Everything You Need To Know About Staffing Your Gym

Hiring the right people is important in any business, but it can make or break a gym. Ensuring you have the right people on hand to make your members feel comfortable, welcome and motivated will set you up for success. 

At FitKit UK, we have a wealth of knowledge and experience providing gyms across the UK with the finest gym equipment available, so it is fair to say that we know how a gym should operate. 

This blog will discuss everything related to gym staff, including the different roles your business will need and the qualities to look for when hiring staff.

Content

• General Manager 
• Assistant Manager
• Gym Receptionist
• Personal Trainer / Group Instructor
• Gym Floor Attendant
• Gym Membership Consultant
• Training for gym staff

Gym staff roles

A gym has many moving parts and needs a full workforce to operate smoothly. This list will show you all the potential roles you would need to hire for when starting a gym and a list of the responsibilities each role would undertake. 

A gym’s general manager should oversee the fitness space’s overall operations. They will manage staff recruitment, scheduling and performance evaluations. Not only will they be responsible for staff, but they will also develop membership growth strategies and monitor financial performance. As a senior team member, a gym general manager will also ensure that the gym complies with health and safety regulations. They should also act as an escalation point for member complaints and be key in creating a space that ensures high customer satisfaction. 

Qualities of a Gym General Manager

• Leadership and team management (conflict resolution, delegation and strong leadership)
• Customer service excellence (approachability, problem-solving and member retention focus)
• Operational expertise (attention to detail, multitasking and organisational skills)
• Financial acumen (budget management, sales orientation, analytical thinking)
• Knowledge of the fitness industry (staying up to date with fitness trends and equipment and member expectations)

What is the salary of a gym general manager?

The salary of a gym general manager can vary depending on the location and size of the gym, as well as the level of experience and responsibilities that the candidate will undertake. In the UK, the salary range for a gym general manager is £29,000-43,000.

A Gym Assistant Manager will help support the General Manager with daily operations. They help to supervise staff and ensure all tasks are carried out smoothly. They can also help to implement promotional campaigns and manage budgets. A Gym Assistant Manager will also be responsible for member inquiries and support addressing complaints and queries from gym members where appropriate. 

Qualities of a Gym Assistant Manager

• Leadership and support (being a team player, mentorship to team members and reliability)
• Customer service focused (approachable to members, prioritising member needs and customer retention orientated)
• Operational skills (attention to detail, organised for scheduling and administrative tasks) 
• Sales and marketing support (Upselling skills for new customers, social media assistance and event coordination)
• Financial awareness (basic budgeting and sales goals support)

What is the salary of a Gym Assistant Manager?

The salary of a Gym Assistant Manager depends on the candidate’s experience and specific responsibilities, as well as the gym’s location and size. The average salary range for a Gym Assistant Manager in the UK is between £22,000 and £ 26,000.

The gym receptionist has many responsibilities, including being the first point of contact for guests and members when they arrive at the premises. They also handle membership registrations, general enquiries, and check-ins, so it is important that they fully understand your business and can relay information on services, events, and memberships. Gym receptionists also manage booking systems for personal training sessions and fitness classes. 

Qualities of a Gym Receptionist

• Customer service excellence (friendly and welcoming to all members and being able to solve any member issues)
• Communication skills (clear and concise communication methods to relay information to staff and members, conflict resolution skills to handle issues of complaint) 
• Organisational skills (efficient multitasker, being able to handle multiple tasks at once, time management and detail orientated) 
• Sales and upselling skills (promoting membership options, classes and providing benefits of the business to new customers)

What is the salary of a Gym receptionist?

Depending on the level of experience, size of the gym and location, you can expect the salary of a Gym receptionist to range between £20,000-23,0000.

A personal trainer or fitness instructor helps your members achieve their fitness goals. They guide members to follow proper techniques and give knowledge to members on the best way to become fitter. This can happen through personal one-on-one sessions or by leading fitness classes for a group of people. A personal trainer should be energetic, be able to keep members motivated and have a deep understanding of fitness for all experience levels. 

