5
FEBRUARY 2009 futures
futures FOCUS
Simon says � `Stick to
your guns and go for it'
A
FORMER Workington butcher
never thought he was cut out for
an academic life but Simon Philips
is carving out a healthy future for
himself after returning to college.
The 21-year-old, of Douglas Road, admits
he was the joker of the class at Stainburn
School but he has been chosen as a young
person role model by Cumbria Higher
Learning.
"You could say I was easily distracted
and because my English was always
terrible I never thought I could achieve
anything academic," he said.
Not knowing what he wanted to do with
his life, Simon tried electrical installation
and then took a job at local meat company
Haighs.
But the attraction of working five days
a week in a job he didn't really enjoy and
drinking his wages away with his mates
every Saturday night eventually waned.
Simon added: "Suddenly, at 18, I could
see other lads doing really well on
apprenticeships so I gave myself a shake
and went to Lakes College to get an
education."
Three years later, having completed a
course in public services and gained a
merit in a sport national diploma he is
now taking a foundation degree in
physical activity in health.
"The foundation degree is hard in the
sense that I have always struggled with
grammar and spelling," he admitted.
"I understand everything but getting it
down on paper is sometimes still difficult
for me. But college has been great for me
in all sorts of ways, socially as well as
academically. I spent eight weeks in
America this summer teaching soccer to
kids over there.
"I also work 16 hours a week in the
college gym which is great because I love
helping people out and I get paid. When I
finish my degree I think I would like to
work as a personal trainer or maybe with
professional athletes."
Janice Nichols, project officer with
Cumbria Higher Learning, selected
Simon to be the latest young person role
model for their website after hearing of
his success.
She said: "His determination to succeed
after leaving school with very average
GCSEs is admirable and I think many
other teenage boys of his age will be able
to identify with him."
Of his own lack of success at school
Simon thinks peer pressure has a lot to
answer for.
He said: "My advice to other school kids
is don't be a sheep. If you want to do
something, stick to your guns and go for
it. I never thought college was for me but I
love it. My whole life has changed for the
better." SHOWING THE WAY: Simon Phillips � Cumbria Higher Learning's young role model at Lakes College
Personal trainers
P
ERSONAL trainers provide physical
fitness instruction and fitness and
lifestyle assessments.
Due to increasing public interest in
health and fitness, there are opportunities
to work in a range of settings.
Personal trainers are either employed in
or work on a freelance basis within fitness
centres, health clubs and hotel leisure
centres; some also work in corporate fitness
offering services to employers.
Experienced trainers, who have built a
reputation, may also work privately with
individuals.
Typical work activities include:
working closely with clients to develop
personalised health and fitness plans
providing information and advice on
nutrition and stress management
measuring and assessing blood
pressure, heart recovery rate and body fat
ratio
monitoring client development
maintaining client records
Employers may require a qualification in
sports science, exercise and health studies,
leisure studies, sports studies, recreation
management or human movement studies
but qualifications approved by the Register
of Exercise Porfessionals are the preferred
industry-related standard.
There are four levels of entry onto the
register, and graduates with a relevant
degree and six months current work
practice will usually be given provisional
entry at Level 3.

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