Why becoming a nutritional advisor could help personal trainers

With over 13,000 personal trainers in the UK, it’s becoming tougher for fitness professionals to establish a niche for themselves. It therefore becomes more of a challenge to compete for that dwindling market share.

And with Britain still in the midst of an obesity crisis (one in four adults in the UK is obese), there could scarcely be a better time to branch out into the world of nutritional advice.

Many PTs will draw up diet plans for their clients. Some will do excellent jobs at suggesting balanced diets that can help their clients towards their goals – others may barely stray from the “it’s high in protein; it must be good” thought process.

To really make it as a nutritional advisor, not to mention to also adhere to many insurance policies, getting qualified to give this advice is well worth doing.

Course providers such as Future Fit, Train Fitness and Diet Specialist all offer courses that are recognised by the Association for Nutrition.

By taking a course officially affiliated you take your first steps to being able to call yourself a Nutritional Advisor.

Yes, the personal training market is crowded, but why go down the nutrition route?

The answer to this is simple. Food (done properly) sells. Certain celebrity personal trainers such as Joe Wicks do this well. By providing visual stimulants with easy-to-follow instructions, his Instagram and Facebook videos with nutritional advice do extremely well.

Do Personal Trainers Need a First Aid Qualification?

Although holding a first aid certificate is not a specific requirement to get a job training clients, or even taking out insurance, it’s always a good idea to have some sort of knowledge on the subject.

When designing a programme for your client, you will be looking for a programme which pushes clients to achieve their goals whilst trying not to push them so hard that they injure themselves.

And, while you will do your best to avoid a client having an accident or causing themselves an injury, this is always a possibility to be aware of. Holding a first aid qualification provides peace of mind that you will be able to help a client should a situation occur during a training session.

How Do I Obtain a First Aid Qualification?

To get a First Aid Certificate you will need to complete a first aid course which will include a training day where you will learn the key skills that you need.

At the end of the course you will receive a certificate. Some trainers will also provide a credit card sized certificate stating that you are first aid qualified so that you can carry this around with you, should you need to put your skills into practice outside of a Personal Training session.

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What is the Best First Aid Course for Personal Trainers?

To obtain a first aid qualification you will need to complete a training course during which you will learn basic first aid skills and how to respond in an emergency. You can complete a one-day Emergency First Aid Course which will provide you with all the knowledge and techniques that you will need to cover a range of situations.

Training will develop the skills and confidence to help someone who is:

· Struggling to breathe
· Having a heart attack
· Having a stroke
· Choking
· Bleeding
· Suffering from shock
· Having a seizure
· Burnt

You will also learn:

· How to assess and monitor a patient, checking their airway and breathing
· How to respond in an emergency
· How to apply a bandage/dressing
· How to manage the control of hazardous substances

What is Involved in a First Aid Course?

Most courses are 1 day which will take place in a classroom or hall. You will receive a mixture of classroom style training eg. Presentations through Powerpoint and practical training where you will be expected to practice the techniques that you have learnt (usually on dummies).

How do I Find a Course Near Me?

There are courses that take place all over the country, throughout the week with courses available at weekends too. Look for the best one near you that will provide you with the skills you need. You can find them quite easily with a quick internet search. Here are some good links to try:

Red Cross First Aid Training
First Aid for Life

How Much does a First Aid Course Cost?

This can vary between training providers but typically a 1-day course would cost between £70 and £140. If you are employed, for example you work in a gym, then your employer might offer to pay the costs of you attending the course.

However, if you are a self-employed Personal Trainer then you would of course have to cover the cost yourself.

Do I Need to Renew my Training?

Yes, you will need to renew your training every 3 years to ensure that you keep your skills up to date and in order to validate your insurance. Your training provider will be able to give you more details.

So, in order to offer the best and safest training programme designed for your client you should ensure that you complete a first aid course and get a certificate. Being first aid qualified will also make you more appealing to potential clients who will feel reassured that they and their fitness programme are in safe hands!

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