GRADUATE TALENT HELPS PUSH TRAINING FIRM TO THE LIMITS
A leading training firm is helping put the Liverpool City Region on the map as a centre for excellence in the fitness industry…
A leading training firm is helping put the Liverpool City Region on the map as a centre for excellence in the fitness industry.
“One of the crowning glories of running OriGym has been the incredible talent I have witnessed come through the doors and helped to nurture.“
Qualified personal fitness instructor Luke Hughes founded OriGym nine years ago. The company has grown rapidly, and today, it sets the UK benchmark for training fitness professionals. OriGym makes the most of its Liverpool location and taps into the rich range of graduate talent delivered by the four universities in the region.
Skills power base
In 2023, Liverpool was voted number one in The Best Student City League Table. Many of those completing a degree at one of our local universities chose to remain in the city because of the enviable quality of life and opportunities. With four universities and up to 70,000 students living in our region, there is a steady flow of enthusiastic graduates.
Luke taps into this talent, offering many graduates their first job. He told us:
“One of the crowning glories of running OriGym has been the incredible talent I have witnessed come through the doors and helped to nurture. I get a buzz from offering somebody their first professional job. I was a graduate once, so I know what a challenge it is to get a career start. I look for people who are ambitious, intelligent and adaptable. We employ from diverse backgrounds and many different courses of study.
“In our recruitment process, we ask for a 2:1 degree or above. These candidates are the type of people we welcome to our team – determined and intelligent completer-finishers. Over the years, previous employees have gone on to qualify as personal trainers themselves or pursued other exciting careers. As a management team, we take pride in hiring people with potential.
“We almost always promote from within and invest heavily in staff training. Prioritising the wellbeing of our staff is another mark of our success.”
Today, Luke heads up a team of 60 professionals. Their roles span marketing, branding, videography, content, a tutoring team, sales and post-sales support.
The OriGym online platform is a fully interactive e-learning solution with videos, e-books, quizzes, and an integrated booking system. It is backed by live tutor support, which can be accessed seven days a week. Artificial intelligence is harnessed to make training videos as realistic as possible.
Excellence as a leader
Up to 700 people enrol on OriGym‘s training courses in an average month. This represents massive growth from the twenty or so students who signed up each month when OriGym first launched.
“In reality, my business operations could be based anywhere. But Liverpool is where we started and intend to stay.“
Most of the training takes place online, with the course content team, tutors and customer support teams ensuring the user experience is second to none. Luke adds:
“OriGym clients are investing significant money and time to train for a new profession or to up-skill so they have higher earning potential.
“We have over 3,000 Trust Pilot reviews, an average of 4.9 out of five, and an excellent online reputation. The team’s dedication, expertise, and enthusiasm have secured our position as a leader in the field. Our clients are looked after by graduates and qualified PTs, which is a unique selling point for us.
“In reality, my business operations could be based anywhere. But Liverpool is where we started and intend to stay. Graduate talent on tap from local universities is one of the things that helps us provide a service to OriGym’s clients that is second to none.”
In addition to training the next generation of personal trainers, OriGym provides courses and qualifications in yoga, massage and sports nutrition. Business modules offer guidance to self-employed fitness professionals.
Alongside e-learning, the firm provides full-time in-person courses based in Liverpool and has fourteen assessment centres across the UK for trainees to take practical tests.
Student success
OriGym clients have included Jessica Lee, Olympic Track Cyclist, and former British & Irish Lions Rugby Player Dafydd James. Previous student Sue Evans, who qualified as a PT, says:
“I researched many fitness courses but kept coming back to OriGym. The course itself was amazing! The staff and teachers were fantastic; I felt they cared about me and my progress, going above and beyond what I had ever expected from them.”
Once qualified, OriGym students get help from the post-course support team. They provide expertise in writing and distributing CVs, interview preparation, and guaranteed interviews for everyone completing their course.
Find out more about OriGym and careers in fitness [https://www.origym.co.uk/].
