In today’s premium spa environment, every detail shapes the guest experience – right down to
the softness of towels and the freshness of linens. ... more
If you think of school leavers when you think of apprentices, think again. Apprenticeships are far from limited to career starters, with new generation programmes tailor-made to bring out the best in accomplished managers
Virgin Active wanted to recruit more of its senior management population from within the business, in order to retain its best staff members
Making the most of your managers makes perfect sense: already demonstrating great skills and embodying your business values, why risk them taking their talents elsewhere? The Team Leader / Supervisor Level 3 Standard enables employers to upskill their best staff and keep them in the business
Leading the way Ahead of the curve is Virgin Active UK with over 100 colleagues – including sales managers, personal training managers, operations managers, group exercise managers and assistant general managers – studying the Team Leader Supervisor apprenticeship.
Offering this apprenticeship in a bid to recruit more of its senior management population from within the business, Virgin Active is working in close partnership with Active IQ to assess this qualification in small, phased groups.
Virgin territory Facing its first encounter with the End-point assessments process, Virgin Active UK turned to Active IQ for support. “Active IQ stood out for its impartiality and professionalism,” says Jeanette Hartley, Virgin Active UK apprenticeship manager. “The team demonstrated a rigorous process which, combined with its renowned integrity and reputation for excellence, helped shape our decision.
“We identified a skills gap among our management population and wanted to develop their knowledge, skills and behaviours,” explains Jeanette. “The transformation by the time they reach their Team Leader Supervisor End-point assessment is incredible to witness. Active IQ shares our ethos and values and brings a friendly, flexible approach, endless energy and complete commitment to tailoring the assessment for our managers.”
Train to retain “Our ultimate aim is to keep our best talent in our business by management progression from within Virgin Active,” says Jeanette. “This bespoke apprenticeship programme appeals strongly to talented managers looking to further their career.” Both employers and apprentices gain from this approach, as the apprentice brings improved ability to their day-to-day job, while locking in their new skills through using them at work.
Begin with the end in mind “Apprenticeships have evolved considerably over the last few years, with more in-depth content and more challenging assessments,” explains Jenny Patrickson, Active IQ managing director. “Knowing what's expected at the End-point Assessment at the beginning of the process is vital, as the first successful Virgin Active cohort has shown.
"We developed Apprentice and Employer Toolkits when we recognised the need for focused support to navigate the changing landscape of apprenticeship delivery and assessment.”
Oliver Bloom
Assistant General Manager, Virgin Active Tower Bridge
Oliver Bloom
Oliver started as a member services manager at Virgin Active Aldersgate in 2016 and progressed to operations manager at the Broadgate club before being promoted to assistant general manager at Tower Bridge. “I learned a huge amount on the programme," he says, "not least of which was how to adapt my natural style and look at different ways of doing things. There was plenty of guidance and the Active IQ Toolkits helped pushed me to achieve a certain level of work, preparing me well for a successful End-point Assessment.
I’m now ready to fulfil a general manager role within Virgin Active UK.”
Elsa Orler,
Assistant General Manager, Virgin Active Mayfair
Elsa Orler
Elsa joined Virgin Active in September 2016 following six years’ experience at Tonic Fitness Network in her native Italy. She started as service and operations manager at Virgin Active Barbican before moving to Mayfair as assistant general manager. “The Team Leader Supervisor Apprenticeship really developed my knowledge and expanded my management skills," she says. "Taking my learning straight into work and putting it into practice brought it to life for me and the Active IQ assessment resources were a great help.
"This apprenticeship has broadened my horizons and given me the tools and confidence I need for the next step in my career.”
Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai in Hoi An, Vietnam, has put together a Global Wellness Day
(GWD) agenda with activations rooted in nature and shaped by four pillars of Joy – in
alignment with the day’s theme #JoyMagenta.
The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) will celebrate its 20th anniversary at the 2026 event in
Phuket, Thailand, later this year with the theme: The Science, Art and Soul of Wellness.
Auko, an all-inclusive development, is opening in Phong Nha in Vietnam in Q3 2026, with a
series of 30 tented eco-lodges and wellness hospitality operations by Lumina Wellbeing.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Naples Beach Club, a Four Seasons Resort, has opened a 2,800sq m spa called The Sanctuary,
with the design and concept inspired by the Native American people that populated Florida’s
Southwest coast – the Calusa.
Swire Hotels’ luxury hospitality brand Upper House has revealed it will roll out its two-day
House of Healing retreats at its three hotels in Hong Kong, Chengdu and Shanghai.
LVMH-owned beauty house Guerlain will launch up to five spas with partners a year as part of
its plan to expand globally, according to the brand’s international spa and wellness director,
Diane Davody.
A new global study by Kevin Kelly and Peter Yesawich, called WELLSurvey 2.0, has revealed
more than half of consumers in the UK, US and Germany would not choose numerous high-
profile wellness resort brands for a future trip.
