01-10 NEWS:Layout 1 8/2/08 17:26 Page 11
INDUSTRY NEWS
Ex soccer player first with
Heart disease boost
SHOKK franchise
The first SHOKK énergie youth can be to find well supervised, fun
in new partnership
fitness franchise has been sold. and professionally run activities for Fitness First, the privately owned health and fitness group, has teamed
It has been awarded to Mickey children. Both Mickey and I are up with the British Heart Foundation to help beat heart disease.
Mellon, an ex-professional passionate about promoting Fitness First members will benefit from first class health information
footballer from Paisley, physical activity in young lives and from the BHF through promotion of its campaigns and free magazine
Renfrewshire. Mickey and his see the énergie SHOKK franchise ‘Heart Health’, and will have the opportunity to get involved in a
wife, Jane, have found a site in as the perfect opportunity for us. number of fundraising events.
Blackpool and plan to open it “SHOKK has launched over 140 Each of the 172 Fitness First clubs in the UK will work with the
next year. Mickey played sites and the énergie Group is a well nation’s heart charity in organising fundraising and campaign
professional football for Bristol established franchisor. Our main awareness events, ensuring that each club raises its individual target
City, West Bromwich Albion, search criteria when looking for a for every year of the 3 year partnership.
Blackpool and Tranmere Rovers. premises to house our franchise Nick Smith, Fitness Director at Fitness First said: “Fitness First and the
Both qualified fitness was around 3,000-4,000sqft of British Heart Foundation have a common aim of getting the nation active
instructors, Mickey and Jane space in a well populated area with and healthy. By working out in our clubs, members are already well on
have been running their own good accessibility.” the way to reducing their risk of heart disease. We hope to provide
personal training business for the Jonathan Williams, Managing current members with healthy living information and the incentive to keep
last three years. Director at SHOKK, says: “The key up their good habits and encourage those new to exercise to come
Jane says: “Growing and to getting kids active is making along, get fit with us and raise money for a fantastic charity.”
running a personal training more facilities available locally.” Douglas Rouse, Head of Corporate Partnerships at the British Heart
business has been fantastic but The énergie Group now operates Foundation added: “As well as being able to work together to persuade
we are looking for a new 32 sites and has 30 investors people to increase their exercise levels, the money raised will help us in
challenge. I know how hard it committed and looking for sites. our fight against heart disease, which remains the UK’s biggest killer.”
Military fitness New training
Sports selected for
UK Sport’s international policy
consultant, Ben Calveley, says:
programme to academy for
more training
“The aim of the ILP is to ensure
raise profile Power Plate
Representatives from 13 sports, the UK continually develops
from athletics to dressage, have individuals capable of building
British Military Fitness, the largest Power Plate, the market leader been selected by UK Sport to strong relationships with
military-style fitness provider in in Acceleration training receive further training in international international sporting federations
the UK, is to raise its profile with equipment, has opened a new sporting affairs, as part of its in a way that enables them to
a new marketing campaign. The training academy at its head International Leadership Programme. contribute to the global
company offers a unique way to office in London. The programme is part of UK development of sport.”
get fit and lose weight. Classes The academy is open daily and Sport’s aim to turn out world class The first module starts in
are run in parks across the UK offers accredited courses at basic personnel and groom candidates February and will look at the
by instructors who are either and advanced level for those with to develop sports on the operating environments of
former or serving members of the a background in fitness such as international scene. international sporting organisations.
armed forces with fitness training personal trainers, fitness
qualifications. Over 6,000 people instructors and physiotherapists.
Versaclimber gets on the ‘A’ list
now work out at 50 venues The three hour introductory
across the UK. course costs £95 per person and One of the country’s top celebrity The Versaclimber is a stepping
Major (retired) Robin Cope, is open to anyone, regardless of gyms, which boasts the likes of and climbing machine introduced
Managing Director at BMF, says: their fitness knowledge. The Elle Macpherson and Hugh Grant to the UK market by
“Membership has grown rapidly course covers a range of as members, has taken delivery Versaclimber UK 15 years ago
over the last year and the introductory topics including: of a Versaclimber stepping and and has now developed a cult
appointment of a PR agency basic principles of vibration climbing fitness machine. following amongst personal
was the next logical step to training, basic human physiology Bodyism in South Kensington, trainers, physiotherapists and
ensure we maximise our brand and anatomy, Power Plate added the Versaclimber to its professional athletes.
awareness. We’re also keen to applications, and safety in fitness suite to enhance its Earlier this year Versaclimber
ensure that our classes are not handling the Power Plate. cardiovascular training plans and UK launched two new vibration
seen as too serious or Future courses will include its energy system development exercise machines – the Exervibe
intimidating and so Promote PR golf training, performance programme. Climber and the Exervibe
will be positioning BMF as a academy and seminars on Performance coach and founder Stepper. Both machines are the
programme that caters for all topics including osteoporosis of Bodyism, James Duigan, said: only cardiovascular vibration
levels of fitness; motivating and and multiple sclerosis. “It’s the quickest and best way we products on the UK market and
encouraging individuals to Visit www.powerplate.co.uk for have to really get someone’s heart have already generated a lot of
achieve their own goals. more information. rate up and burn fat.” interest.
10 UK LEISURE NEWS January / February 2008 www.ukleisurenews.co.uk
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