Future fitness forecast is good for Harry
Studying exercise and fitness at James Watt College has paved the way for Harry Morris to set himself up as a personal trainer. The 19-year-old started working freelance last September and is fast developing his business.
“I’m looking to succeed in what is a rapidly growing industry,” said Harry. “If you’re a coach or a personal trainer then delivering a good service is hugely important. This is what I’ll be focusing on.”
Harry completed A Levels in business, media and physical education before deciding to pursue a career in an exercise and gym environment.
“I’d always been interested in the fitness industry and knew I didn’t want to go to university,” explained Harry. “This is why I thought a college course would be my best bet for developing my skills in personal training and business enterprise.”
Harry studied a Level 2 Active IQ Fitness Instructing Certificate course, followed by a Level 3 Active IQ Personal Training Certificate.
“I studied both qualifications in one year, learning how to take someone through a fitness programme safely and then tailoring a programme to suit an individual’s needs and situation,” he said. “There are a lot of fast-track courses in personal training that people can complete in six or eight weeks, which is fine, but these might not put you in the real life situations you’ll face when you’re qualified. And you’ll miss out on the chance to develop relationships with clients over a period of time.
“The other good thing about my college course was my lecturers – they were amazing,” continued Harry. “They’d got an incredible amount of experience and still practice as trainers, so I knew I could fully appreciate their knowledge and business acumen. For someone just starting out, it really helps to hear how other people set themselves up and keep their clients over time.”
As a college student, Harry also had the opportunity to take part in the WorldSkills UK Fitness Trainer Competition. As one of 40 competitors from 20 institutions, he had to demonstrate his ability to consult with a client about their fitness goals and then develop a training session to suit this.
“The competition was another useful experience,” Harry added. “Judges assessed us on our professionalism and motivation among other things. This bought home to me just how important it is to build a rapport with clients and personalise their training experience as much as possible.
“I really want my business to be about the personal touch and adding value through service. In the future, I’m hoping to develop a hybrid training model, combining one to one training and online coaching.
“This will help my clients make long term progress and create a more cost effective service, while still maintaining a personalised experience.”
The Active IQ fitness courses focus on the study of anatomy, physiology and nutrition as well as how to plan, prepare and deliver an exercise session. Students also gain an understanding of common medical conditions and business acumen for personal trainers.
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