Adding value
Client: Cheshire East Local Authority, UK

Supplier: Matrix Fitness

Cheshire East Council operates 15 leisure facilities, all providing a range of services for the local community. As part of a continuous drive to improve service provision, the authority wanted to equip the sites with top of the range cardiovascular and strength equipment that would deliver a ‘wow’ factor.

Following a tender win to provide Knutsford Leisure Centre with fitness equipment for their refurbished site in 2011, Matrix secured a subsequent contract to supply five additional sites: Crewe, Nantwich, and Shavington, plus two completely refurbished fitness suites at the authority’s leisure centres in Macclesfield and Wilmslow.

Each facility now offers something for everyone, including products from the Matrix Universal Series (U-Series), which are accredited by the Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) and ensure that accessibility is not a barrier to improving health and independence for the residents of Cheshire East.

As the user experience was a key priority for the authority, Matrix 7 Series products were also selected, enabling gym users to watch films and TV programmes while they work out. This range also incorporates Virtual Active software, which engages exercisers on all levels via workouts that include music and ambient soundtracks in addition to dynamic video footage. This is displayed on the console, linked to gradual terrain changes underfoot, for a totally immersive exercise experience. Alternatively, gym members can listen to their favourite tunes while they work out, thanks to iPod docking stations on each piece of CV equipment.

The sites also cater for members preferring strength training, following the installation of Matrix G3 strength equipment, as well as selected free weights.

“Since the refurbishment of the fitness suite at Macclesfield Leisure Centre, our existing customers have been impressed by the vastly improved range and quality of the equipment, especially the entertainment systems within the CV equipment,” says Maria Tatters, Macclesfield Leisure Centre manager. “The refurbishment has been widely welcomed, making the fitness suite a far more welcoming and efficient space. We have seen a rapid increase in usage and memberships attracted by the refurbished facilities and new equipment.”

Matrix was involved in the facility design and planning of equipment layout, as well as providing pre-sales marketing support materials. The authority has also benefited from the Team Matrix ambassador programme, with both Olympic cyclist Dani King MBE and GB triathlete Jodie Stimpson on-hand to support site launch activity. Matrix Fitness sales director Chris Austin says: “After previously supplying the authority’s facility in Knutsford, we were delighted to be a key supplier to Cheshire East Council, supporting the authority with its plans to deliver first-class fitness facilities to the local community.”

For more information: www.matrixfitness.co.uk

Macclesfield: A “far more welcoming space”

The inbuilt media system on the CV kit is proving very popular

MAKING AN IMPACT
Client: Sole Fitness

Supplier: CYBEX International UK

Sole Fitness opened in January 2013 in Glenfield, Leicester, UK, with over 50 pieces of equipment manufactured by CYBEX International UK. The brand new gym – located just a few miles from CYBEX UK’s headquarters in Measham, Derbyshire – will be used as a showcase site for CYBEX, providing potential and existing clients with the opportunity to experience many of the manufacturer’s most popular pieces of equipment.

Sole Fitness offers products from CYBEX’s new 770 cardio range, including treadmills, lower body and total body Arc Trainers and both upright and recumbent bikes.

Incorporated in a number of pieces of equipment are E3 View embedded monitors, the latest innovation from CYBEX. Available on all products in the 770 range, the E3 View provides users with three viewing modes: ‘exercise’ for a detailed analysis of the workout; ‘entertainment’, where users can watch video from TV, iPod or iPhone while still monitoring their progress; and thirdly, the ‘escape’ view, where the screen is filled entirely with video from the preferred source.

Selectorised strength equipment from CYBEX’s Eagle, VR1 and VR3 ranges were also installed, alongside a multi-station Jungle Gym, lifting racks, benches and Bravo functional trainers.

Much of the equipment frames and upholstery were customised in the gym’s corporate colours – a bespoke service provided by CYBEX across its strength and cardio product ranges. Wall graphics have also been designed and produced by CYBEX, complementing the overall look and feel of the gym.

Sole Fitness is the first gym for owner Simon Sole, who was introduced to CYBEX by a colleague. He says: “I had little experience of using CYBEX equipment until my colleague suggested it as an option when we were reviewing suppliers for Sole Fitness. When he described its equipment as ‘the best on the market’, I had to find out more.

“I visited Hatton Health & Fitness, which houses a wide range of CYBEX equipment, and was immediately impressed by what I saw, particularly the strength lines. I now tell everyone that, once you’ve used CYBEX equipment, you won’t find anything better and the feedback from our members is proof of that.”

CYBEX business development manager Paul Steel led on the agreement with Sole Fitness. He says: “Sole Fitness is a superb, high quality independent facility that offers a fantastic sense of community – a friendly atmosphere with highly approachable and experienced staff who take a real interest in the club’s members. The bespoke equipment, alongside the branded wall graphics, also creates a great impact when you walk in.”

As well as the state-of-the-art gym, Sole Fitness has a group fitness studio, beauty salon and sauna facilities.

For more information: www.cybexintl.com

The gym acts as a showcase site for CYBEX

CYBEX matched frame colours to the gym’s own branding

SPA EDUCATION
Client: Vision West Notts

Supplier: Dalesauna

A college in Nottinghamshire has invested millions of pounds in a new campus with a health spa to meet an unprecedented demand for spa education.

According to Vision West Notts college – formerly known as West Nottinghamshire College – applications for its hair, beauty and complementary therapy courses have risen more than 200 per cent in the last five years.

The college in Mansfield has invested £11m in a new extension to accommodate students who want to study hair, beauty and spa courses. The 4,000sq m learning space – which represents the college’s biggest-ever single investment in educational facilities – includes modern classrooms, ITC suites, hair and beauty salons as well as a specialist health spa.

Dalesauna was appointed by the main contractor, Mansell Construction Services, to design and equip the spa’s 140sq m thermal area. Its brief was to provide a facility that would allow the delivery of the NVQ Level 3 Diploma Spa Therapy curriculum, a vocational course that prepares students for work in spas and salons.

As well as an educational facility, the spa operates commercially to equip students with vital industry experience, while also providing the college with additional income opportunities. The brief therefore also called for high quality fixtures and fittings to meet the needs of the public.

The new health spa therefore includes a pine sauna, steamroom, spa pool and rasul mud treatment room. Both the steamroom and rasul were finished in quality tiles, using both large format and mosaic to provide visually pleasing yet practical finishes.

The offering also includes a Jouvence dry flotation system, an ice feature and a monsoon shower. LED lighting floods the shower with a vibrant red light when hot water is in use and a cool blue for the cold water experience. Foot spas and a relaxation area with tiled heated loungers complete the offer.

“Dalesauna supplied and equipped the very first spa college facility at Buxton, and since then has supplied many of the leading new-build facilities,” says Gerard McCarthy, sales director at Dalesauna. “Vision West Notts is certainly among the very highest standard of provision, offering more facilities than required under the basic curriculum. The standard of finishes throughout the college is extremely high: the thermal suite could just as easily be in the very latest private sector spa as in a teaching facility.”

He continues: “The demand for trained therapists is high, and grows daily as new spas continue to open in the UK and further afield. Students fortunate enough to train at West Notts Vision will be well equipped to take on a role in any spa in the world, with the confidence that they have trained on the very latest equipment.”

For more information: www.dalesauna.co.uk

The educational spa also operates commercially

The facility has 140sq m of thermal areas

The relaxation area offers tiled heated loungers