Tag Archives: fitness

News

Welsh sports stars, helpline and fitness app unite for World Mental Health Day

A SUPPORT helpline and pioneering Wales-based fitness app have joined forces to promote mental health awareness.

Fitap provides a platform for communities in Wales to get moving; supporting people in their health and wellbeing journey involves their mental health, and signposting services in their geographical area, as well as encouraging people to exercise, eat healthily and keep active will aid their mental and physical welfare.

Alongside CALL Mental Health Helpline for Wales – and to mark World Mental Health Day today (October 10) – they have united to shine a light on an issue which is more prevalent than ever given the post-pandemic economic and social climate.

Fitap founder Alex Cuthbert – who launched the app with Wales rugby union teammate Gareth Anscombe and Welsh CEO and entrepreneur Dean Jones – is proud to be in association with CALL.

He said: “From a sporting perspective, given the demands of the game and the abuse and negativity you can experience on social media and online, it is so important to look after your mental health.

“Having experienced that myself and seen friends and other players impacted, it was a big part of the reason we wanted to do all we could to get behind CALL and promote the value of exercise, social interaction, and nutrition, especially given the amount of time people spent in self-isolation and lockdown.

“Knowing someone is there for you is important, and for those who do not have friends or family to talk to, being able to pick up the phone and speak to the amazing team at CALL is a lifeline.”

Dean added: “We are delighted to be in partnership with CALL and through Fitap can help display and demonstrate the wide range of services available for those who need them most, whether it’s a support group, a phone number or website, there are people who can help at the touch of a button.

“It’s crucial that we get people talking and remove any stigmas around mental health, because it affects so many people, especially at the current time. By putting all this information in one central, accessible place Fitap can help people with that.”

Statistics from MentalHealth-UK.org website revealed people who take part in regular physical activity have up to a 30% lower risk of depression, so the pairing of the app and charity are a perfect match.

CALL Manager Luke Ogden reinforced Dean’s words and thanked Fitap – which unveiled double Olympic gold medallist Jade Jones as a brand ambassador in past weeks – for making mental health services a priority.

“We are pleased to be working with Fitap to promote good mental and physical health to the people of Wales,” he said.

“Mental and physical wellbeing are both closely related and can have an effect on each other, and we feel it is essential that everyone has the tools to learn how they can look after themselves.”

Luke added: “CALL Helpline is an all-Wales mental health helpline, free to use for anyone living in Wales.

“We give emotional support and provide a listening ear for anyone wanting to discuss their mental health concerns and can also signpost users to services across the country.

“Like Fitap, we are always available and are able to support the people of Wales both in Welsh and English – 24/7.”

For more information on Fitap, follow @fitapofficial on social media. 

Text 81066 or call freephone 0800 132 737 for more on CALL Mental Health Helpline for Wales. Alternatively, visit www.callhelpline.org.uk.

Visit the World Health Organisation website for news and information on World Mental Health Day: www.who.int/campaigns/world-mental-health-day

News

Double Olympic champion joins fitness app to get Wales moving in obesity crisis

DOUBLE Olympic gold medallist Jade Jones has partnered with a revolutionary fitness app with the goal of getting people moving in Wales.

Jade, from Flint, has joined Wales-based Fitap as a brand ambassador, along with founders Welsh Rugby Union stars Alex Cuthbert and Gareth Anscombe.

A former world and European champion in the rising sport of Taekwondo, the 29 year-old ‘Headhunter’ was also champion at the London and Rio Olympics.

She hopes to inspire more females into exercise and healthy living, which will contribute to conquering Wales’ obesity crisis.

As Fitap – which launches before the end of the year – is offering free advertising space to industry professionals until January 2023, Jade says the time is now for businesses to take advantage of the offering and support in our bid to get Welsh people moving.

“Being a role model to young women and anyone who wants to improve their body and mind is very important to me, so I’m delighted to join the Fitap family,” she said.

