Our Quality Assurance(QA) team at CIMSPA recently made a visit to Study Active’s headquarters in Hitchin and conducted a quality assessment on their CIMSPA endorsed courses.

Study Active uses a blended learning delivery method utilising e-learning, practical workshops, webinars and dedicated tutorials to empower students to become fitness professionals. They believe this approach allows students to work at their own pace and wrap their studies around other commitments.

We caught up with James Luscombe, Founder and Education Director at Study Active to find out how he found the process and get some imput from him on how he is finding his working relationship with CIMSPA.

How important is Quality Assurance to you and your organisation?
Quality assurance is very important to us as it is part of our mission to provide high quality education and training, which is fit for the industry in which we serve. For this reason, we have always invested heavily in quality and worked closely with our awarding organisation Active IQ, who have been incredibly supportive, to ensure we have always had a “low risk” status. We feel that not only does quality assurance standardise what we are offering against national standards, but it also gives our customers the peace of mind that what we offer is consistent with what the sector demands.

It is interesting that you mention Active IQ being your AO and having their QA process. Did you feel a CIMSPA QA visit was overkill or another level of assurance?

When CIMSPA started to roll out their External Quality Assurance process, I was a little uncertain about the need for this, especially as we had already had our AO EQA visit. As soon as I met the CIMSPA QA however, I soon realised the value that this visit would bring. Not only did the CIMSPA EQA visit completely back up what our AO found (which was a low risk centre with outstanding quality) but it also helped us think of ways we could move forwards as a business. This included advice on how we could make the most of our partnership with CIMSPA and suggestions in regard to increasing our links within the sector. We found this incredibly useful and it really helped strengthen our links with CIMSPA.

You have been a CIMSPA partner for a few years now, how have you found the partnership so far?

We have partnered with CIMSPA since 2016 when we first became a skills development partner (now training provider partner). We have always valued our relationship with CIMSPA and have always kept abreast of developments through our dedicated contact. I must say post visit, it has opened up our eyes to a whole world of opportunities that we can work with CIMSPA on, including engaging with their online resources, attending their events and encouraging our community of students and graduates to become members too.

Study Active have grown a lot over the past couple of years, what is your vision for the future?
It is very much our aim to be recognised as one of the UK’s highest quality providers of Gym & PT qualifications, with it being our intention to achieve this recognition on a “quality over quantity” basis. We want our training to be recognised as having outstanding quality and hope that students choose to enrol with us for this reason. We would also like to ensure that students recognise our brand alongside the CIMSPA brand, so they know that when they learn with Study Active they are taking a course with a provider that works closely with CIMSPA in ensuring standards.

It’s great to know that you share the same vision as we do. What do you think CIMSPA need to do next in order to turn that vision into a reality?

I think it should be CIMSPA’s goal to now promote the message to the entire sector, that the CIMSPA badge is the one to look for when choosing training. This is a badge we are proud to hold!

After the visit I understand you received an “outstanding” rating. Was there anything specific you learned from the visit?

In addition to continuing to enjoy the outstanding support of our AO Active IQ, it’s great to know that CIMSPA are also in our corner and that we as a company can take advantage of the support networks CIMSPA are providing us with. The future is bright!

About Study Active

Study Active is an Active IQ approved training provider offering nationally recognised fitness qualifications. They offer a flexible approach to learning using a blend of e-learning, practical workshops, webinars and work-based learning, all delivered by expert tutors.

Further, you will have regular, detailed, individual coaching and support from our team of experts to support you in achieving your qualification. Assessments are also flexible and can be carried out at one of our centres at various locations across the UK.

Interested? Please get in touch and let us empower you to start or progress your career in the fitness industry.

www.studyactive.co.uk

Everyone Active is delighted to announce that 13 of its Personal Trainers, have qualified as GP Referral Specialists and will now be able to support clients with common medical conditions to maintain and improve their health.

Everyone Active reached out to personal trainer course provider Study Active who delivered the training to the 13 delegates via a combination of digital e-learning, webinars and regular mentoring from a tutor.

Delegates studied areas such as how the body changes during long term-conditions, designing exercise programmes for common medical conditions and what nutritional advice can support referred clients.

With their new skills, Everyone Active hopes to make a continued impact on the health of GP Referral clients across the UK by offering fitness sessions and promoting the benefits of a healthy, active lifestyle.

Fitness Manager, Carl Leatherbarrow echoed the success of this training “The GP Referral training programme delivered by Study Active has given us a foundation to improve our service delivery and make a difference to our community.”

Study Active Education Director James Luscombe had the following to add “We were delighted to support Everyone Active staff through their learning journey and are immensely proud of the team, not just for what they have achieved but also for what they plan to do now they are qualified. They now have the tools to be an inspiration to many GP referred clients looking to improve their health & fitness”

For details about health & fitness courses with Study Active please visit
https://studyactive.co.uk

Active Suffolk have recently completed a CIMSPA funded project with one of the UK's leading personal trainer course providers, Study Active. The project, funded via the CIMSPA Retrain project, aims to upskill staff to give the sector a much welcome post-lockdown boost. The project saw a range of employees from two different employers; Sentinel Leisure Trust (SLT) and Abbeycroft Leisure, achieve their Level 2 Gym Instructing and Level 3 Personal Training qualifications.

The project started mid-pandemic, where many staff were based at home. Study Active's innovative online learning however bridged this gap and enabled the delegates to be reached via the use of technology. The e-learning saw staff learn about key topics such as programme design, anatomy and nutrition.

Once facilities re-opened, the students were able to put their knowledge into practice via the excellent fitness facilities within their own centres. This culminated with Study Active sending out some of their tutor and assessor team to meet the students at their own workplace and go through some useful face-to face tuition ahead of their final practical assessments.

Following successful completion of their qualification, 16 members of staff have now achieved their Gym Instructor and Personal Trainer qualifications and can now help drive forwards local and national health & fitness participation agendas to positively impact on the wellbeing of the Suffolk public. This initiative also helps to meet our priorities as outlined in the Sport & PA Skills Strategy.

If you are interested in developing your skills to work or progress in the fitness industry, please visit: https://studyactive.co.uk/

"So that we can drive forwards our strategy of getting people active post-lockdown we needed to upskill our staff to achieve the necessary qualification to deliver such exercise. This training has not only provided the relevant qualification but it has also given our staff a fresh skills set to put into practice."

Daniel Ward, Centre Manager, Brandon Leisure & Health Hub (Abbeycroft Leisure)

"I found the training progressive and challenging. Study Active were able to adapt during a time where blended learning methods were needed to ensure that even during lockdown, the learning journey continued! There are so many local and national initiatives to get people exercising, but the right tools for the job are needed first – this training provided us with some of the tools needed so that we can go on to make an impact to the local community by getting them active!"

Matt Stebbings Former Community Education Manager for SLT (now Football Development Manager at Suffolk FA).

"We at Study Active were delighted to have taken part in this funded project to deliver nationally recognised Gym & PT qualifications to a team of aspiring industry professionals. It was extremely pleasing to see the delegates acquire the skills and qualifications to go on to make a difference in the sector"

James Luscombe, Education Director, Study Active