TV presenter and journalist, Ben Shephard, has developed a six-part online training course for fitness professionals, teaching soft skills.

Shephard has spent more than 25 years working in television. Currently a co-host of ITV’s This Morning, he's previously worked on Good Morning Britain, The Krypton Factor and Tipping Point, among others.

Informed by his on-screen career, Instructor 2 Icon, will help fitness professionals upskill when it comes to their communication and presentation skills to enable greater levels of engagement with consumers.

Initially the course will only be available to operators wishing to develop the skills of their fitness teams.

Shephard believes the most memorable trainers are those who have their own personal brand and delivery that seems effortless.

Building rapport, creating meaningful connections, dealing with the unexpected, building an authentic personal brand and selling with confidence are all covered, along with Shephard's personal anecdotes to illustrate the points being made.

“Being a TV presenter is a lot like being a personal trainer in some regards,” says Shephard. “We have to get along with all kinds of people and quickly create and establish a rapport. We also have to deal with the unexpected, keep everything on track and – crucially – we want to make sure everybody is engaged for the duration.

"Whether they're coming into a TV studio or a fitness studio, we want the people we're meeting to have the best experience possible, so they'll want to come back.”

Shephard has been working with Cheryl Hersey, The Fitness NED, on the creation of the course.

Hersey says the market currently offers little in the way of soft skills training: “Instructor 2 Icon is for all fitness professionals, it unlocks TV secrets and presenting 'tricks of the trade' to help fitness teams gain confidence, improve delivery and connect with clients on a whole new level.”

Find out more about Instructor 2 Icon here.