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Over half of the finalists in this year's New Zealand Exercise Industry Awards engage with on-job qualifications through Skills Active Aotearoa.

Skills Active is the industry training organisation for sport, recreation, exercise, outdoor recreation and performing arts. The organisation develops nationally-recognised on-job qualifications that provide passionate people with the opportunity to upskill within the workplace.

The Awards, which have been running since 2005, recognise excellence in New Zealand's exercise industry, and acknowledge those who positively impact the wellbeing of New Zealanders.

This year’s finalists include trainees, workplace partners and assessors engaged with Skills Active.

Skills Active Aotearoa Chief Executive Grant Davidson says the number of finalists with links to the organisation is a testament to the effectiveness of on-job training, and reinforces Skills Active as an industry leader.

Davidson explains “when developing qualifications, we work closely with the industry to determine its needs, which means those who engage with our on-job training gain highly-relevant skills and knowledge.”

The 20 award categories cover all corners of the industry, from Supreme Club of the Year, to Small Group Trainer of the Year.

All five finalists in the Chain / Group Facility of the Year category are workplaces that Skills Active engage with to provide on-job training.

Nikki Williams, a finalist in the Group Exercise Instructor of the Year - Own Choreography category, has completed Skills Active certificates in Personal Trainer Level 4 and is currently doing a Skills Active apprenticeship, with the aim of becoming a New Zealand assessor.

Williams (pictured above) says she cried when she found out she was a finalist, advising “for me, being self-employed, you don’t get performance reviews, people come back to your class, which is massive feedback, but to get it from the industry to say you’re doing a great job, and you’re doing it right, up to the standard we’re looking for - to get that pat on the back is massive for me.”

Throughout her 30-year career in the exercise industry, Williams has continuously studied to upskill, and currently works as a self-employed group exercise instructor, personal trainer, Pilates instructor, and life coach.

With a busy work schedule, plus having a family, Williams welcomes the flexible style of learning, and support system that Skills Active qualifications offer.

She added “there is enough space to (study) in my own time, but there is still the accountability I need to keep moving forward.”

Williams says the similarity between the finalists is that they are all self-motivated, concluding “we are go-getters in the industry. We use Skills Active because we can move ourselves forward, and Skills Active supports that.

“If anyone says ‘how do I get into the fitness industry?’ I always recommend Skills Active.”

The winner of each category will be announced at the annual Exercise Industry Awards Dinner, as part of the FITEX event, on 25th November in Auckland.

The Awards are managed by the Exercise Association of New Zealand (ExerciseNZ)

Click here to view the full list of finalists.

Click here for details on FiTEx in the Australasian Leisure Management industry Calendar.

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