to do so.

Perhaps most importantly, is that you are qualified to train children. Without qualifications in place, it’s unlikely that your policy will cover you if something were to go wrong.

There are courses and qualifications that personal trainers can attend to ‘top-up’ their qualifications and insure they are able to teach kids safely. Training providers such as NRPT, YMCA Fit and Platinum Training offer courses specifically designed to educate personal trainers on the risks of training children and young adults and how to do this safely including adapting exercises and drills.

Providing personal trainers are suitably qualified, there is no reason why training children and young adults should be of any higher risk. For those who own a gym, PTs should ensure they are adequately covered by their gym business insurance to help protect themselves should any claim arise relating to the training of children or young adults.

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09:19:21 GMT • 14 January 2025

Becoming an Online Personal Trainer

30 June 2016

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4 mins read

Contributors

Mandy has been with Starpeak Insurance Solutions since 2018, starting in sales in the consumer department and mov...

While the number of fitness professionals in the UK is on the up, so too is the allure of becoming an online personal trainer. But while the traditional method of helping clients reach their goals isn’t risk-free, relying on a web-based delivery of your expertise is something worth doing with certain precautions.

Of course, the benefits and attractions of starting a career as an online fitness coach are obvious. By going online trainers can not only build their programmes at a time that suits them, but it also means they can maximise the number of clients paying for your services at any one time.
However, by posting your training and workout advice on YouTube or other social media channels, personal trainers are leaving themselves open to a potentially very costly legal case.

Insurance and online training

The first thing to note is that many insurance providers will not cover personal trainers for sharing their workout videos on line.

The concern for insurers, and therefore so to personal trainers, is two-fold. Firstly, by simply sending your clients (or other third parties) a workout video and plan over the internet, a fitness instructor has no control over how exercises are performed. If a client is attempting an exercise they have seen on a video online, but are executing it poorly, without face-to-face instruction, there is no chance for the PT to correct the exercise. That then, leads to a higher chance of injury.

Secondly, and more relating to personal trainer insurance, is that simply sharing your workout videos online mean that anyone, anywhere can see them. Should a member of the public attempt an exercise you have demonstrated and go on to injure themselves, they could attempt to sue you for your negligence.

The problem really comes if that person has seen your workout guide whilst in another country. Most standard personal training insurance policies will not cover you for claims coming from outside of the UK. Therefore, if legal action was brought against you, with no cover from an insurance policy, the costs of defending themselves would fall at the feet of the trainer themselves.

The steps to take whilst online training

At Protectivity, we ask that any of personal trainer cusatomers to comply with the below requirements for remote training/coaching/instruction (live or prerecorded):

In respect of any coaching or instruction that is undertaken remotely, it is strongly recommended that the Insured should:

1.At the commencement of the session, advise participants

that by participating they are doing so at their own risk;
a suitable, non-slip floor space is required and any potential obstructions in the vicinity are removed before they participate;
to avoid activities if they have, or suspect they may have any current health concerns, injuries, aches and pains;
avoid the use of blades, weapons or sharp instruments of any description;
avoid physical contact with other participants and where appropriate, adhere to social distancing guidelines;

2. Ensure that sessions are conducted for the benefit of existing members/participants/contacts only who have demonstrated sufficient suitability to participate; at the commencement of the session, advise participants:

3. Continue to only instruct activities in which you are qualified to do so;

4. Record the session. Retaining the recording for a period of up to thirty-six (36) months may assist in any claim made against you

5. Maximum class size is 16

We also require individuals to ensure that all videos and content are delivered only to their clients. This could be enforced by the use of a paywall or by simply delivering the videos via email.

By restricting the viewing of such training videos to the clients they are intended for, it also means that in theory, personal trainers can ensure that all viewers have completed a PAR-Q (Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire). This means that the physical health of those that the video training is taking into account before they are presented with a workout routine.

Regardless of whether it is shown to previously-known clients or not, it is always worth stating that any exercise undertaken without supervision is done so at that person’s own risk.

With those steps taken and other safety precautions followed, the prospect of a client injuring themselves is reduced. So to then, is the potential for a costly claim on your insurance policy.

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09:19:09 GMT • 14 January 2025

Personal Training For Runners

11 February 2016

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6 mins read

Contributors

Mandy has been with Starpeak Insurance Solutions since 2018, starting in sales in the consumer department and mov...

Alexa Briggs is a running coach at On the Run Health and Fitness (https://www.ontherunhealthandfitness.co.uk) and has a passion for helping people to fall in love with running and making improvements to what they can achieve. We asked Alexa for some tips when personal trainers have running clients.

