Category: Starting a business

09:25:18 GMT • 14 January 2025

5 Legal Things To Remember Before Becoming A Dog Walker

24 January 2018

•

6 mins read

Contributors

Steffi joined the business in July 2017 as Business Support Executive. Steffi completed her degree in Sports and ...

Setting up a business as a dog walker is, on the face of it, a fairly straightforward enterprise. Minimal equipment is needed, there is no requirement to have multiple qualifications (though this helps), and the financial outlay is reasonably small.

However, for everyone starting a dog walking business there are a few legal things to consider. While you may be chomping at the bit to get out there and work with your canine clients straightaway, make sure you know how to become a dog walker properly by following these legal requirements.

Here, we cover the legal dog walker requirements, as well as the importance of dog walkers’ insurance, so you know you’ve got everything covered.

Register with HMRC

If you are setting up your own business and becoming a professional dog walker it is important that you register with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC). It may be that you are going it alone, known as being a ‘Sole Trader’ or setting up a wider business with employees and (potentially) higher turnover, in which you could be registered as a ‘Limited Company’.

By becoming your own boss you become responsible for things such as paying tax and National Insurance. After registering as a self-employed dog walker you will be expected to complete a self assessment tax return each year. Through this you will be required to pay income tax on any business profits over £11,500 a year.

National Insurance will also be due if you pass that threshold. Starting off at around £2.85 a week, the outgoings are relatively small, but important to remember. If your business is particularly successful you will end up paying a higher rate, as well as being liable for VAT if your profits exceed £85,000 in a year.

Obtain a DBS check

While paying for a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check isn’t a legal requirement, being able to show your potential clients that you are a trustworthy person is well worth doing. An outlay of around £25 for a basic background check gives you extra kudos when it comes with comparisons with the competition.

Keep a record of all that you do

Not only are you legally required to keep a record of your incomings and outgoings for tax purposes, it can also help you run your professional dog walker business more economically.

When completing your tax return it is important to include every instance of income to the business in order to correctly calculate the amount of tax you should be paying. By also including your business outgoings you also avoid paying too much tax.

‘Allowable expendables’ include things such as dog leads, bowls, commercial vehicles and marketing your business and are taken into account when calculating the tax you pay. Keeping a record of such expenditures will ensure your business doesn’t overpay.

Records are not only good for financial reassurance, but also to help your business run smoothly on a day-to-day basis. Keeping track of whose dog you are walking and when, and ensuring all clients have signed some form of business contract with you (recommended), helps you maintain a professional dog walker set-up for your business.

Make sure you know the laws

There are a number of laws and acts that relate closely to canines. The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 is probably the most well-known, but do you know exactly what it says? Having a basic knowledge of the rules and regulations regarding dogs and the law can only be useful when it comes to running your business.

If you intend to walk dogs in a rural area, be aware that under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953, landowners and farmers may hold the power to shoot dogs that come onto their land if they feel their livestock is under threat, for example. Although the likelihood of this happening is extremely minimal, with the knowledge in hand, those offering dog walking services will know not to put their clients’ pets into potentially dangerous situations. You can find a handy round-up of the various laws involving dogs on the Kennel Club website.

It’s not just national laws that you should research either. An increasing number of Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) are popping up around the country. These rules stipulated by local councils may ban dogs from being walked in certain locations or may restrict the number of dogs you can walk at one time. Always check the rules in your area before becoming a professional dog walker.

Get the best dog walker insurance

It may be least exciting of these aspects, but getting full public liability insurance for dog walkers is important. Having cover in place will protect you if a client’s dog is injured, lost or attacks another dog or person. If you are blamed for any of these instances, you risk facing legal action from the third party. The costs associated with compensation claims can soon rack up into the thousands of pounds.

With pet business insurance in place, you can cover yourself and your business for such claims. Some insurance providers will also cover you for handling your clients keys as well as damage to your business equipment.

If you’re looking for dog walking insurance, look no further than Protectivity. We can offer you expert cover to protect you against any unexpected incidents when you’re out dog walking, including £100,000 of Care, Custody and Control cover should an animal get injured, lost or killed. With the right cover, you can do your best job with full peace of mind that you’ll be covered if something goes wrong.

