AoC Sport has started its search for Britain’s best student fitness professionals with the launch of the WorldSkills UK Fitness Trainer Competition 2016.

The lead organisation for sport and physical activity in colleges is looking for rising stars in the roles of gym instructor and personal trainer. Both categories test aspiring fitness professionals’ knowledge and skills, with participants having the opportunity to compete at an institution, then at regional and two national levels.

Having strengthened its ties with industry partners such as CIMSPA, ukactive, Active IQ and Future Fit Training, AoC Sport wants to build on last year’s competition and make 2016’s its “biggest and most successful to date.” More than 55 colleges and training providers have already signed up to this year’s event and are receiving pre-competition resources, while individual competitor entry is open until April 7.

“This competition is the first of its kind to be accepted to the WorldSkills UK suite of competitions and is constantly being developed to ensure it is at the forefront of the active leisure industry,” said competition manager Christopher Pitts.

“The competition in 2016 is set to be the biggest and most successful ever after evolving over the past three years into what it is today. We anticipate more than double our previous years’ competitor entries after surpassing a 100 per cent increase in institutions using our exclusive pre-competition resources.”

There is no age limit for the competition, entrants must simply be students working on an accredited course towards a career in the active leisure industry.

To find out more and to enter the competition, click here.