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INDUSTRY NEWS
£1.5m pledged as
Deloitte reports
Research at the University of
skills academy boost
a membership
Leicester confirmed that the
fitness-industry boom has had
slowdown little impact on the nation’s girth.
£1.5m has been pledged by objectives is to raise the standards Statistics from accountancy firm Dr Jennifer Smith Maguire, the
Westminster City Council towards and skill levels of the entire country’s Deloitte reveal that 54,000 fewer study’s author, says: “Many
a National Skills Academy for workforce to be able meet the people took out gym membership Western countries have
Sport and Active Leisure. challenges of the 21st century. during 2007 than they had 18 experienced this strange
The city council is expected to “Westminster’s partnership with months previously. situation, with fitness and
become the centre of excellence the skills academy is a crucial part In some parts of the country, exercise industries expanding
for physical activity in the region. of our ‘One City’ programme, a including Northern Ireland, the West alongside problems of inactivity.”
The investment forms part of five-year strategy to build strong Midlands and the North East, the Almost a quarter of British
the council’s £4.3m plans to communities and deliver excellent dropout rate has risen to 8%, adults are judged to be obese
build an eco-friendly sport and council services in Westminster. To despite joining fees falling by an and, if current trends continue,
community centre on Crompton achieve this, there has to be a average of 17%. And there is worse 60% of men and 50% of
Street, Paddington. centrally coordinated structure to to come, according to business women will be clinically obese
The National Skills Academy access skills and development to analysts, who point to falling profits by 2050.
for Sport and Active Leisure is in help combat the challenges. The and share prices of many clubs over According to Dr Smith Maguire,
its business planning stage and National Skills Academy will be the the past two years. Gyms, they say, gyms focus on “image rather than
is a government initiative best body to address this, as it have fallen into a price battle to woo health”, which tends to mean that
pioneered by SkillsActive, the will bring together the updated new custom. their customers’ commitment is
sector skills council for the active methods, ways of thinking and In the late 1980’s there were sustained for only a limited period.
leisure and learning sector. higher expectations that our fewer than 200 gyms in the UK. Psychologists are convinced that
Andy Durrant, Principal Sports workforce currently lacks.” Now, according to the Fitness the ploys used by the fitness
Unit Manager at Westminster City Work on the Crompton Street Industry Association (FIA), there industry to attract new members
Council, said: “One of the key site is expected to be completed are 5,714 - more than 3,000 of will have short-lived health benefits,
government and Westminster by early 2009. them private health clubs. if any, for those they attract.
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www.ukleisurenews.co.uk March / April 2008 UK LEISURE NEWS 09
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