How training courses and CPD can enrich your knowledge, skills and career
Straight out of school/university?
Changing careers?
Just fancy levelling up?
Training courses and CPD are suitable for absolutely everyone, covering a wide variety of topics. Courses such as Gym Instructing, bodybuilding, conditioning, and anatomy are all great starting points and are fantastic assets to have as you complete your training education. They’re also great for anyone looking to bolster the skills that they already have.
fibodo’s Learn2Earn is the only marketplace in the UK dedicated to premium and accredited qualifications and leading CPD specifically for those in the Fitness, Health, Sports and Activities sectors.
What kinds of training courses are there?
There’s a huge mixture of online, blended and face-to-face training courses, as well as webinars, seminars and workshops, all aimed at giving you the relevant skills to start earning and learning in the most effective way.
Expand your portfolio and give your classes an edge and impress your clients with the latest techniques and fitness knowledge. So whether you’re just starting out with a Level 2 Certificate in Gym Instructing or a Level 3 Diploma in Broga, courses can broaden your mind as well as your offering to clients.
What on earth is CPD?
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is essentially the process of developing professional skills and knowledge through interactive, participation-based or independent learning. It gives learners the opportunity to proactively develop their professional capabilities through certified learning or self-guided learning methods.
It involves setting objectives for short and long-term progression with a structured and goal-specific plan.
Development should build on technical and non-technical skills, so learners gain the expertise and understanding required to approach professional situations from various angles.
Beyond that, CPD helps people retain a consistent set of high quality, relevant skills and knowledge throughout their professional life. The best part is that CPD puts learners in a favourable position to demonstrate new knowledge, work to impressive standards, and progress in their career.
Continuous professional development can also be an excellent self-motivation tool, as it reminds you of your achievements and progression. Plus, its flexibility and diversity – in terms of the different forms of CPD learning available – gives you an opportunity to find a learning approach that fits you best.
Okay, so why should I bother?
The more courses you have completed, the higher amount of skills and knowledge you will have to teach with, so the number of certifications and skills you have will help determine your pay scale. So the more skills you have, the more you can charge… could there be any bigger incentive?
When choosing the right coach, trainer or teacher, people look for someone who has the right credentials. They may ask to see your certificates, as well as copies of your insurance. This is why it’s so important to keep your knowledge up to date and relevant through annual training courses and Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Courses can range from kettlebells to suspension training or even combat. The training that a person chooses will most likely reflect their special interests, such as pre- and post-natal qualifications for working with women who are pregnant or new mums.
The progression of your professional career and organisation depends greatly on how often you engage in CPD. Without it, you may struggle to keep up with the ever-changing world of work. Ongoing learning enables a level of growth that separates the average person from the truly outstanding. So if you’re looking for a way to reach greater success, CPD is a proven route.
Isn’t it really expensive?
The average cup of coffee is £3.60, if you picked up two every single week then you’d have spent £374.40 in a year! When you read it like that, it’s clear that putting a little away each month really can add up and that for the price of a coffee you could be well on your way to improving your skills or even gaining brand new ones.
It’s always important to do what’s best for yourself and to think about quality, time, cost and effectiveness. Training and CPD pay for themselves in the end. It’s all about return on investment and how far you want to take your fitness business. Training may be more expensive, however you do this less often and it helps you level-up quicker. Whereas CPD is cheaper and can be completed in less time.
So whether you’ve decided to switch careers completely and start a new business or are already well-established, there’s much to be gained from improving your knowledge-base and skills.
Ready to launch your business? Here’s a handy checklist for you.
- Get your qualifications – Through fibodo’s Learn2Earn platform you can gain new skills and qualifications so that you can get the ball rolling. Offering a carefully curated selection of online and blended in-person and e-Learning courses which are designed to help you learn and acquire new skills, sharpen up existing qualifications and ultimately, to grow your business.
- Register yourself properly – Getting registered with REPs and CIMSPA shows your potential clients that you have the appropriate qualifications to work as a personal trainer.
- Find somewhere to teach or train from – Perhaps you want to live-stream from your home, take sessions in the park, or even get a contract with a gym. Make sure you’re set up and ready to go when your business launches.
- Set up social media accounts – Help get your business off the ground by setting up on social media. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok are great for workout videos or Q&As. It’s completely free but you can also use paid advertising too.
- Make sure you’re ready to do business – The next thing you’ll need to do is register your business through UK. You’ll need to decide whether you want to register as a sole trader (this means you are self-employed) or as a limited (LTD) company.
- Set up a business bank account – There’s a plethora of business bank accounts out there, including ones such as Monzo where you can open a digital bank account in minutes.
- Make sure you have the right insurance – Public liability insurance covers you for claims from a third party. For example, if one of your clients gets injured during your session. It also covers you for any damage caused to third-party property by yourself or your clients. This applies to anyone self-employed, but is especially important if you’re thinking of starting a personal training business where you’re based in a gym.
- Set yourself up with some time-saving software to manage your bookings – With so many businesses having similar offerings, how are you supposed to know who to go with? fibodo offers two apps to help you manage your business. One is a booking system for your clients, the other is a client management system. Learners on Learn2Earn will find really attractive discounts for using both platforms.
In addition to having all of your certifications, the number of hours you choose to work will also determine your income. Since many people work full time, having someone available early morning and late evening after work is a big benefit to them that many are willing to pay extra for. Although since the Coronavirus pandemic hit, many people are looking at new and innovative ways to run their classes or train their clients. Some have moved completely online, while others are offering a tailored approach with a blended mix of online and offline sessions and online training can help you navigate this new way of working and communicating with your clients.
Ready to take the plunge or just looking for some more advice?
Visit fibodo’s blog for all the latest tips and tricks or if you’re ready to get stuck in, then contact us to book a demo today.
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