Support every step of the way
It takes a village to run a Nuffield Health club, but no-one is as invested as the General Manager. Responsible for the team’s performance, the gym’s profits, and the overall functioning of the site, it’s a role as fast-paced as any Zumba class. So, is it as exhausting as it sounds? We spoke to Matt Eden, General Manager of our Bristol North Fitness and Wellbeing Site, to find out.
General Management is a role you can progress into, but working in a gym doesn’t happen by accident. What drew you to the fitness industry?
I’d always wanted to work in the fitness industry. And once I became a Personal Trainer with my own clients, I knew that I needed to help and support even more people. That’s why I moved into management.
And is there anything that drew you to Nuffield Health specifically?
I’ve always wanted to work in a place that connects fitness with actual health. Too often, gyms are centred around what we look like rather than how we feel, but Nuffield Health are focused on both. And as a General Manager, Nuffield allows me full visibility of the business and flexibility of decisions, which gives me and my team ownership of our club.
How is it working at a Nuffield Health club? Do you feel supported in your role?
Definitely - Nuffield Health has supported me throughout entire my career with them. I remember when I first became a GM. It was my first club and first time in that role, but my Senior General Manager guided me each step of the way. He’d take me through all the reports, sit down and help build my leadership skills, and basically showed me the ropes. I still go to him today for help when I need it.
What’s the best part of your role?
The people. I became a General Manager because I wanted to support and lead passionate people - and you won’t find anyone more passionate about their job than those in the health and fitness world.
It sounds like you really get on with your team.
Yes – they go out of their way to make our members’ experience better, and they really look after each other too. The teams at Nuffield Health are some of the most supportive I’ve come across in the fitness industry. And I think that comes across to the members - that we do this job because we love it.
Can you tell us about a time when one of them made you proud?
I always love seeing the team enjoy their job. But I remember a young man - a work experience student – who grew to become a great PT. Five years later, I was able to offer him the Fitness Manager role and that was definitely a proud moment. But you get proud moments every day: watching a PT teach a class and the member’s laugh as they work out, or seeing someone from the clean team having a joke with a member at 6.30 in the morning. There are moments of magic every day.