“There is nothing like this in the country, a unique platform connecting users with multiple sports, activities, and community groups, whatever your age, ability, or background.

“Sport is for everyone, and that’s one of the main reasons I’m so passionate about Fitap and the potential it has to transform the way we access local services, getting people moving and bringing them together, especially post-pandemic.”

Jade added: “I look forward to seeing how the app develops over the coming months and playing my part in spreading the word – it’s an honour to be a part of it.”

Founded by Wales rugby union internationals Alex Cuthbert and Gareth Anscombe, in partnership with Welsh CEO and entrepreneur Dean Jones, the app, website and search engine will save users time and money, delivering options they may never have come across before based on their specific requirements, geographical location, budget, and availability.

‘’Fitap is an affordable and accessible platform that gives independent gyms, health groups, individual exercise instructors as well as free-to-access community groups a platform to showcase their services and facilities and create awareness in the community,’’ said Dean.

“Having Jade on board – a respected, successful athlete who truly cares about improving health and fitness in communities across Wales – is a huge coup for us and we are absolutely delighted she will now be a part of our journey.

“Fitap is a game changer for the sector, which has been reflected in the money we have raised and feedback from businesses, sports stars, and people in this arena.

“We are filling a void and helping to build a more active, engaged population here in Wales and further afield, as well as raising the app’s profile and promoting and sharing key issues and information on mental health and other vital subjects.

“Jade will play a major role in that; we are thrilled she is part of the team and encourage people to get in touch and be a part of it.”

For more information on Fitap, visit www.fitap.co.uk and follow @fitapofficial on social media. 

News

Rugby stars aim to convert gym goers to innovative new health and fitness app

TWO high profile Welsh rugby players and an entrepreneur have completed a successful round of investment to support the relaunch of a fitness app that will revolutionise the way people access exercise and leisure services in Wales.

Fitap is an innovative search platform connecting gym owners, personal trainers, sports clubs and health and fitness providers with consumers at the touch of a button.

Founded by Wales rugby union internationals Alex Cuthbert and Gareth Anscombe, in partnership with Welsh CEO and entrepreneur Dean Jones, the app is unique and will enable users to search for services in their area, saving time and money and delivering options they may never have come across before.

Those who download Fitap – which is offering free advertising space to fitness professionals until January 2023 – can set up a profile and identify choices tailored to their specific requirements, geographical location, budget, and availability.

“For those providing fitness services, especially independent gyms and personal training facilities, the costs of marketing and advertising is high, and difficult to measure the return on investment. Fitap is an affordable, measurable, and accessible alternative,” said Dean.

“We are excited to share more with people in the coming months as this is a game-changer for the industry and are thankful to those who have supported us on this journey since our soft launch in 2020, notably the well-known businesses and sporting stars who got behind our successful fundraise recently, raising over £200,000.”

Alex and Gareth – key members of the Ospreys and Wales rugby union sides – echoed those comments and believe Fitap will help build a more active and engaged population in Wales.

“At present there is no one-specific place for people to explore their health and fitness options, so the app will fill that void,” said Alex.

“Everybody is different and that includes where they are on their health and exercise journey, so this will give them an easy-to-use alternative to scouring the internet in the hope of finding something suitable.

“We are passionate about helping others to be fit, happy and healthy, so it’s brilliant to be able to relaunch Fitap to the market.”

Gareth added: “As well as physical health the mental health of consumers is hugely important to us – particularly in light of the Covid-19 pandemic and self-isolation – so we have a free section where organisations can promote and share their mental health awareness information and activities.

“The app will support users with a bespoke end-to-end experience and give fitness providers a platform to connect directly with them, so they can advertise discounts and offers, and help bring the health and fitness arena to a modern, tech-savvy audience.

“Fitness classes offered vary from gym classes and tennis lessons to white water rafting and kids summer rugby camps, both online and offline – the range is vast and inclusive.

“We are all heartened by the feedback we’ve received so far as this is exactly what the industry has been waiting for, so watch this space!”