I’ve been thinking a lot recently about how to build a stronger runner; strength can help you get faster and be more resilient to injury. Having spent a lot of time working with physiotherapists and running rehabilitation specialists I’ve been learning more and more about the importance of strength in running for injury prevention and how modern day lifestyles conspire against our bodies being able to work in the most effective way.

So if you want to get stronger, where do you start? Firstly don’t be worried about bulking up or getting bigger muscles with strength training – you need to be quite specific about the high weights you use, the reps, recovery and not doing aerobic work after training to start building muscle. Secondly, and most importantly, you need to start with a good foundation or balance, agility and coordination; otherwise adding weights to the movements will inevitably raise your injury risk.

Try these three to see how you get on;

Standing on one leg
Hopscotch
Standing forwards, two leg jump

The things to watch out for are how much you wobble, how easy you find the movements and how much your knees collapse inwards, respectively. If you have the knee collapsing in problem, or any other movement sideways in your legs on the jumps, it may be worth seeing a physiotherapist for some “prehabilitation” work to identify your own areas of weakness and get a specific strength exercises to help.

You can use these exercises themselves to start to improve, once you have mastered them you can progress these (and any other strength exercises) by adding to the number of reps, adding some instability (doing them on a balance board or bosu ball) or by adding weight. Only add one of these factors in at a time, and only when you are able to do the exercise at it’s previous level with perfect technique. Use a mirror and a wealth of online videos to help check you are doing them right, or a friend! Personally I start by adding instability at my balance and proprioception (your brain knowing exactly where your body parts are) are poor at the moment.

Doing these exercises and watching your technique carefully will help you to identify your own areas of improvement. From the runners I work with the hips can often be identified as an area of weakness, which can be a cause for injuries and soreness in many other areas. It’s particularly common in those people with desk jobs as spending lots of time sitting lengthens and weakens some of the key muscles in that area. The knee collapsing inwards on the jump or if you try a one leg squat is an indicator here.

With that in mind here are some of my favourite exercises and how you can progress them to keep improving;

Standing on one leg with one hand supporting. Move to standing on one leg on a bosu ball or balance board, gradually removing the amount of pressure you hold on with.

Two leg squat hands in front of you or across chest, move on to having your arms behind your head. Watch those knees!

Once you are happy with the two leg squat start to add weight with a bar on your shoulders. Also try a one leg squat (no weight!) to bring your balance into play too – that knee might want to move inwards again so keep an eye on it.

A different way of squatting is to lunge instead, which you can progress by doing multi directional lunges, forwards, backwards and sideways on each leg. You can add in torso rotations in the lunge position too.

Try sideways walks with a thera band tied round your legs just above the knee. You can do more reps or tie the band tighter to make this more challenging. This will help build strong muscles around your hips to help hold the legs steady as you run.

Try clams; lying on your side, legs bent, raising the knee of the upper leg in an open and close motion.

Bridges, the popular yoga pose, are also good, which you can progress to one leg bridge once you can keep your pelvis level and steady.

Progress the standing jump to jumping onto a step or box and jumping back off. One you are confident your technique is excellent try them one legged!

Traditional core exercises such as plank, side plank, mountain climbers, crunches and mountain climbers can build strength too. But for running we need to get the core working as part of the whole.

So how can you progress strength training to be both more challenging and more running specific to help your speed? One way is to overcome our fear of the gym a little!

For runners the only really useful machine in the gym is the leg extension machine. Start with a weight you can do 5-6 reps with. You can move to using the machine with one leg at a time or by upping the weight.

The two key weights room exercises for runners are the squat and the deadlift, which you can start with just a bar to perfect the technique before adding weights. If you can get someone to check your technique as you do them that can be really helpful. As your technique and ability improves you can start to add faster, more explosive movements on the way up and out of the exercises, this is where the running specificity comes in as you use the same “triple extension” of the ankle, knee and hip as you do in running.

The other way of strength training for runners is to sprint – it’s the most specific form of strength training we can do. Because it’s for strength and not as a form of running training for endurance athletes you need to be running at 90-95% effort and for short bursts (8-10 seconds) and really concentrating on your technique. A way to help you naturally get better sprint technical is to sprint up hills, looking up the hill and driving the arms.

With all of these exercises, start slowly and focus on technique at all times or you may be doing yourself more harm than good. ideally after a recovery day and with an easier run the day after.