Once you have all of these things in place, you know how to become a dog walker and you are ready to go. Starting your own business is a big step and while a career working with dogs sounds like a dream job to many, there are a plenty of legal requirements and considerations to mull over.

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21:22:44 BST • 12 October 2025

Revealed: The Best Towns To Become A Dog Walker

20 September 2017

•

4 mins read

Contributors

Steffi joined the business in July 2017 as Business Support Executive. Steffi completed her degree in Sports and ...

Becoming a professional dog walker has been lauded as one of the UK’s fastest growing careers. A study in 2015 suggesting that walkers could earn up to £64,000 a year certainly provides enough temptation to take up the profession.

Of Protectivity’s customers, two-thirds said they became a commercial dog walker due to their love of canines or had previously worked with dogs. Another 25% were attracted to the prospect of a more flexible lifestyle the job afforded.

And if you’re thinking of taking up the profession there’s still room for manoeuvre, despite growing market competition.

According to Google there are 14,800 searches a month for “dog walker” in the UK, while the phrase “local dog walker” attracted 590 hits a month.

But where is there most demand for dog walkers in the UK?

How many people are looking for dog walkers?

Nearly 2,500 of searches came from the Greater London region – more than treble of Greater Manchester in second place.

However, with a population of over 8.5 million, seeing the capital on top-spot is hardly surprising. When taking the size of population into account it is actually the county of Hampshire that tops the pile.

Google suggests that there are around 550 searches for “dog walker” from Hampshire a month and with a relatively small population (comparatively) of 1.64 million, there’s plenty of room for more walkers.

Where are the most common searches?

Breaking it down even more we are able to reveal the UK’s top five towns and cities looking for a dog walker.

With a high search volume persisting, starting a dog walking business in the UK still has it’s merits. But should you reside in Harrogate, Peterborough or another location in our top 10, there’s even more of an incentive.

We’ve also taken a look at the potential competition. Using Yell listings we’ve given each town a ‘competitiveness rating’ out of 5, based on the number of other walkers in the area – five being the most competitive.

Here’s where there is the most demand for people to walk the dog…

The research found that one of the best places for would-be dog walkers was Stroud in Gloucestershire. Despite a relatively small population of 13,000, the townspeople perform 90 Google searches for dog walkers a month. That translates as a higher percentage-per-person than any other town in the UK.*

Where is the toughest competition?

Walkers will have competition for those canine clients though, with a relatively high number of fellow dog lovers already enjoying the profession according to Yell listings.

Conversely, those in Peterborough and Folkestone both have a large search volume per person, with very little competition. According to Yell.com there are just 15 dog walking businesses within 10 miles of Folkestone, while Peterborough – a town of 78,000 people – can boast just 23.

Other high scorers in our search research were the towns of Harrogate in North Yorkshire and Falkirk in Scotland. The former was only beaten by Stroud when it came to searches-per-person with 320 queries from those looking for walkers each month.

If you do take the plunge and become a full-time dog walker, remember to ensure you are fully covered. Our dog walking insurance protects you and the dogs you walk. Get a quote today to take advantage of our instant cover!

*Ranking based on Google’s estimated search volume for “dog walkers [town]” in relation to the population of that town. Only towns with 50 or more average monthly searches were included.

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09:23:38 GMT • 14 January 2025

The Professional Dog Walker’s Guide to Facebook Advertising

1 August 2017

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5 mins read

Contributors

Steffi joined the business in July 2017 as Business Support Executive. Steffi completed her degree in Sports and ...

Starting a business as a professional dog walker is becoming more and more popular.

But with all the growth of the industry comes competition. In a business scene where every dog counts, ensuring you attract enough clients to pay the bills is becoming tougher.

Facebook has become the go-to place for dog walkers and owners alike to congregate and tout for business. There’s a good reason for this too. With the personable approach, the ability to focus on your location and the community spirit provide a fantastic arena to finding a professional walker to take care of your dog.

Three-quarters of the dog walkers asked in a recent Protectivity survey said they used the social networking site to promote their business. However, only six percent said they had turned to paid-for advertising to provide that added reach.

It could be that many walkers are missing a trick here. With even the smallest advertising budget you can really hone in on the people you really want to target.