For more information on Fitap, visit www.fitap.co.uk and follow @fitapofficial on social media. 

Health, News

PAM Health shapes up for expansion

A raft of new recruits and a six-figure IT investment are helping PAM Health to shape up for major expansion this year.

PAM Health is the specialist muscular skeletal retail division of preventative healthcare specialist PAM Group and is based on the Sefton Business Park at Aintree, Merseyside.

It sells exercise, fitness, sports, ergonomic, physiotherapy and rehabilitation equipment to consumers as well as to businesses, professional practitioners and sports clubs.

The division comprises 66Fit and Physio Supplies, which were both acquired from Whiteley Healthcare, a provider of physiotherapy and healthcare products based in Australia and New Zealand.

66Fit is a consumer focused retailer of exercise, fitness and rehabilitation equipment such as mats, weights, balls, aerobic steps, swimming aids, massage therapy and balance training products, supports and braces

Physio Supplies is a specialist provider of sports, physiotherapy and rehabilitation equipment. It supplies professionals such as physiotherapists, healthcare providers and sports clubs with products including orthotics, tapes, bandages, supports, grips, cushions, rolls, pillows and practice essentials such as couches and furniture.

PAM Health, which achieved revenues of £2m in 2021, is aiming to treble in size this year under the leadership of managing director James Langton.

James, who took up his newly-created role in October, has over 15 years’ management experience and an extensive track record of building and developing successful teams, with a focus on the e-commerce and digital sectors.

He has now recruited David Renaud as sales director and Helen Mavrozumi as head of marketing, along with Connor Chapman as a digital marketing executive, Owen Robinson and Aimee Pye as digital marketing apprentices, warehouse operative Mitch Cottle, purchasing executive Megan Hendra and warehouse manager Tony Newsome.

Staff numbers have risen to 16 and further recruitment is planned.

The business, which has invested £130,000 on IT systems in its 30,000 sq ft warehouse, is seeking to achieve its expansion plans through organic growth and potentially acquisitions.

Demand for its range of equipment is increasing as people work from home and develop more neurodiversity needs.

James said: “We have ambitious plans to grow our market share and to do this we need to have the right infrastructure and expertise in place.

“David has extensive senior sales and management experience and Helen is an experienced marketing manager in the SME and start-up sectors. They will prove invaluable additions as we scale up PAM Health.

“Alongside them, we are proud to be providing opportunities for talented local young graduates and apprentices in our marketing, warehousing, customer service and sales operations.

“We have a positive, forward-thinking environment where all of our brands and staff can grow, and we look forward to the future with confidence.”

PAM Group, which has its headquarters in Warrington and employs nearly 700 staff, is one of the largest occupational health, employee assistance programme and wellbeing providers in the UK. It offers a range of integrated services to public and private sector clients, supporting more than 600,000 employees at over 1,000 businesses and organisations.

PAM Group’s services include absence management, physiotherapy, employee assistance programmes, psychological support, corporate health assessments and neurodiversity assessments, drug and alcohol screening.

The group is looking to double turnover to £80m over the next few years through continued organic growth and acquisitions. Last year the company received backing from private equity firm LDC to support its growth and the launch of new products and services.

News

Keysource wins Garmin UK Contract

Global data centre and critical environment specialist, Keysource, has secured another significant contract with Garmin UK. The global provider of automotive, fitness, outdoor, marine and aviation technologies, is the latest market leader to partner with Keysource for critical services and maintenance at their UK headquarters.

The Keysource team will oversee full maintenance and provide holistic support at the Southampton facility, marking another major contract win.
Head of Global Accounts, Chris West, said: “Gaining the trust of a market leader like Garmin is testament to where we are at as data centre and critical environment specialists. We will deliver planned preventative maintenance to the critical infrastructure and provide emergency support services when needed. Our approach is a consistent one, so from the lead engineer, service delivery manager and operations, Garmin will have peace of mind that the risk of human error is minimised, which will in turn reduce the chances of unplanned ‘down time’. We’re very excited to deliver a first class service to Garmin that reflects their commitment to their own well respected and established customer experience.”