Visit our Personal Trainer Insurance page to get an instant quote and cover for your business today.

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09:16:54 GMT • 14 January 2025

Personal Training for Over 50s

22 December 2015

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3 mins read

Contributors

Mandy has been with Starpeak Insurance Solutions since 2018, starting in sales in the consumer department and mov...

There are now over 23.2 million people aged 50 years or over in the UK, over a third of the total population.

Therefore it is likely at some stage of your personal training career that you will train someone in this age bracket. It is important to alter your personal training style to suit their needs if necessary to allow them to gain maximum benefit from one of your personal training sessions.

PAR-Q

You should always get new clients to fill in a Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) to ensure you are aware of any medical conditions or injuries.

This is a great opportunity for over 50s clients to get to know what they have done in the past, what they enjoy and what they want to work on.

If they have had an injury or medical condition then you can ask more about it and adjust any training accordingly. Read our PAR-Q blog to find out more.

Warm-Ups

Warm-ups become even more important for over 50s to ensure their muscles and joints are ready and prepared for exercise. This can just be a low level aerobic activity such as a brisk walk on a treadmill or slow pedalling on an exercise bike.

Cardiovascular Fitness

The American College of Sports Medicine recommends moderate (40-60% heart rate reserve) to vigorous (60-90% HRR) intensity aerobic exercise for most adults and light (30-40% HRR) to moderate for those are less fit. The best cardio for over 50s is that which does not impose excessive orthopaedic stress such as walking.

Other less weight-bearing activities include exercise done in water and cycling on a stationary bike.

One of the biggest mistakes over 50s make in the gym is exercising with shoulders hunched over. It is important to keep proper posture so make sure you remind your clients to keep their shoulders back and down and their chin and chest forward.

Weight Training

A common misconception is that weight training is only for bodybuilders and those who want to develop big muscles.

In reality weight training is important to strengthen bones and is proven to delay and even cure osteoporosis problems.

In your mid to late 30’s muscle mass starts to decrease and we continue to lose 1-2% of muscle mass every year. The only way to stop this is to use resistance training or lift weights.

Flexibility

Especially for older inactive adults, stretching at the end of a session is imperative. Tight muscles will reduce the body’s ability to perform everyday tasks by affecting range of motion, balance and fluidity in the joints. Slow easy stretches are best and make sure you stretch all muscles that have been used during the session.

Often the biggest challenge with over 50s is getting them motivated to do exercise. Therefore, the most important thing is to make it as fun and engaging as possible so that they keep on coming back time and time again and get fitter and healthier than when they started!

Whether you are training the Over 50s or clients in another age bracket, insurance is important. Get a quick quote for our Personal Trainer Insurance today for instant cover.

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09:16:01 GMT • 14 January 2025

How To Start A Gym Business

30 November 2015

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3 mins read

Contributors

Mandy has been with Starpeak Insurance Solutions since 2018, starting in sales in the consumer department and mov...

Starting your own gym business offers the benefits of being your own boss and reaping the rewards of a (hopefully) successful business. Whilst it seems attractive, we always hear of how difficult it can be, so what are the key things to remember when opening your own gym?

1. Identify what you want to achieve

What will be the focus of your business, is there a particular sport or discipline that you want to promote?

Is there a gap in the market in the area you targeting?

Keep this in mind throughout your planning and running of your business.

As tempting as it might be to offer all sports to all people, make sure that you provide an attractive service and get it right.

2. Location is everything

Look at a number of venues and ensure that you identify somewhere that is accessible with plenty of parking and is easy to find. Your hard work in setting up the business and advertising will be wasted if your clients can’t get to you easily!

3. Know your market

Check out your competitors, either direct competitors offering exactly the same business model or other gyms. Look at the service and facilities that they provide as well as the prices that they charge and be sure to consider this when making decisions about your own gym. There’s no point in charging twice the price of a gym nearby – you just won’t get the custom!

4. Find the right suppliers and partners

Use your knowledge and expertise to find the right people to work with. Ensure that the people you choose are trustworthy with a proven reputation. The last thing you need when you are just starting out is to be let down by a supplier.

5. Be financially savvy

Go into your new venture being clear of and keeping track of all of the financial aspects. New business start-ups always require a degree of investment. As it can take some time to recover some of this it is essential to keep a record of everything and if you aren’t great with numbers then employ a bookkeeper to help you.

You will need to register your business or yourself depending on whether you set up a limited company or self-employed – again, best to seek advice on what is best depending on your circumstances.

