On Thursday, 19 November EuropeActive will host its annual International Standards Meeting (ISM), our main event for training providers, employers, practitioners and other key stakeholders in the fitness and wellness industry, which has become one of the most important vocational education events in Europe.
As a result of the consultation process with main stakeholders of the fitness and physical activity sector, EuropeActive outlined its overall priorities and corresponding work programme for 2020 – 2021. The strategy paper, first published in spring, defined how the association would deliver information and assistance for our sector to effectively operate through COVID-19, reopening, and help the sector adapt to the post-C19 scenario.
EuropeActive will launch the special e-learning package for operators and managers of fitness clubs to follow in September. The scheme is based on the new CEN European Standards for fitness facilities (EN17229 : 2019) The intention is for the new European standard to become the benchmark for all fitness clubs and for them to be used to improve business and confidence with members and users.
The Covid-19 Standards and Skills Task Force had its first meeting on 29 May. The purpose of the meeting was to review the EuropeActive Sector Qualifications Framework (SQF) in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. Attending the meeting were representatives from the EuropeActive Professional Standards Committee, prominent European employers, academic institutions, personal training practitioners and vocational training providers.
This is a time of great upheaval and change. The fitness and physical activity sector has been hit hard by measures imposed to combat the coronavirus outbreak. In most countries in Europe, all fitness clubs have been closed and fitness professionals find themselves out of work or attempting to transition, with enforced haste, to delivering services online. We are being forced to adapt and innovate like never before but while this may be an uncomfortable and financially challenging situation, it may also shed some light on future directions and opportunities.
