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Personal trainers admit lockdown has been a financial struggle

A new survey has revealed the extent to which personal trainers and fitness instructors have struggled to maintain their client base and income during lockdown.

In a survey of 981 PTs and fitness instructors, eight in 10 respondents said they have worked less during lockdown than previously, with three-quarters saying they are training fewer clients now than they did prior to the lockdown being imposed on 23rd March.

The figures also show that the average income of a personal trainer or fitness instructor has more than halved. For one in 10 respondents, the monthly drop has been over £3,000.

The research, from specialist sports insurance provider Insure4Sport, comes following industry criticism of a Government announcement that allowed businesses like pubs, restaurants and hairdressers to reopen from 4th July. Gyms and health clubs, meanwhile, are to remain closed.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, 45% of those surveyed said their gym hasn’t been in touch yet about a likely date for re-opening, leading many to call out for more clarity.

Naomi Scriven, a fitness trainer based in Ruislip, London, has seen a huge drop in her income during lockdown. Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, Naomi was teaching 50 classes a week in studios and client’s homes.

She said: “I knew my salary would take a hit because 70% of my income came from studio-based classes. I’ve moved as much of my business online as I can, but only a small proportion of my clients have felt comfortable with moving online. The main reason people use a personal trainer is motivation and I think loads of people have struggled for motivation during this period. It’s scared them and their financial priorities have subsequently changed. I’ve had clients who’ve either been furloughed or taken a big cut to their pay and my income has dried up as a result.

“I think people’s priorities have also changed in terms of their lifestyle. They’re cooped up indoors all day, so they want to go out and move, not stay in and move. That’s why outdoor fitness classes are growing so much in popularity and why I’ve started hosting more of my sessions in small groups outdoors.”

Despite this uncertainty, however, a key positive outcome from lockdown has been the speed at which personal trainers and fitness instructors have been able to adapt.

More than seven in 10 (74%) of those surveyed said that they have trained clients via online and live-streamed sessions, something that they hadn’t considered previously. Furthermore, 31% of respondents can see themselves moving more of their business online in future. One in four even said that lockdown has flipped their business model entirely, so they will now be offering more training online training than in-person.

The growth in popularity of outdoor training sessions is also clear – 44% of those surveyed said they will continue running sessions outdoors, even when restrictions are lifted. This is despite six in 10 personal trainers saying that they feel comfortable with returning to a gym within the next month.

John Woosey, Founder and Managing Director of Insure4Sport, said: “These findings will not be a surprise to the tens of thousands of fitness instructors and personal trainers across the UK – the majority of whom are self-employed and therefore in a more financially vulnerable position. The fitness industry as a whole is struggling, due in part to a lack of clear guidance from Government on when we can expect indoor gyms to reopen.

“What’s great to see, however, is the initiative being shown by personal trainers and fitness instructors in quickly switching up their business models. We’re witnessing a trend whereby online sessions and outdoor sessions are rapidly becoming the norm, so who’s to say these innovative methods of training can’t continue for the foreseeable future?”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Holly Thomas .