Laurie Nichols, founder and managing director of the Laurie Nichols Fitness & Tutor Training Centre in Plaistow is creating work experience opportunities for young people currently on Universal Credit designed to help them find paid employment.

She is working on the job descriptions of six new work experience opportunities in partnership with the government’s Kickstart Scheme.

The jobs being created are for three pre-sales consultants, two course advisors and a social media marketing role. The placements will last for six months with a permanent position in view and will be offered to people aged 16 to 24-years-old who are on Universal Credit.

Based at the Newham Leisure Centre in Prince Regent Lane, Laurie offers learners the skills and experience they need to access future employment opportunities in fitness, providing accessible and affordable fitness and tutor training courses.

Curiosity for fitness led her to the gym at the age of 14 and has kept her interested in the benefits of exercise and nutrition ever since. The first gym she ever visited – thanks to a guest pass she won for representing her school in an athletics tournament – was at Newham Leisure Centre, so it’s quite ironic that her business is now based at the same venue.

“I was fascinated with the amount of people in the gym and recognised the need for fitness professionals as there were so many members using equipment incorrectly”, said Laurie. This was how her professional journey into fitness started, from training courses to becoming a group fitness instructor, then a fitness lead and finally a training provider.

Crina Ochiosu, 18, is one of the students at the Fitness Training Centre. She studies Performing Arts at Newham VI Form College (NewVIc) and attends YMCA Awards Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Based Instructing-Gym Exercise. Once qualified, Crina will be able to work as a fitness instructor in any private or council-run gym.

She said: “The course is quite intense as you have to learn about anatomy and physiology as well as the practical elements of the gym (how to write gym programmes, for example). I have found it challenging as English is my second language, but my tutor is excellent and we get to work in groups sometimes, which helps a lot, so I am really enjoying it.”

She is not sure if she would like to work in a gym, but sees herself as a personal trainer in five years’ time. “I would like to work with people of my own age as many don’t know what they are doing when they work out”, she said, adding that she would like to see more incentives for people to join gyms and pursue a healthy lifestyle as well as more work experience opportunities for young people in fitness.

As gyms across England reopen on Monday 12 April, Laurie reminds residents of the importance of physical exercise.

She said: “Throughout this pandemic, there has been a consistent and clear message regarding the importance of fitness and health. Regular exercise improves your health and reduces the risk of developing diseases such as type 2 diabetes.”

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