AIM HIGHER INTERVIEW SERIES – EPISODE 6 – STUART HUGHES

As we come to the end of February a key month for Personal Trainers to introduce themselves to new gym members and members with renewed motivation to hit their fitness goals. Being present in the gym during January and February is the key to success for all Personal Trainers. This week Stuart Hughes from South Yorkshire shares his experiences over the last 3 years as a newly qualified trainer to a more established and experienced trainer. I hope this weeks episode with Stuart renews your motivation to start your new career or take on your next challenge.

Tell us about yourself; who you are, where you live, your personal training business.

I am a Level 3 Personal Trainer and semi-professional rugby player living in Gainsborough and working at The Gym Group Doncaster. I have been a personal trainer since October 2014 during which I have worked with a variety of people from professional athletes to high profile rehabilitation cases. In my PT business I always like to take on new challenges and work with people that have their own unique circumstances to get the best possible results.

How did you start out in the industry?

I was at university for 4 years, during which time I was very overweight and unfit. I lost just over 5 stone and loved the journey, so I wanted to help other people get that same success, so I got my qualifications and got my first PT job in 2014 working at DW Fitness Gainsborough, progressing onto freelance work in 2016 and finally setting up with The Gym Group towards the end of 2017.

What challenges have you faced during your career?

The main challenge you always face is the most basic one, getting your clients results. I’ve trained clients for a variety of goals, each with their own specific issues and considerations, but regardless of the situation you are being paid to assist your client to get the results you want. That is and always will be the biggest challenge.

How has your personal training career changed since you started?

My career has involved many different elements, from gym-based training, to freelance training, to working with sports teams, to working as a part of a rehabilitation team. I’ve also changed massively as a trainer, both in my knowledge of training and nutrition and in my approach to my clients. These developments have come mostly through my experiences with my clients and the people I work alongside.

What do you enjoy about the industry?

The best part of the industry is the fact that everyday is a new challenge, and that no two days are the same. You are constantly meeting new people from all different walks of life, always having fresh targets to work for. Driving to work knowing there will be new challenges and new gym members each with their own stories and motivations never gets old!

What’s the best advice you could give to our future students?

Never, ever settle. Always want more. You should always be looking at what you can do to progress your personal training business, both in providing a better service through learning new techniques and philosophies and in your own business progression. The moment you feel comfortable is the moment you start providing a poor service both to your clients and yourself.

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Thanks for the insight Stuart! Stuart in our opinion is a motivated trainer who is continually looking to improve his practice and his client base. Our industry continually changes and as professionals we must all keep up to date with the latest trends and ways of working. From Stuart’s episode you can see he clearly does this and aims to progress his client base every day. Making progress in the fitness industry is done every day with daily goals that are achievable.

Thanks for reading, If you have any questions about this weeks episode or our Personal Training Courses. Please feel free to get in touch.

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Paul Dunn

Founder & Tutor

#AimHigher with #PTskills