A new Level 4 strength and conditioning fitness qualification has been created to help fitness professionals and sports coaches to carve a niche in the competitive world of elite training.

The REPs-aligned course, developed by training provider Strength and Conditioning Education, aims to equip graduates with the training models and business tools needed to work with elite athletes, open their own performance gym, and work as a performance personal trainer.

“The course is about analysing, designing, performing and reviewing a strength and conditioning programme tailored to the needs of athletes of all abilities,” said Brendan Chaplin, founder of Strength and Conditioning Education.

“We’ve designed it for people to join from a wide range of backgrounds and learning pathways. We also cover coaching skills, behavioural change, business development and much more.”

The qualification outcomes are designed to enable professionals to perform a needs analysis of the performance activity and athlete. This include the ability to design, review and deliver a strength and conditioning programme to improve sports performance; and achieve training goals such as increased strength, power and endurance, coach Olympic lifting, speed, movement and mobility training.

Chaplin added: “This will set the standard for fitness professionals who will be working on the development of the athlete, focusing on what is needed to improve performance, such as strength, speed, endurance, mobility and movement competency.”

The first intake of the course begins in April, with scholarships available for people who have previously gained qualifications or undertaken mentoring with Strength and Conditioning Education.