The EU has announced its proposals for establishing a European Qualification Framework and a European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training.

Both are being hailed as posistive steps for the fitness industry in the UK and across Europe by EHFA and EREPS.

In particular the EQF will relate the qualifications systems of member states allowing employers, fitness professionals and institutions to compare them.

This underlying principle of comparable qualifcations is fundamental to the success of EREPS and will help to underline the skills needed for different occupations in the fitness industry.

EQF levels are to be incorporated onto all certificates issued by training providers, colleges and universities from 2010 allowing all new qualifications to bear a reference to the EQF. Fitness industry breakdown Research conducted by LeisureNet Solutions on behalf of the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) shows the following pattern of employment within the industry:

• Nearly 9,500 fitness professionals are employed by private sector chains (mulit-site operators)

• Just over 7,000 work for single site operators

• An estimated 1,382 work for centres directly run by local authorities while around 4,000 work for trust managed local authority centres and an additional 3,373 for sites run by management contractors.

• The armed forces employ 1211 PTs

• Around 14,000 fitness professionals work as self-employed or freelance instructors and trainers

• Colleges and Universities employ nearly 1,000 fitness professionals between them

• Corporate gyms account for 1,000 jobs as do charitable trusts like EMDP where many work as volunteers