Our Gym opens at Bucks UTC

Buckinghamshire University Technical College (UTC) students were hugely proud to see the fantastic new gym facilities that they designed in their building officially opened by Bev Flanagan, Principal, of Bucks UTC.

With no outside facilities available for sport and fitness, the students were encouraged to prepare their own business plan outlining how they wanted to tackle the important issue of ‘keeping fit’.

The students at the UTC in Oxford Road, Aylesbury, were assisted by the team from the Gateway GYM at Buckinghamshire New University, which has provided a full range ofMatrixfitness equipment on long-term loan.

Felix Turck, Year 13 student, explains: “We formed our own Sports Council and decided we’d really like a functional gym.“Working with Bucks New University & Matrix, one of our partners, we did a competitor analysis and operational modelling to look at the many different options for equipment – what it cost against what we felt we needed.

“The results informed our business plan for ‘Our Gym’ – the name chosen by the students. Bucks New University kindly loaned equipment to us which really got things moving! And then to help things further, Matrix Fitness offered some extra equipment and marketing materials to make ‘Our Gym’ perfect!”

Liz Hughes,Director of Facilities & Servicesat Bucks New University, said: “We are delighted to see the gym at Bucks UTC become a reality and extremely proud that Bucks New University has been able to help these young enterprising students in its creation.

“Health and fitness is a priority for us at the University and we have thoroughly enjoyed working with Matrix Fitness and the students and Sport Council at the UTC, who displayed so much enthusiasm and vision with their business plans.

“We look forward to current and future generations of students benefiting from these fantastic fitness facilities.”

Commenting on the project, Matrix Fitness Product Director, Rob Knox, said: “With obesity levels among young people continuing to rise, it’s refreshing to hear of students actively seeking to buck the trend, and as stakeholders in the fitness industry, we were delighted to be approached by the UTC pupils to support the creation of ‘Our Gym’.

“As a project mentor, I was able to offer advice on the most appropriate equipment for the facility, successful negotiations, and maintenance contracts, and was impressed by the students’ enthusiasm for the project and professionalism. We wish them all the best with their new venture.”

Nathan Baker, the UTC’s sports coach, was determined that it shouldn’t be just the students keeping fit! Working alongside John Ide, the Sports and Fitness Centre Manager at Bucks New University, he has set up a Workplace Challenge through the Sports Council, encouraging the staff to take part too – competition is fierce on the leader board! The students will also be using fitness challenges to raise money for their chosen local charities.