Work Placement Blog

Work Placement report for Sam Jones Health Club, Drake House, Crystal Peaks, Sheffield

Job Role - Personal Trainer

Mission Statement- 'Our mission is to generate optimum profit through high quality leisure management'

Our mission statement is money orientated , there main aim is to make money through high standards of management of the health club.

Social structure

Regional Manager

-

General Manager

-

Duty Manager

-

Fitness manager

-

Personal Trainer- Sales Team

-
Reception
-

Cleaners 

Above we have the social structure hierarchy for my work placement, the regional manager is in charge of all the dc leisure's in the north, one been us at Sam Jones, he over looks the general manager and makes sure were hitting targets and deals with new ideas. Our general manager is in charge of my personal training fitness manager. The fitness manager is in charge of putting any complaints we have through to him, he also has to make sure were hitting our targets. The reception and cleaners are at the bottom of the scale is charge of general cleaning and days to days customers service requirements.

My Job description is as follows
KEY OBJECTIVES

1.      To carry out the role of Personal Instructor when business requires.

   

2.      To carry out the role of Duty Manager and/or First aider when the business requires.

3. To ensure the efficient day to day operation of the Centre.
4. To undertake additional specific responsibilities as and when required.

5.      To achieve Personal Training targets set by Fitness Manager

6.      To ensure presentation and cleanliness of the facilities and equipment is maintained to a high standard at all times.

7.      To ensure high levels of service and approachability are maintained at all times, for both customers and staff.

8. To be responsible at all times for security of the building and its contents.

9. To undertake additional specific responsibilities when needed.

K.O.1

1.      Refer to instructor job description

2.      Respond quickly and efficiently to any complaints from staff or customers. Feedback any key issues to the Fitness/Club Manager.

3.       To ensure compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act, and D C Leisure’s Health and Safety Manual.

4.      When undertaking contracted or casual basis instructor hours, complete all inductions and programme prescriptions (kinetika journey/group inductions) in a professional manner.

5.      To supervise and motivate all fitness facility customers, and to provide encouragement, where and when it is needed.

6.      Maintain a high level of knowledge, keeping abreast of new trends within the industry.

7.      Contribute to programming and general operation of the facilities through ideas and support.

8.       To open or close the centre as per Duty Manager checklist, and to be responsible at all          times for security of the building and its contents during a DM shift.

10.  To carry out any general administrative duties that may be required.
11.  To check and sign for the delivery of goods/completion of services if required and receipt where possible on the Proactis system, ensuring products are stored away.
12.  To ensure any accidents to staff or customers are correctly recorded and appropriate First Aid administered and the correct forms completed where necessary.
13.  To record any serious incidents correctly and notify the appropriate persons immediately as per company SIMP.

14. To perform any other duties as directed by Management.

15. To carry out duties of other members of staff if necessary, e.g. cover for breaks, holiday, sickness etc, if required to do so.

K.O.2

1.      Ensure individual Personal Targets are met on a monthly basis.

2.      Ensure marketing of your services is kept accurate and up to date within the club, Internet sites or any other marketing utility at all times.

3.     Utilise PT marketing & membership data base to generate new clients.

4.     Deliver high standard Personal Training sessions to ensure repeat business.

5.      To assist in the selling of products to members/non-members such as Personal Training sessions, protein products and dry goods.

5.     Ensure all paperwork & records for clients are stored securely & in line with the data protection act.

6      Put forward pricing/offer ideas to ensure a constant stream of PT income is achieved.

7.     To ensure the prompt preparation of all activity areas including the safe setting up and dismantling and storage of the equipment.

 

K.O.3

1.      To complete all cleaning schedules with records kept up to date.

2.      Ensuring maintenance checks are done and records kept up to date in accordance with the Fitness QMS.

3.      To identify and report maintenance requirements for equipment or premises, and to liaise with the appropriate staff member and to initiate repairs as soon as is practically possible where necessary.

4.      To attend First aid courses and retain qualification at all times, as required.

5.      To carry out regular changing room and studio checks and log as required.

6.      To assist running extra sessions such as Youth Fitness Factory when required

K.O.4

1.     Ensure that correct uniform is worn at all times along with site name badges.

2.     To maintain the safety and well being of customers using the facilities.

3.     To ensure a consistently high standard of cleanliness and site presentation including the surrounding outside areas, i.e. Litter picking, changing room checks, reception desk, studios, gym area, sales office and corridors

4.     Attend interactive instructor update sessions on a regular basis & deliver high quality member interaction within the gym & other areas of the centre.

5.     Maintain the highest standards of service, presentation and professional advice offered to customers using the fitness facilities.

6.     Ensure (as part of the gym team) that targets for member participant on gym challenges are met complete all motivational calls & notes.

Out Line the Problem

Current issues in my workplace are -

-Staff Communication

-Cleanliness

-Enthusiasm

-Positive working approach

Since working for the gym since December 2011 I have picked up on 5 different issues, staff communication been the first this is vital for getting messages passed on, whether they be from a gym member interested in personal training or a important message from the line manager.

Interaction with gym members is very important, members want to feel that they are getting everything out of there gym membership, Saying Hello and remembering their names goes along way. Even correcting peoples exercise techniques and giving advice is classed as interaction and there is a major lack of this currently undergoing at Sam Jones. If Sam Jones wants to be as good as the bigger private health clubs "Virgin Active" for example they need to get the Customer service side spot on!

