Bury St Edmunds West Suffolk College teams up with town gym to launch personal trainer course

West Suffolk College has launched a new course aimed at finding the next generation of personal trainers - with a little help from a Bury St Edmunds gym.

The college has teamed up with Revolution Fitness Academy, based in Kempson Way, to help give students ‘industry ready skills’.

All students who join the two-year advanced level three programme will get the chance to be involved in weekly sessions with ‘real’ clients at the gym.

No money has exchanged hands in the deal, but the college says the expertise that learners will receive would total thousands of pounds if it was to buy this service commercially.

Anthony Harvey, head of sport at the college, said he was delighted to have secured the opportunity for students.

He said: “We want to create industry-relevant qualifications to help enhance our students’ knowledge and skills.

“Therefore, working with a company at the top of their game using facilities at one of the best gyms in the region is a brilliant way of launching this course.

“I cannot thank Revolution Fitness enough for the work and effort that they have put into this.”

Ben Scully, director of Revolution Fitness Academy, said: “Revolution Fitness and the college are kindred spirits.

“We have been planning this for over a year and our mission is to inspire the next generation of fitness coaches.

“We will be working with students, giving them experience and advice and they will also get to join in and support some of the sessions that we run.

“If any students impress, there may be jobs at the end of this. That would be the ideal outcome.”

The college has a history of working with local sports companies and is keen to work with other businesses in the region.

Anthony Harvey added: “We have previously teamed up with Gait and Motion and Premier Sports and both companies have taken on some of our former students. We are are always keen to work with new companies.

“We produce so many gems via our sports provision, and can work together to help create workforces of the future.”