In most gyms and health clubs in the United Kingdom you will find fitness instructors and personal trainers working side by side, seemingly doing the same job. They look the same but their role and their levels of education can be very different. In this article I want to explain what the differences are and why it is important to know this.
The most obvious difference between a gym instructor and a personal trainer is education. Gym Instructors are educated to Register of Exercise Professionals (REPS) level 2 and personal trainers are required to re educated to REPS Level 3. You can train to be level 2 qualified in a few weeks whereas level 3 qualification takes at least 2 months of full-time study.
REPS is the Register of Exercise Professionals and is the body in the United Kingdom that oversees education and registration of fitness professionals and trainers. They require a certain level of education and continued learning to remain as a member.
Other differences will relate to the job that each one will undertake. Most gym instructors tend to be employed by the gym and will earn around £7 per hour. Their duties can include anything from inducting new members to cleaning machines to making sure that the gym is clean and tidy and that there are no weights left around. Gym instructors will also be required to do health check on members and maybe even teach classes such as spin and circuits. They are instrumental in helping out members and should be a first port of call if you want some advice regarding exercise for or if you need someone to spot you with some weights.
In most of the bigger chain gyms in the United Kingdom personal trainers are not employed but rather work as self-employed freelancers. Generally the personal trainers will pay the gym anything from £100-£200 per week to work there and it will be up to them to speak to members and find their own clients. This actually works out really well for the gyms as they are getting money in from the trainers and this is also helping them to retain members as well.
The average personal trainer will charge anything from £25-£50 per hour depending on their level of education and experience. For example a newly qualified trainer may only charge £25 per session as they may have their personal training qualification whereas some more qualified and experienced personal trainers who have been qualified as a personal trainer for a few years can charge £40 and upwards per session as they constantly update their qualifications and have a track record of satisfied clients.
If you are looking to get some personal training, I would advise asking your prospective trainer if they have before and after pictures of past clients or testimonials. Any fitness professional worth their salt will always be more than happy to provide you with this.
Liam Thompson is a Personal Trainer Manchester specialising in Weight Loss and Posture Correction and owner of Manchester Boot Camp
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