Here are the three big reasons you should be using Facebook Advertising

Targeting the right people is easy

As a professional walker there are two things any prospective clients must be 1) dog owners and 2) reasonably local. With Facebook advertising, you can filter just those people. Want to show yourself off to as many dog owners in your community? Easy, just select the ‘Reach’ Objective when setting up your advertising campaign before you go and you’re on your way.

From there you can expertly target your desired audience. Select your location, plus the radius you are looking to cover to ensure you’re only going to pay for your advert to appear in front of your local residents.

Then, scroll down to the ‘Detailed targeting’ area to filter out those dog walkers you want to advertise to. By inputting the phrase ‘Pet Owners’ in the box you can find those that Facebook believes has a pet of their own due to their online activities. Filter that down further by clicking the ‘Narrow Further’ button and inputting the word ‘Dogs’. This will highlight those people who like pages that relate to dogs as well as being pet owners.

So, with a targeted campaign hitting pet (probably dog) owners in your local area you don’t need to waste money approaching people who will not be your customers

It can be extremely cheap

A career as a dog walker is unlikely to bring in mega bucks. Therefore, many dog walkers will be wary of spending unnecessary cash on advertising. However, showcasing your business with paid adverts doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg.

In fact, for as little as £1 a day you could reach many hundreds of potential customers.

Using the criteria highlighted above, using High Wycombe (and the surrounding 10 miles) as our location, we were able to create an audience of just over 8,000 people. With a daily budget of £1, Facebook suggests we would be able to get our advert in front of between 710 and 1,500 of those people each day.

With a one-hour walk costing dog owners anything between £7 and £11 approximately, pull in just one new client a week and you can recoup the costs of your advertising spend. Deliver a good enough service to that new client and with their repeat business soon adding up, the initial outlay pales into insignificance.

It looks much more professional

While touting for business within dog walking discussion groups is all well and good, putting out a well-made advert looks far more professional.

Pick out a nice image, be creative with your copy and deliver a bespoke campaign right to the heart of your potential clients’ newsfeed, rather than a plain, forgettable post in the local dog walking group.

If you haven’t already, think about some branding for your business. Maybe create a logo, nail down some company colours or maybe use a regular canine subject for your ads. Build that familiarity that will mean dog owners think of you when they are considering a walker and you will already be one step ahead of the competition.

Facebook advertising isn’t a substitute for the more stripped-back community group based approach. But by adopting some basic methods, the difference made for your dog walking services could be plain to see.

If you are operating without a licence, the punishments are clearly set out. You can be prosecuted and sentenced to up to three months in prison and fined up to £500.

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09:23:22 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

•

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

Becoming an Online Personal Trainer

30 June 2016

•

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

Marketing your health and fitness club

10 March 2016

•

4 mins read

Contributors

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

In a time when the fitness industry is dominated by the giants such as Fitness First and Virgin Active, it is more important than ever for health and fitness clubs to partake in marketing activities. We have put together some marketing ideas which could really boost your health and fitness club.

1. Create Ambassadors

Find out more about those who work out in your gym regularly. They may be active in the health and fitness industry, amateur sportspeople, professional athletes, brand ambassadors or have their own blogs. These are the type of people you want to promote your business. They obviously already love working out and coming to your gym and never underestimate the power of word of mouth. Offer these a discount on membership or other incentives for helping you promote your business or some may even do it for free if they love it that much!

2. Open Days

If you have a great facility with the best equipment and friendly and helpful staff the health and fitness club will easily sell itself. All you need to do is get your potential customers passed the threshold to see exactly what you have to offer. The best way to do this is hold an open day where people can come and see the facilities you have and maybe even put on some free classes or personal training tutorials and show off what you can do for them.

3. Sponsor a Local Sports Team

Getting involved in your local community is a great way to spread the word about your health and fitness club. Sponsoring a local team such as football or rugby will mean you will get extra media coverage in the local press as well as having mini billboards running around the pitch with your logo on. Those that come and watch sports are likely to be more active so it gives you a great target audience to market to.

4. Member Referral Programme

Giving your members incentives for recruiting friends will encourage them even more to actively seek new members to your health and fitness club. Most people like to work out with people they know so being able to bring their friends along and earn a reward from it will be a great marketing tool. Giving members discount off their membership for them and their friend or a free class will act as great incentives in this type of scheme. As aforementioned, word of mouth is still one of the best marketing tools. If their friend encourages them to go then they are more likely to take up the offer!