The 12 month contract will also see Keysource remotely monitor systems and embed automated services to provide early warnings in the scenario of any unexpected changes. The contract win comes just a month after Keysource was announced as a project lead on numerous micro Modular Data Centres (MDCs) for a multinational automotive company in the roll-out of its connected vehicle technology. The contract with Garmin commenced on January 1st2021.

Health, News

Jacqd Delivers Performance Enhancing Fitness Expertise in 2021

Fitness has become a major talking point during the year of 2020, with many Britons more aware than ever about the importance of body confidence and caring for our bodies. With COVID-19 forcing us to look closer at our bodies and lifestyles than ever before, the topic of health and fitness has become a common talking point. For those serious about getting into physical shape, new UK start-up Jacqd provides a new place to find out about fitness and get into the best physical condition.

Jacqd is the brainchild of Carl Derving, a sufferer of Type 2 Diabetes who was considered clinically obese. After many months of hard work and effort, Carl overcame his HbA1c diagnosis and was able to stay below the threshold. The tips, tricks, and dietary changes made to allow those changes to take place are part of the foundation of Jacqd.

The story is simple: Jacqd is built on the principles that founder Carl says took him from “fit to fat”, transforming his life. Unlike other fitness programs that area tailored to those who are already on the path to physical empowerment, though, Jacqd focuses on offering those who have been overweight or obese a starting point. By helping people to understand how to change their bodies and become more physically fit over time, Jacqd aims to deliver a solution that speaks sense to those who need help and need it today.

Built upon the dual concept of quality sports equipment and sound fitness advice, Jacqd looks to provide people with the core foundation they need to start making progressive physical changes for their long-term benefit.

The brand represents the ‘normal’ person who simply wants to become physically healthier and stay in a better long-term physical shape. The brand represents the average person on the street who has ambitions about living and looking better but isn’t sure where to start. Founder and CEO Carl Derving said of this: “I’ve been in the shoes of those who are overweight, having been diagnosed as a Type II Diabetic myself. I created this system as an answer to the worries about long-term health that I feared for myself, and now want to try and help others learn and educate themselves on the immense power that comes from physical change.”

Jacqd is currently seeking investors for those who wish to enter the gym market and capture an exciting opportunity that offers a new perspective on a proven topic of interest. Instead of focusing on people who are already approaching a place of physical perfection, Jacqd focuses instead on the masses of people who are not in the shape they wish to be but want to make a positive change.

The business is interested in investors who might wish to help propel the idea further into the stratosphere. Designed from the ground-up based on theories and practices which made a genuine difference, Jacqd looks to promote a healthy way of positive, progressive change for those who are in the physical condition intended.

Health, Logistics, News

JTX Fitness chooses ArrowXL to support customer service commitment

JTX Fitness, the home gym equipment specialists, has chosen leading 2-person delivery company ArrowXL, to handle the delivery of its entire product range to households across the UK. It follows an 8-fold increase in orders since the start of the pandemic as people continue to turn to home fitness with many gyms remaining shut.

ArrowXL will receive in bound stock directly from Felixstowe and provide warehousing at its new site in Enfield before delivering items such as cross trainers, treadmills, rowers and exercise bikes each. Depending on local lockdown rules all items will be taken to the customers’ room of choice for added convenience.

JTX customers will be able to choose when they want the item delivered using ArrowXL’s diary booking system and nominated day service, so customers can select their preferred delivery date. All items will be fully tracked and regular communication from the ArrowXL customer team provided about the progress of the delivery.

Lloyd Martin, MD at JTX Fitness, said: “We set up JTX Fitness in 2009 with a very simple aim; to help our customers reach their fitness goals, conveniently, safely and with the best customer service in the industry and our choice of delivery partner is key to this. ArrowXL will help us to onboard larger volumes of product to meet increasing demand and get them to our customers quickly and safely.”

