New Corporate Wellness Course Endorsed by Skillsactive

MANCHESTER, England - A new training course in corporate wellness has just been endorsed by Skillsactive, the Sector Skills Council responsible for health and fitness. The certificated continuing professional development course will be welcomed by personal trainers keen to play a part in improving workplace health, and will give employers confidence when choosing consultants for employee health and wellbeing programmes.

Whilst a range of qualifications for personal trainers has been available for some time, it’s not until now that a training course has been designed that specifically teaches instructors how to successfully assess needs in the workplace, and to design interventions that are cost-effective for the employer. With sickness absence costing UK businesses an estimated GBP13bn each year, this course fills a much-needed gap.

The training has been developed by Rob Woollen, Corporate Wellness Manager at Manchester-based Rightway Complete Wellness Solutions. One of the first personal trainers in the country to obtain the highest status on the government-backed Register of Exercise Professionals, Woollen has first-hand experience of implementing effective workplace health and fitness programmes. He explains that there is huge potential for employers and personal trainers to work together to reduce the burden of sickness-related absence and underperformance, but that it’s critical for trainers to have relevant organisational expertise:

“Employers are looking for consultants who can assess the needs of groups within their organisation, design appropriate programmes, and encourage participation from people who may be lacking the motivation to develop a healthier lifestyle. The new Corporate Wellness course shows personal trainers how to extend their skills into these areas and to understand the relationship between health and work. We also teach trainers how to make a sound business case so that they can engage effectively with employers.”

Available at venues nationwide from October 2009, the two-day course has been awarded the maximum 16 CPD points for continuing professional development by Skillsactive. CPD points will only be awarded to fully qualified personal trainers at REPS level 3 or above.

For information contact Rob Woollen on rwoollen@fitforwork.co.uk or +44(0)7966475510. More details of course content and dates are available on www.fitforwork.co.uk/apps/webstore. Rightway Complete Wellness Solutions provides employee wellbeing interventions and consultancy. Clients Include universities, government departments and national companies.

Source: Rightway Complete Wellness Solution

For information contact Rob Woollen on rwoollen at fitforwork.co.uk or
+44(0)7966475510.