The Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) has revealed initial findings from ground-breaking research carried out on its behalf by Leisure-net Solutions on the size of the UK fitness industry.

Commissioned in part to assess the penetration of REPs’ membership on the industry the research first looked at defining the parameters of the industry before calculation how many people work within it as exercise professionals.

For the purposes of the research, Leisure-net Solutions identified exercise professionals as those working either full-time or part-time and who would be eligible to join the Register.

It covered those professionals working in the following:

• Private health/fitness centre • Public health/fitness centres including charities such as the YMCA

• Higher and Further Education centres • Corporate / hotel

• Self employed /freelance group exercise instructors and personal trainers • Military personnel

In summary, the research showed that the fitness industry currently employs an estimated 46,199 individuals.

With membership of the Register topping 26, 257 members (based on 31 March 2008) this would suggest a penetration of around 57 per cent.

The survey was based on practicing exercise professionals and did not include other workers such as reception, operational services, marketing personnel, etc.

However taking into account other factors including:

• The numbers of professionals just entering or leaving the market at any one time to whom membership of REPs would probably not be relevant • The numbers of professionals that while arguably eligible for REPs would not consider joining as it would not be relevant to their own job role e.g. some of the military personnel

• The issue of double counting some professionals who work for multiple employers or themselves and employers gives a revised figure of 36,959 as the “likely total market” for REPs members giving it a penetration rate of 71 per cent.

Registrar Cliff Collins said: “This research is really the first of its kind to be done and we are grateful to all the team at Leisure-net Solutions for doing such a great job on it.

“It’s great to see that the Register has made such an impact in such a short amount of time and we hope to be able to use the rest of the research to ensure we meet the needs of the remaining 29 per cent of fitness professionals who we’re not currently reaching.”