5. Freebies

Everyone loves something for nothing! So drive people to visit your health and fitness class with free classes or taster membership. You could even help out the local community and put on classes which are on demand such as classes for new mums or teenagers which once they come to one class will want to try more! Giving away two-week taster memberships can also be a great way to entice people to try your gym out and make them much more likely to sign up once they have seen just exactly what you have to offer.

So now you know the best way to get your gym standing out above the rest, all that is left is comprehensive insurance cover. Get a comprehensive gym insurance quote today.

Do you run a sports club? Protectivity can provide comprehensive cover for many football, cricket, bowls and tennis clubs around the country.

Get your quote today by visiting our Sports Club Insurance page.

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09:18:24 GMT • 14 January 2025

What is professional indemnity insurance and do you need it?

3 March 2016

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2 mins read

Contributors

Steffi joined the business in July 2017 as Business Support Executive. Steffi completed her degree in Sports and ...

Professional Indemnity Insurance is for those who give professional advice to others in the course of their job. For example, personal trainers and sports coaches give advice to clients on a regular basis when training them. Therefore, it is essential to have professional indemnity insurance in place in case any of your clients make a claim against you or your business.

If one of your clients feels that advice you have given has caused them injury or harm then they may decide to take legal action against you. This may happen even if a mistake has not been made but you will need to cover the legal costs of defending yourself in court.

You may have years of experience and expertise in your career but there is always the chance of a mistake occurring and action being taken by a client to rectify any damage caused. However, as a professional giving advice, which is essential to any personal training or sports coaching business, you do not want to fear a claim every time you offer guidance. Therefore, having professional indemnity insurance gives you peace of mind that if a client does claim to be unhappy, your insurance will be there to cover any legal costs and put it right.

Make sure when taking out professional indemnity insurance you get the right amount of cover for you and your business. Do your research – get to know your industry and the types of claims and cover you may need. You do not want to pay for PI insurance and then discover when somebody makes a claim against you that it is not going to cover all the costs.

At Protectivity Insurance, professional indemnity up to £1,000,000 comes as standard on our personal trainer insurance, sports coaching insurance and martial arts instructor insurance giving or customers peace of mind when doing what they do best.

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11:50:46 GMT • 14 January 2025

How to Attract New Members to Your Sports Club this New Year

20 January 2016

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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...

New Year’s resolutions have been set for 2020 and the most popular will always be sports and fitness. Therefore, this is the perfect time to start marketing for new members of your sports club and catch all those looking for a new sport or fitness venture.

Get digital

Nobody is going to be attracted to a team that looks as though it is stuck in the 20th century – make sure your website is up to date with all the latest information so that if somebody was to come across you from a web search they know when and where to come and who to contact.

Promotion across social media is also a great tool so make sure you put out information which can be useful to potential members. Also you can join in conversations and post on local group pages to attract those in the area and spread awareness.

Think about promotions

Most people especially when considering taking up a new sport will not want to commit to a membership and therefore it is a good idea to offer free taster sessions. This allows people who may not be sure to come along and give it a try and meet the team. These could be done continuously and any new members can come along to any class or as a one off event and open the club up to new members for a specific session which can go over basic rules and training drills.

If your club has a marketing budget you can pay to advertise in local papers and directories or place ads within local sports halls, shops and notice boards. You could even sponsor a local business or get involved in some local events or charities to boost the club’s presence in the local area.

Spread the word!

The best marketing for any sports club is word of mouth and therefore it pays to use your players as ambassadors and spread the club’s message. Invite them to bring along friends, family, colleagues and anyone they know to try it out. You could even offer friends and family discounts and incentives for those bringing along new members to encourage current club members to be proactive also.

Often joining a sports club is not just about the sport but also about the social side, meeting new people and making new friends. Therefore, it is important within your promotion to make reference to the social events that the club are involved in.

We hope this has given you a few ideas as to how to promote your sports club this January and that you are able to attract a whole new team of members to kick start the new year!

If you need sports club insurance look no further, Protectivity can offer a comprehensive and competitive quote today.

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