Qualities of a Personal Trainer

• Fitness Expertise (understanding of the body, fitness and the best way to help users achieve their fitness goals, holds relevant certifications in personal training)
• Motivational Skills (goal-orientated, empathic and understanding of client struggles and deeply encouraging and inspiring for members)
• Personalised Approach (able to build customised plans for users based on their goals, adaptable and focused on client goals)
• Communication Skills (being able to deliver concise and clear instructions, an active listener to understand client concerns and educational)

What is the salary of a personal trainer?

The salary of a personal trainer depends on the gym’s business model. Some gyms allow personal trainers to charge a fee and take a portion of the money. Other gyms pay personal trainers a salary and charge members directly for personal training sessions. The salary will also depend on the personal trainer’s experience level and the depth of their client list, so the range can span £19,000 to north of £50,000.

A gym floor attendant is responsible for ensuring the fitness space is clean, safe and organised. They also help to monitor the gym floor activity to ensure members are safe and should report maintenance issues or equipment malfunctions. Gym floor attendants also assist members with equipment use and basic exercise guidance where appropriate. 

Qualities of a gym floor attendant

• Customer service skills  (approachable to all members, problem-solving and member-focused)
• Fitness knowledge (a basic understanding of gym equipment and workout techniques)
• Safety and supervision (Trained in emergency response, first aid and CPR. Observant of the gym floor for improper equipment use or unsafe behaviour)
• Cleanliness and maintenance (meticulous in making sure all equipment is sanitised, organisation and efficient to address spillage or misplaced weights) 

What is the salary of a gym floor attendant? 

The estimated salary of a gym floor attendant in the UK is between £20,000-£23,000 per year.

Membership consultants should drive new membership sales through outreach, promotions and calling leads. They should be able to educate leads on the benefits of joining a gym and take charge of renewals for existing members. Membership consultants often show potential customers around the gym and give them a guided tour of the facilities. 

Qualities of a Gym Membership Consultant

• Sales and marketing skills (persuasive and effective in communicating benefits, goal-orientated to meet or exceed targets and creative in developing strategies to attract members)
• Customer service excellence (understand the needs of potential customers and show how gym memberships can help benefit them) 
• Communication skills (articulate using clear and concise language, be able to build relationships and be approachable) 

What is the salary of a Gym Membership Consultant?

As with all of the jobs mentioned, this depends on the experience and skills, the size of the site and location. Many gym sales teams work on commission-based targets, and the consultant receives extra payment when they hit their targets. Due to all of the above, the salary of a Gym Membership Consultant can range from £24,000-£45,000.  

With all of the above mentioned skills and qualities, we have outlined some potential training you could deliver to your staff to ensure they are qualified and have all of the skills needed to help run a successful gym.

Training session	The focus of the session	Activities	Outcome
Customer Service Training	Handling complaints, building rapport and delivering excellent customer service.	Role-playing member interactions, responding to difficult situations and practising a friendly demeanour.	Staff know how to create a welcoming environment and resolve issues effectively within your gym.
Health and Safety Awareness	Understanding gym policies, CPR, first aid and emergency procedures.	Mock emergency drills, risk assessment reviews and professional first aid training.	Member safety and ensure staff can handle emergency situations.
Tour Training and Gym Familiarity Training	Understanding gym equipment, services, packages and layout of the gym.	Leading gym tours, explaining equipment usage and answering FAQs.	Staff can confidently show potential customers around the gym and help existing members.
Fitness Industry Knowledge Training	Stay informed about current fitness industry trends, classes and equipment.	Online courses, staff workshops on fitness trends and guest speakers.	Staff can provide up-to-date advice and recommendations to members.

Create a welcoming gym environment with FitKit UK today

Now that you know who you need on your team to help you become the best fitness space in the industry, browse our selection of cardio and strength equipment and make sure you know all the details about the latest fitness equipment. Our range includes some of the biggest fitness names, including Life Fitness, Technogym and many more, which will help your members achieve their fitness goals. 

Related

• Must-Have Gym Features To Attract More Clients 
• Building Strong Foundations: Guide on Gym Business Costs
• What Equipment Do I Need To Start A Gym?