Cleanliness is a basic job description task and in ours, we all have different cleaning roles at the gym, mine for instance is to clean the Dumbbells service them and also clean the spinning bikes. Some of our staff don’t do their role and expect others to do it this is a bad approach to working as a team and should be dealt with to keep up with the rest of the health club which is reasonably clean. The clientele paying full membership will be expecting high quality standards so this is a good reason to improve the cleaning programme. I personally think that cleaner should be employed by the gym to come in 3 times a day, instead on just at the end of the day, this is because the gym is in a mess by dinner time and allot of the cleaning procedures needed in the changing area and sauna steam room areas where we are not employed to be in. The best way is to have a cleaner doing the job throughout the day cleaning these areas and the gym staff maintaining and cleaning the equipment.

“Member attrition is an all too familiar issue to club management, however nine out of 10 consumers who perceive their club as extremely clean are likely to renew their membership “

(IRSHA Guide to Health Club Cleanliness)

Accessed Online 19/01/12

Enthusiasm in a couple of the personal trainers is lacking, without enthusiasm they have no drive, with no drive comes no interaction with members, no positive working, and not been able to work as a team. This then leads to the person not hitting their personal training targets which then leads to letting the whole team down because we don’t hit our group target amount. My opinion is if they don’t want to be their then go home, and let someone else have the opportunity to work in this current recession where jobs are hard to come hold of.

A positive working approach in any working environment is beneficial for the success of the business and the staff working with you, There have been several occasions at my workplace where staff have been negative about meeting targets and issues regarding other staff. This isn't good for the team and any issues should be sorted out with the line manager.

Pest Analysis

criteria examples ecological/environmental current legislation  future legislation international legislation regulatory bodies and processes government policies government term and change trading policies funding, grants and initiatives home market pressure- groups international pressure- groups wars and conflicts	political -CRB -COSH -Working hours -Register of exercise professionals -Skills Active	economical -Working to a budget - Social trends - lack of pay increase -Efficiency savings -	criteria examples home economy economy trends overseas economies general taxation taxation specific to product/services seasonality issues market/trade cycles specific industry factors market routes trends distribution trends customer/end-user drivers interest/ exchange rates international trade and monetary issues
criteria examples lifestyle trends demographics consumer attitudes and opinions media views law changes affecting social factors brand, company, technology image consumer buying patterns fashion and role models major events and influences buying access and trends ethnic/religious factors advertising and publicity ethical issues	social -Personal Trainer instead of gym instructors -New classes -Functional Training -Health promotion days -Fitness advertisement	technological - Equipment - Leisure facilities - Development of clinical; knowledge - emails and phone	criteria examples competing technology development research funding associated/dependent technologies replacement technology/solutions maturity of technology manufacturing maturity and capacity information and communications consumer buying mechanisms/technology technology legislation innovation potential technology access, licencing, patents intellectual property issues global communications

Been reps registered is very important it keeps us personal trainer up to date with training and new skills, it also reassures gym members that we are well qualified and know what we are doing if were registered with them.

"The Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) has been set up to help safeguard and to promote the health and interests of people who are using the services of exercise and fitness instructors, teachers and trainers. " accessed online 16/01/12 REPS 2012

Lack of pay increase relates to staff wages, if we were wanting a hourly wage increase it would be hard to get due to the recession and staff targets not been achieved.

Health promotion days also known at Sam Jones as motivational days are there for members to speak to the personal trainers regarding any problems they have with there programmes and chance for a new one to be wrote out to there needs, it is also a great way of introducing personal training to them and give them tasters a feel to what personal training can offer.

Because we work with children every instructor in CRB checked so make sure we are suitable to work with them.

 "The CRB check searches your details against criminal records and other sources, including the Police National Computer. The check may reveal convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings."
Accessed online 16/01/12 Direct gov. com

SWOT Analysis   

State what you are assessing here Sam Jones Health Club

Strengths- Sam Jones strengths firstly has to be the standard of classes which are taught here, very popular with the ladies and the main attraction for full paying membership members. Other strong points of the gym is the space that there is, the weights ans cardio area are big with plenty of equipment even when the gym is at its busiest time.

Weaknesses- Biggest weakness for the gym in the standard of cleaning and times the gym is cleaned. A very big issue which need to be dealt with asap. If nothing changes with it members will start to move else where.

Opportunity's- There are many opportunity's in my job role to progress to Manager/ duty manager where my wage will increase. Other things are training courses to gain extra skills in exercise and registered bodies to join such as reps.

Threats- The threats Sam Jones has as business arnt too bad, the nearest other gym in Aston which is run by the council and isn't private like Sam Jones nor has the space and equipment. Sheffield centre has the nearest private sector gyms and is about 5 miles away so members around the crystal peaks area are more likely to go to Sam Jones.

Reference List

What is a CRB check? Accessed online 16/01/12 Direct gov. com
What is Reps? Accessed online 16/01/12 REPS 2012
Health Club Cleanliness -GoJo industires 2008  -IRSHA Guide to Health Club Cleanliness
accessed online 19/01/12