Low-cost gym operator The Gym Group recruits freelance PTs across all 76 of its gyms. They wear a branded ‘The Gym’ uniform, but each PT takes responsibility for their own income tax, national insurance, public liability insurance, promotional materials and legal matters, taking administration away from the operator.
Once personal trainers have completed The Gym Group’s comprehensive induction process, they’re offered full use of the gym floor and have the freedom to negotiate prices with members, with PTs taking home 100 per cent of their revenue. In return, PTs provide a minimum of 10 unpaid hours a week on the gym floor.
The PTs are therefore prominent members of the team, undertaking member inductions, providing tours of the facility and assisting with the joining process. Being visible throughout the member journey means PTs are also more likely to build trusting relationships with new members, meaning there’s less need to ‘push’ their services – and it works, with on average 20 per cent of new members requesting a personal trainer.
“This rent-free model helps generate a loyal, motivated personal trainer workforce, dedicated to delivering high quality and up-to-date services, which positively impacts member retention,” says Jon Baker, regional manager at The Gym Group.
“All the personal trainers we work with have to attend a face-to-face interview. We assess how well they’ll fit with our brand and whether we believe they have the soft skills necessary to thrive in our environment.
“This model was put in place at our very first gym, which opened in Hounslow back in 2007, and it’s now been rolled out across our entire portfolio.
“We’re very aware that we could generate an income by charging PTs a licence fee, but we’ve made a conscious decision not to do this. We believe that, by giving PTs ample access to members and providing the financial incentive of retaining 100 per cent of their earnings, they have a real opportunity to build a successful client base that will mean they remain loyal to our business.”