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Drayson celebrates rise from school drop-out to UK fitness industry's Outstanding Individual of 2017
13 Dec 2017 . BY Deven Pamben
Danny Drayson was named Outstanding Individual of the Year at the Active Training Awards 2017 / ukactive
I'm living proof you can start with nothing and get to a good place
– Danny Drayson, senior fitness coach, Life Leisure
Danny Drayson has been on a journey from school drop-out to fitness and young person development ambassador at Life Leisure – and has now landed Active Training Awards' Outstanding Individual of the Year title along the way.

The father-of-two, who collected his award earlier this month, joined Life Leisure’s Motivator Scheme in 2011, initially working as a volunteer before qualifying to receive certified training in fitness instruction.

Having climbed the ladder to his current post as senior fitness coach at Life Leisure Grand Central in Stockport, Greater Manchester, Drayson is set to start his new ambassadorial role for the organisation in January, where he will be responsible for developing young people entering the sector.

Speaking to Leisure Opportunities on his award, Drayson said: “It was the biggest shock – I didn't think I was going to win. This type of thing doesn't happen to people like me, it was surreal.

“Life Leisure has never been judgemental but at school it was different – I was judged and people still might be getting judged. I'm living proof you can start with nothing and get to a good place.”

The operator, which runs 12 leisure and sports centres, also won Medium Employer of the Year at the awards, held at Reading Hilton in Berkshire.

Life Leisure chief executive Malcolm McPhail said: “This has to be one of my proudest moments: to see Danny win a national individual award and be recognised by his peers is absolutely amazing.”

More than 250 thought-leaders from the physical activity sector attended ukactive's Active Training Awards this month to celebrate successful workforce development throughout the industry.

For a second year running, Future Fit Training won Training Provider of the Year. Managing director Rob Johnson told Leisure Opportunities: “I'm absolutely delighted – we've consistently tried to drive up standards and we've proven you can deliver high-quality training over a long period of time.

"We're producing personal trainers, pilates teachers and nutrition advisors who can forge a career in the industry. We're giving people the right tools to do the job.”

Elsewhere, Active Tameside won the Outstanding Achievement award for overcoming significant organisational challenges through effective strategy, staff development and leadership.

Charitable social enterprise GLL scooped the Apprenticeship Provider of the Year gong. GLL’s apprenticeship scheme develops people at its Better leisure centres and GLL College – with 92 per cent of apprentices remaining in permanent employment at the organisation.

1610, which employs 450 people at 19 leisure centres in the South West, won the Transformational Leadership award after restructuring to meet challenges of reduced public funding and the impact of the increased national living wage.

Other winners included: York Sport (Small Employer of the Year); Virgin Active (Large Employer of the Year); Premier Global NASM (Best Innovation); CanRehab (Specialist Training Programme of the Year); and Oomph! Wellness (Outstanding Achievement).




Life Leisure was one of 10 companies that picked up awards as the fitness sector celebrated workplace development / Credit: ukactive
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Jobs    News   Products   Magazine
PRODUCT NEWS
Drayson celebrates rise from school drop-out to UK fitness industry's Outstanding Individual of 2017
13 Dec 2017 . BY Deven Pamben
Danny Drayson was named Outstanding Individual of the Year at the Active Training Awards 2017 / ukactive
I'm living proof you can start with nothing and get to a good place
– Danny Drayson, senior fitness coach, Life Leisure
Danny Drayson has been on a journey from school drop-out to fitness and young person development ambassador at Life Leisure – and has now landed Active Training Awards' Outstanding Individual of the Year title along the way.

The father-of-two, who collected his award earlier this month, joined Life Leisure’s Motivator Scheme in 2011, initially working as a volunteer before qualifying to receive certified training in fitness instruction.

Having climbed the ladder to his current post as senior fitness coach at Life Leisure Grand Central in Stockport, Greater Manchester, Drayson is set to start his new ambassadorial role for the organisation in January, where he will be responsible for developing young people entering the sector.

Speaking to Leisure Opportunities on his award, Drayson said: “It was the biggest shock – I didn't think I was going to win. This type of thing doesn't happen to people like me, it was surreal.

“Life Leisure has never been judgemental but at school it was different – I was judged and people still might be getting judged. I'm living proof you can start with nothing and get to a good place.”

The operator, which runs 12 leisure and sports centres, also won Medium Employer of the Year at the awards, held at Reading Hilton in Berkshire.

Life Leisure chief executive Malcolm McPhail said: “This has to be one of my proudest moments: to see Danny win a national individual award and be recognised by his peers is absolutely amazing.”

More than 250 thought-leaders from the physical activity sector attended ukactive's Active Training Awards this month to celebrate successful workforce development throughout the industry.

For a second year running, Future Fit Training won Training Provider of the Year. Managing director Rob Johnson told Leisure Opportunities: “I'm absolutely delighted – we've consistently tried to drive up standards and we've proven you can deliver high-quality training over a long period of time.

"We're producing personal trainers, pilates teachers and nutrition advisors who can forge a career in the industry. We're giving people the right tools to do the job.”

Elsewhere, Active Tameside won the Outstanding Achievement award for overcoming significant organisational challenges through effective strategy, staff development and leadership.

Charitable social enterprise GLL scooped the Apprenticeship Provider of the Year gong. GLL’s apprenticeship scheme develops people at its Better leisure centres and GLL College – with 92 per cent of apprentices remaining in permanent employment at the organisation.

1610, which employs 450 people at 19 leisure centres in the South West, won the Transformational Leadership award after restructuring to meet challenges of reduced public funding and the impact of the increased national living wage.

Other winners included: York Sport (Small Employer of the Year); Virgin Active (Large Employer of the Year); Premier Global NASM (Best Innovation); CanRehab (Specialist Training Programme of the Year); and Oomph! Wellness (Outstanding Achievement).




Life Leisure was one of 10 companies that picked up awards as the fitness sector celebrated workplace development / Credit: ukactive
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Keiser has released a new line of resistance equipment designed to give real-time feedback and data analytics.
MyEquilibria combines art and outdoor exercise
"We summarise what we do in two words – functional art," says Gian Luca Innocenzi, CEO and founder of MyEquilibria, which specialises in high-end outdoor exercise equipment.
Slacklining will transform fitness in the UK
Gibbon Slacklines has officially launched in the UK, introducing two flagship products: the Giboard and the SlackRack.
Form’s in-goggle coaching will help swimmers hone technique
Form has announced the launch of HeadCoach, in-goggle, real-time coaching for swimmers delivered via augmented reality (AR) display.
Egym’s Open Mode extends access to its strength equipment
Egym has introduced Open Mode on its Smart Strength machines, enabling them to be used as a replacement for traditional weights on the fitness floor, rather than solely as circuit-based machines.
Myzone’s heart rate training ecosystem now available through Apple and Android smartwatches
Myzone has announced the launch of MZ-Open, an access function that enables Myzone gym users to experience all the benefits of Myzone’s world-renowned heart rate training biome through their pre-owned Apple or Android smartwatch.
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