Craig Kavanagh, Sales Director at ArrowXL, said: “JTX products are in high demand and as their volumes continue to increase, they have identified the need for a delivery partner that understands and shares their customer service ethos.”

Contract Wins, Logistics, News

Jll Fitness Upgrades Delivery Services To Support Unprecedented Demand

JLL Fitness LTD, the Birmingham based supplier of quality fitness equipment, has changed its delivery partner in a move designed to support an improved service for its customers. The company, which has seen the number of orders quadruple during lockdown, has chosen two-person delivery specialist ArrowXL to provide a nationwide service, responsible for around 500 items each week.

Under the terms of the deal, ArrowXL will deliver a full range of large fitness equipment such as running machines, rowers and exercise bikes to businesses and homes, with items fully tracked and regular communication from the ArrowXL customer team provided about the progress of the delivery. Customers will be able to benefit from 48-hour delivery, six days a week with the ability to choose convenient delivery slots.

Luke Pollard, Assistant Manager at JLL Fitness Ltd, said: “ At JLL we combine excellent products with outstanding service and it is this formula that gives us the confidence to know that millions of our customers all around the world are enjoying our fitness products and improving their health and fitness. As a result, our choice of delivery partner is vital and ArrowXL have the right skills, processes and expertise to support this.”

Craig Kavanagh, Sales Director at ArrowXL, said: “Increasingly, quality led companies such as JLL Fitness are looking for a delivery partner that can support the high levels of customer service that are needed to support their business ethos. Convenience, communication and visibility are the bedrock of our services along with a true understanding of our customers’ requirements.”

News

Virgin Sport announces the Corporate Challenge Series 2020

‘87% of employees say wellbeing programs positively impact company culture’

Workplace wellbeing is top of the agenda at Virgin Sport, who agree that an active lifestyle leads to better performance at work. The renowned race organisers are now unveiling three irresistible running challenges with a premium race offering designed to get work colleagues moving together, with plenty of fun along the way!

A recent study by Virgin Pulse, a leading digital corporate wellbeing provider and official partner of Virgin Sport’s Corporate Team Challenge series, found that participation in their workplace wellbeing programme had a significant impact:

  • 54% of Virgin Pulse members reported feeling more productive and concentrating better after participating
  • 68% of Virgin Pulse members reported a decrease in stress levels after participating
  • 62% of clients surveyed observed improvements in engagement and employee morale

Jessica Frey, CEO, Virgin Sport, said:

“Making movement fun for everyone is Virgin Sport’s mission and work hard, play hard is our way of life. The Corporate Team Challenge series provides us with an exciting opportunity to put our workplace wellbeing commitments front and centre, where it belongs!”

The 2020 Corporate Team Challenge series includes three fantastic experiences, each with a unique personality; Hackney Half marathon, ASICS London 10K, and Oxford Half marathon.

Corporate Team Challenge participants get access to free training sessions and special hospitality with private loos on race day. Bespoke packages include catering, private marquees, health assessments and access to online educational resources. There will be an exclusive medal ceremony at CNBC’s central London Studio to celebrate the fastest and most spirited teams.

The Corporate Team Challenge series is for all businesses – large and small – to rally their employees and start a shared running journey with Virgin Sport.

TICKET INFORMATION:

Tickets are on sale now.

Hackney Half – £70 + VAT per person
ASICS London 10K – £60 + VAT per person
Oxford Half – £60 + VAT per person

Four person minimum applies.

In addition to Corporate Team Challenge perks, runners receive a medal, free race photos, technical finisher’s tee, and swag bag.

Captains have access to an easy-to-use dashboard to view and manage their team’s entries, and you can invite and swap runners up until a week before each event.

Private space and bespoke packages can be arranged for an additional fee.
Email teams@virginsport.com for more information.

Event information: virginsport.com/teams

Instagram: @virginsport
Twitter: @Virgin_Sport
Facebook: @virginsport