Qualified Trainers Strengthens International Presence Through EMD UK Education Partnership
Qualified Trainers, powered by Archon Academy, has announced an official Education Partnership with EMD UK, bringing together workforce management technology, professional education and recognised industry standards to support the future of instructor development across fitness and leisure.
The partnership marks an important step in Qualified Trainers' international development, connecting the Australian workforce management specialist with EMD UK, the UK's national governing body for group exercise.
Working alongside education and training provider Archon Academy, the collaboration aims to create clearer pathways for instructor training, qualifications and Continuing Professional Development (CPD), while helping operators develop qualified, appropriately insured and work-ready teams.
Initially focusing on group exercise and Reformer Pilates, the partnership also has the potential to extend into other disciplines, including swimming and padel.
Supporting the workforce behind fitness and leisure
As fitness and leisure operators introduce new programmes and expand their services, managing the workforce behind those activities is becoming increasingly complex.
From verifying qualifications and insurance to coordinating instructor availability, managing compliance and developing existing teams, operators need confidence that their workforce is appropriately trained and ready to deliver.
Growth areas such as Reformer Pilates present opportunities for operators, but also increase demand for specialist skills and recognised training pathways.
The new partnership aims to address these challenges by connecting education and professional development more closely with the practical workforce requirements of operators.
Richie Allan, VP of Growth & Partnerships at Qualified Trainers, explains:
"Operators are being asked to do two things at once: broaden their programming to meet changing member demand while making absolutely sure the people delivering it are appropriately qualified, insured and ready to teach.
"This partnership is about making that process clearer. By bringing together Archon Academy's training expertise, Qualified Trainers' workforce technology and operator insight, and EMD UK's expertise in standards and recognition, we can help create stronger pathways from training through to deployment."
What the EMD UK partnership means
As part of the agreement, Qualified Trainers powered by Archon Academy will participate in EMD UK's education and CPD partnership framework, which includes:
- *Verified Education Provider status*, supporting quality assurance of education provision.
- *Education Partnership*, supporting recognised qualification-led instructor development.
- *CPD Recognition*, providing a framework for recognising three to five specialist training courses.
- *Clearer scopes of practice*, supporting appropriate entry requirements, instructor competencies, safe delivery and insurance considerations.
- *Instructor development pathways*, including opportunities to upskill existing teams and explore bridging routes between fitness disciplines.
Qualified Trainers powered by Archon Academy will also feature across EMD UK's education and CPD partner channels and instructor marketplace, helping connect training opportunities with the wider instructor community.
Connecting education with workforce management
For Qualified Trainers, the partnership supports a wider ambition: helping operators not only manage their existing workforce but also develop the instructor teams they need for the future.
The Qualified Trainers platform brings together key workforce management functions, including:
- Instructor compliance and qualification records
- Scheduling, availability and cover management
- Group and individual communications
- Payroll and administration
- Rostering and workforce reporting
By connecting these operational capabilities with recognised education and professional development, the collaboration aims to support a more joined-up journey from instructor training through to deployment.
It also creates opportunities to explore new pathways for fitness professionals, including personal trainers looking to move into group exercise and existing instructors seeking to expand their skills.
While the partnership initially focuses on the UK, the challenges it addresses are shared by fitness and leisure operators internationally.
As an Australian business building its international presence, Qualified Trainers sees opportunities to bring together workforce technology, education and professional standards to support operators across different markets.
The collaboration with EMD UK and Archon Academy represents another step towards that ambition.
The organisations will now progress the recognition and development of relevant training pathways, with further details of courses and opportunities for operators to follow.