6. Don’t forget the details

Ensure that you get any legal protection for any intellectual property and ensure that you have all of the relevant insurance for your business. There is a minimum requirement is buildings and contents as well as public liability. Get more information about our gym business insurance and find out the relevant insurance for your business.

As well as gym insurance we offer personal trainer liability insurance, and cover to other leisure section entities such as Sports Clubs. Get your quote today by visiting our Sports Club Insurance page.

So, keep these things in mind when starting a gym business and make your dream of being your own boss a reality!

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09:15:28 GMT • 14 January 2025

Marketing your personal training business

22 September 2015

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6 mins read

Contributors

Mandy has been with Starpeak Insurance Solutions since 2018, starting in sales in the consumer department and mov...

Get personal trainer insurance from Protectivity

To date, most fitness professionals have followed a similar strategy when it comes to marketing their personal training business and one that does seem sensible.

Sure, if you’re looking to expand your client base to generate more profit, it makes sense to spend most of your marketing budget on outbound marketing efforts and invest much less into your current clients. Though this is how the game has been played for years, the industry is changing and becoming incredibly competitive. If you’re a startup personal trainer, it’s highly unlikely that your marketing efforts will be more successful than those of chain clubs, so you’ve got to think smart!

So the acronym goes: GAME ON – Gain Advantage, Monetise Everything, Overlook Nothing.

Powerful isn’t it, so pay attention!

1. Refocus and referral

It’s time to invert the personal training marketing equation and think about investing most of your budget into your existing clients. It may sound narrowing and we know you want to aim big, but the return on this investment will put you in good stead. Make a client referral program because marketing strategies are, in fact, most effective when presented to people that already know, like, and trust you. When your clients send business your way, reward them… everyone responds well to incentives and if your client knows there’s something in it for them – a free session or health vouchers, for example, they will be willing to help you out.

2. Don’t be afraid to ask

There is no shame in promoting your business to current clients. After all, it’s them who know best what you can do and how good you are, so it is natural to talk about advancing yourself in their company. Make sure your client is aware of the scope of your ability – you might be helping them with a fat-loss program but can you also help athletes with endurance training? People who do exercise are likely to have friends who do exercise, so forget the idea that it’s ‘cheap’ to ask for referrals, and ASK!

3. Transformation challenges

Never underestimate the value of visual impact when it comes to planning how you will market your personal training services.

It’s all very well and good telling your client you can help them shift those unwanted pounds in 6 weeks, but if you can show them how your other clients have done just that, it will have far more resonance!

If you find willing clients who are prepared to share their transformation journey, whether it be through photos of testimonials, it will make a great addition to your website or even to your sales pitch in conversation.

5. Positioning

As we’ve said, the personal training industry is hugely competitive. Everywhere you turn there’s a ‘fitness expert’ ready to sustain the world’s rising interest in health and fitness. There is also now added competition from home workouts and fitness apps, so it’s essential that your business focus is to create a competitive advantage.

Know what your client does not have and wants, know what you need to offer to make yourself the best choice in the market place, and know how to play your strengths. If you shift your business to rely on those strengths, you’ll be well positioned in the market to reap the benefits of a unique service.

6. Stay ahead of the crowd

Information is now so accessible that you must be ready to provide the information that is not easily accessible. No one wants to pay to be told something they could have read about in Fitness Weekly.

If you can satisfy your client’s curiosity they will keep coming back for more, and whatever you do don’t think that client education will mean they will eventually not need your business anymore!

A client will always come back for new programs and tougher workouts so long as you stay at the top of your game, and help them to achieve and further their goals.

To do so, you must also always be looking for ways to educate yourself whether that’s attending fitness events, talking to the best in the industry, or just pooling ideas.

7. Be professional

At the end of the day, personal training involves risk. You’re dealing with potentially unfit clients who are not accustomed to exercise, you’re supervising their handling of equipment and machines, and you yourself must stay fit…when you yourself are your business, it pays to be responsible. Promoting a friendly and approachable persona is great, but the professional side of your business can be measured by whether or not you have comprehensive personal training insurance. This needs to cover third-party liability and relevant qualifications, among others. Display these details on your website to demonstrate your professionalism, responsibility, legitimacy and experience.

If you have your own gym – highlight this and it’s equipment, and mention that you have gym liability insurance in place to give customers peace of mind.

Aside from the seven points above, it’s important to remember you will need full cover when operating as a personal trainer. Click here to get a personal trainer insurance quote from £4.29 a month.

Get Personal Trainer Insurance from Protectivity

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