Working towards a united Europe

The latest quarterly meeting of EUROFIT-QST took place in Barcelona last month.

Members of the European Health and Fitness Association (EHFA), including CYQ, SkillsActive and REPs from the UK, met to push forward plans for a pan-European qualification framework and to agree a working model for register organisations like REPs to be set up in Member States.

Currently the UK is the only EU country within the group that has a register for exercise professionals and will provide a standard for others to follow.

Participating countries include Ireland, Italy, France, Spain, Belgium and Switzerland.

REPs registrar, Cliff Collins, said: “We are very involved in working with EHFA and EUROFIT-QST to provide a European working model for future organisations.

“This includes setting levels of registration that will have recognition throughout the EU.

“EUROFIT-QST is currently aiming to create five levels as part of the European working model, and certainly here in the UK, REPs will be adding our new level 4 qualification when this becomes available later this year.

“Great progress has already been made but particularly with more countries joining Europe as member states we have even more work ahead of us to ensure standards are maintained and to allow fitness professionals throughout Europe to be able to validate their qualifications and work in other countries.” Details: www.eurofit-qst.net/ or +44 (0)20 8686 6464