About PT Skills
We help people passionate about fitness start their careers as personal trainers. Once qualified we nurture their talent and help develop their careers. We’re recognised as “outstanding” by the leading awarding body in the active leisure sector, Active IQ.
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Meet Kat, Kat is SMART, Kat is a Personal Trainer! This week we interview Kathryn Forshaw a self employed Personal Trainer from Lancashire. Kathryn had a bright future as professional footballer until injury struck forcing her to reconsider her options. Kathryn runs her Train Like a Girl Fitness business to her selected niche client groups. I hope you enjoy Kat’s interview.
Tell us about yourself; who you are, where you live, your personal training business
I’m Kat and I live in Burnley and work as a Self Employed Personal Trainer at Riverside Health Club in Rawtenstall, Lancashire. I run my Personal Training and Bootcamp Business – Train Like A Girl Fitness from this location.
How did you start out in the industry?
I have always been very active and have a passion for sport and fitness. I played football for Manchester City Ladies until becoming injured and then shifted to fitness rather than sport. I completed a BTEC in Sports Performance and Excellence at College then a degree in Sports Management. After university and working at a leisure centre I got a reception job at Riverside Health Club and completed my level 2 fitness instructing and level 3 personal training and started my role as a fitness instructor and personal trainer.
What challenges have you faced during your career?
I have faced challenges personally through illnesses which I had to work around hospital appointments etc, but also challenges with working for gyms and getting a fair split of personal training income, challenges with clients in particularly introducing a healthy diet and challenges becoming self employed, attracting new clients and moving location working from a small studio on a private property.
How has your personal training career changed since you started?
I initially worked at a gym mixing fitness instructing and PT, so I could easily pick up clients when doing inductions and programmes. Working on my own in a small studio was very different as I had limited equipment and attracting new clients was solely from reputation and marketing on Facebook. Now I am back at a gym and paying rent, which I prefer as I am around people all day as the private studio could be isolating. In terms of clients there has been a big shift into HIIT and female weight training and everybody now wants help with nutrition.
What do you enjoy about the industry?
I love meeting new people and making great friendships with clients. I love the fact that my work has a positive impact on people’s lives and it makes me so happy to see results and the healthy lifestyle changes clients make. Taking an overweight client on, helping them lose weight or improve their health and confidence, from Shy to Confident and from being scared of the gym to training 4 times a week. This positive impact on people’s lives is why I love my job.
What’s the best advice you could give to our future students?
Gradually build your client base and find a niche area to specialise in, I specialise in female fat loss. Social Media is useful for attracting new clients and keeping clients motivated. Offer nutritional support and advice, this is crucial to results and try and get before and after photos of clients as these really help attracting new clients. Complement your clients regularly and make them feel good with positive affirmations encouraging progression at all times reminding them of how far they have come. Make sure gym members know; who you are, introduce yourself, offer small tips for their training, train clients in a visible location, make sure your t-shirt says personal trainer on it, and, finally just have a friendly, bubbly and approachable personality.
Thank you Kat, you’re SMART! Kat has found her niche in fitness and as someone; who is bubbly, caring, passionate, and friendly there is no wonder she is doing such a good job at her business. You can be as smart as Kat, follow Kat on Facebook to see how Kat has grown her brand and how she attracts new clients.
Next week we meet Kyle Green, a Leeds based Personal Trainer who will share his story and how he is working as a trainer in one of the busiest city’s outside London. For more information on our Personal Training courses please visit our website. If you found this article helpful please let us know, you can always get in touch or link with us on Facebook.
Paul Dunn
Founder & Tutor
#AimHigher with #PTSkills
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