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Ricardo Walker

Internal Quality Assurer

Discovery Learning

Ricardo Walker started his career in the fitness industry 18 years ago, as a personal training, having previously worked in IT sales. He now works as a freelance personal trainer and internal quality assurer for Discovery Learning.

Tell us about your career

"I have worked in the fitness industry for the past 18 years. I started out as a freelance personal trainer, and delivered circuit training classes at the Queen Mother Sport Centre in London for five years. After gaining my teaching certificate and assessor award I worked as a freelance tutor and assessor for the Priory Sixth Form Sport College in Orpington, Kent, where I taught level 2 Gym and level 3 Personal Training. After a number of successful years working with clients and training companies. I joined Discovery Learning as a full time tutor, I was then promoted to the role of internal verifier, and I am now responsible for quality assurance for all of our tutors and assessors."

Why did you want to get into the industry?

"Fitness was, and has always been, my biggest passion. After working in corporate IT sales for 17 years I decided I wanted to do something I was truly passionate about, and so, at the age of 37, I became a personal trainer."

What is your favourite part of your job?

"As a tutor I love creating fun and interactive lessons that inspire and engage my students, having the opportunity to impact a student’s learning experience is what drives me. As a personal trainer I love working with and training my clients. It’s so much fun."

What career advice would you give to young people trying to break into the industry?

"You must have the ability to motivate yourself and others, as well as a keen interest in your own fitness and wellbeing. I would also advise people looking to get into personal training to have a solid understanding of the anatomy, the more you understand the body and how it works, the easier it is to spot potential problems."

Proud moments

"Seeing my learners qualify gives me the greatest sense of joy, no words can express the pride I feel when that happens."

I'm driven by the opportunity to impact a student's learning experience.

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