Fitness Industry Association expands Vanguard Group

Deloitte, Keiser UK Ltd and Precor have joined the Fitness Industry Association’s (FIA) Vanguard Group – the steering group which provides guidance on strategic industry issues, as well as on the industry's/FIA's lobbying programme.

In the past four years, the group has secured £3.4m education and training funding; encouraged more than 30 MPs and Peers to become FIA advocates and speakers; secured funding for Adopt a School and Active at Work from the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS); and secured continued NHS endorsement for Commit to Get Fit® from the Department of Health (DH).

It has also obtained support in Westminster for tax incentive submission for employer-gifted health club membership, and promoted FIA involvement in government consultations on public health strategy plans, including the 2006 Informing Healthier Choices consultation paper.

Adrian Balcombe, corporate finance partner at Deloitte, said: “We are delighted to have been appointed to the Vanguard membership and will be looking at how the industry can increase health club usage and improve retention.”

Vanguard membership is divided into three categories – Platinum, Gold and Silver.