Lifetime celebrates unique apprenticeship one year on
This month sees Lifetime celebrating one year since the launch of its unique apprenticeship programme. Following the success of the Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer courses, Lifetime has now introduced an Activity Leader Apprenticeship.
The new programme is government funded for 16-18 year olds and is an entry level qualification so applicants don’t need a degree or HND in order to apply.
The Fitness Instructor Programme has proved a huge success in the region. On completion of the apprenticeship, 75 per cent of students gained employment or a paid or voluntary work placement whilst completing a full NVQ in approximately 12 weeks. With youth unemployment now over one million in the UK, these statistics give hope to many young adults.
Tom Waterworth, 18, is just one teenager who has reaped the benefits since signing up for Lifetime’s Fitness Instructing Apprenticeship, a Centre of Excellence for Fitness.
“It was great to be studying in an adult environment and not being treated like a kid,” says Tom. “What’s more, there was plenty of gym-based, practical work so I knew that my job prospects would be much better upon finishing the course.”
After just a week’s voluntary work placement, Tom was offered a full time, paid position as a fitness instructor. So keen to progress in his new career, Tom is currently completing a work-based qualification in personal training and has recently secured a new job as a Personal Trainer with Fitness First. He’s already starting to build his client base and loves his new career. “I’m now doing what I always wanted to do. You get a great feeling being able to help someone achieve their goals through fitness.” Ultimately, Tom would like to own his own gym.
Over 1,000 students have already benefited from the Fitness Instructor Apprenticeship with Lifetime, awarded Centre of Excellence for Fitness for National Employers by the National Skills Academy for Sport and Active Leisure in 2008.
The Centre of Excellence for Fitness is continuing to grow and develop each year and the future looks bright for every student that walks through its doors.
To find out more about Lifetime’s apprenticeships, which are rolled out across Lifetime’s countrywide training venues all year round, visit www.leapintoleisure.co.uk, call 0870 702 7273 or text FITNESS 9 to 80039
