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Set up your own Personal Training Business
Alison Hall BSc. (Hons). M.Sc.
Alison Hall is the managing director of the HFI Group. HFI offer world wide recognised Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer qualifications, recruitment services and consultancy to the fitness industry.
She had her introduction to the world of fitness and exercise at an early age by representing Great Britain in competitive swimming from the age of 15.
These disciplines of fitness and motivation were set to mould her and provided the foundations for a career. Following these sporting achievements Alison’s studies were to capitalise on what was leant. After graduating in with a BSc (Hons) in Sports Science she went onto work as a Fitness Consultant in 1987. She qualified as an ACSM Health/Fitness Instructor also in 1987. After working in London in the private health club sector as a Fitness Consultant and a freelance Personal Trainer and briefly in Sports Development, she continued her studies and based herself in New York for a year to study for a Masters Degree in Exercise Physiology and Clinical Exercise. While in New York she gained work experience in the private health club sector again, in a hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation programme and also in a large Corporate Wellness facility. While in the USA she qualified as an ACSM Exercise Test Technologist and Health / Fitness Director. In 1997 she returned to the USA to attain the ACSM Exercise Specialist Certification.
After successfully graduating with her graduate degree, she returned to London and set up a Corporate Health and Fitness business based in Kent. 1991 she also launched HFI Training by beginning to offer the ACSM Certification Programmes in the UK. HFI now offer ACSM training courses and exams and other specialist fitness consultant/trainer courses in London, Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool. The ACSM qualification is highly recognised in this country, withstanding the test of time. It is also recognized as the international standard world wide.
Throughout her career as a fitness consultant/trainer Alison has become aware of the importance of the exercise adherence part of health and fitness training and as a result become qualified counsellor. She holds a diploma in Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) Counselling and is a certified Motivational Interviewing Trainer. As a result HFI Training also offer a unique Motivational Interviewing Workshop for fitness consultant/trainers. These courses are increasing in popularity with the realisation from health club owners and trainers that the specific nature and quality of the interactions between member and fitness personnel is crucial to maximizing retention rates.
In 1998 HFI Recruitment was launched, offering a high quality recruitment service to Health Clubs looking for suitably qualified and skilled fitness personnel. HFI provide fitness consultant/trainers with the right character and a unique balance between exercise science and behaviour-change psychology. Our team of highly trained and experienced personnel now provide this specialized service to a wide range of clients within the private Health Club sector.
Today, the HFI Group offer the ACSM Certification Programme, Motivational Interviewing Training, First Aid Qualifications, Career Advice and Recruitment, Books and other Resources and Health Club member retention consultancy services. HFI also have built up a network of like-minded fitness consultant/trainers under the banner of HFI Community. This offers a free network to members of the community and a Personal Training Business Solutions service - No-Sweat Academy.
Since the launch of HFI, the fitness industry has changed dramatically. HFI continues to innovate with new courses being designed and scientific research into a variety of projects. The network of HFI contacts grows and the work the company carries out continues to provide a high standard of service and a valuable resource of skill.
Gilly Davies MA (Hons), Dip DM, ACSM HFI
Gillian Davies first got a taste for the fitness industry in 1990 when she trained as an aerobics instructor while studying for her undergraduate arts degree in Ontario, Canada.
Following this she returned to the UK to spend eight years pursuing a career in marketing whilst remaining active in a number of sports including Richmond Woman's Rugby. Her marketing experience spans direct marketing (managing and delivering direct mail campaigns) and online marketing (producing web sites and integrated online campaigns) for top financial companies including Fidelity Investments Ltd.
In 2000, she decided to concentrate on her fitness career working in and around London in the corporate health and fitness sector. She also returned to study gaining her ASCM Exercise Leader (EL) followed by ACSM Health and Fitness Instructor (HFI) certifications. She is also a qualified exercise to music instructor.
During this time she continued to deliver marketing projects on a freelance basis. She now lives in Central Scotland and specialises as a freelance health and fitness instructor, personal fitness trainer as well as delivering marketing projects for the health and fitness industry.
