At a time when the global mental health crisis is costing the economy $1 trillion annually in lost productivity, the very professionals promoting well-being are battling burnout, stress and administrative overload. Each year, 12 billion working days are lost due to mental health issues, and our industry is not immune.

The sport and physical activity sector is home to almost 600,000 professionals in the UK alone, including 72,187 fitness instructors. These individuals dedicate themselves to improving lives through health and wellness, yet, too often, they are overworked, undervalued, and expected to navigate inefficient systems with little support.

Consider the logistical nightmare health club operators face — 78% are contacted outside of working hours each week for cover-related issues alone, and managers spend upwards of seven hours each week solely overseeing cover.** Factor in recruitment, compliance and team communications, and this number skyrockets to 15 hours per week. This isn’t just an operational issue — it’s a direct contributor to burnout and workplace anxiety.

And it’s not just managers. 54% of group exercise instructors say they avoid taking time off because the process of arranging cover is too stressful.*** The same reality exists for personal trainers, swim teachers and sports coaches etc — all passionate professionals weighed down by avoidable obstacles caused by inefficient systems and outdated processes. If we want to create a healthier, more sustainable work life balance for everyone, we need to change how we work.

Fitness professionals shouldn’t be buried under admin, managing endless WhatsApp groups or chasing talent for last-minute cover. Their focus should be on what they do best — inspiring and engaging with people.

At CoverMe Fitness, we’re tackling this head-on. Technology should be a tool for empowerment, not exhaustion. By automating recruitment, class cover and communication, we’re reducing the administrative burden and giving fitness professionals back their time, energy and control.

If we invest in the mental well-being and career progression of those driving our industries, we’ll build a stronger, more sustainable future — for the professionals who power it and the people they serve. When we take care of our people, they take care of the customers, and that’s what we’re here for.

Rosanna Tucker, CEO and Founder of CoverMe Fitness

Rosanna Tucker is the CEO and Founder of CoverMe Fitness, the technology platform revolutionising team management and cover solutions to help fitness professionals focus on what they do best — helping others live healthier, happier lives.

*CIMSPA 2023 Workforce Insights Report

** Leisure-net Operators Report 2023

*** EMDUK Instructor Research 2023