Meet 3 of our fit20 Exeter trainers

There are many sports graduates in fitness today but it’s unusual to have so many Masters degrees in one fitness studio! Of course, one doesn’t have to be a graduate to become a fit20 personal trainer. The franchise has its own stringent training through the fit20 Academy which ensures all our personnel deliver the highest level of fitness. Even so, the leadership of fit20 in Exeter seems to have an additional passion for learning!

“I love the fit20 Exeter trainers,” said Chris who trains with us each Wednesday. “And I’m impressed that three of them have an academic background.”

“We never really thought about this,” says Duncan, “so it was quite interesting when Chris made this observation. Perhaps this is because we’re so analytical in the way we approach everything at fit20, from our recruitment to our training.

“We aren’t a traditional bootcamp with PT sessions that stretch people beyond their ability. What we do is measured, helping our clients increase in strength in weekly intervals.

“The training is calm, gradual, encouraging, motivational and scientific. Our focus is on quality, not about lifting heavier weights, doing more reps or anything else. We follow a precise, methodology based on scientific principles that delivers extraordinary results.”

Duncan also points out that every fit20 trainer must attend the fit20 Academy to gain accreditation. This applies no matter what their academic qualifications are. Every fit20 owner, manager or personal trainer has to qualify to order to work in one of the group’s studios across the UK.

“fit20 provides very stringent and comprehensive instruction,” he says. “The fit20 Academy is largely delivered online, however there is much hands-on experience required and several tests have to be passed. Many of the elements can only be achieved in the studio. Practice training sessions are recorded on video and submitted to head office to be assessed.”

The qualification process can take several weeks, depending on a trainer’s understanding of anatomy and physiology which is a key component of fit20 training. This is where a Bachelor’s degree in sports science could be helpful, but it is not essential. Completing the Academy will just take longer.

While our training is beneficial to people of all walks of life, as sports graduates we also fully see the potential of fit20 for sportspeople.

“The pathway to becoming a certified fit20 personal trainer isn’t easy but it is incredibly rewarding,” says Duncan “I personally think the standard of our fit20 Exeter trainers is particularly high. I don’t allow anyone to train clients until they have trained me or members of my family as ‘guinea pigs’!

“Currently our fit20 Exeter trainers are male, as Emma is no longer with us. We are looking to recruit new people and it would be great to have a female trainer as some of our many woman clients may prefer training with another woman. However, for me, it's about ensuring we have the highest calibre of people working for us. I don't care about gender, ethnicity or academic achievements. I just want excellent trainers.”