Better leisure centres across the UK are partnering with the Department for Education’s Skills for Life campaign. The initiative aims to encourage people not only to focus on health and fitness goals this January but take a more comprehensive approach to personal development. 

Specialist advisers from the Government’s National Careers Service will be based at Better leisure centres across England, offering free and impartial careers advice to leisure centre visitors. 

A poll of 2,000 adults, commissioned by Skills for Life, shows most people (96%) want to achieve some kind of personal growth in 2025 and 57% plan to set themselves a professional goal for the year ahead, such as switching jobs, getting a pay rise or working towards a promotion. 

Of those surveyed, more than two thirds (67%) said they think it is easier to commit to a physical goal – such as losing weight, going to a gym or taking up running – than it is to commit to learning a new skill. When asked why, they said they felt physical goals were “more attainable” (35%) and learning something new was too expensive (23%).   

Customer & Communities Director for Better leisure centres, Joseph Rham, says: “Prioritising our physical, mental and learning health are all things we should be focussing on in the 2025.  We aim to support as many people as possible to get active and experience the huge benefits of improved health and wellbeing. Likewise, learning a new skill can not only be empowering but also offer real opportunities for employment and career development. 

“We are therefore delighted to be supporting Skills for Life with several of our leisure centres across the country hosting free personal development - or ‘PD’ sessions - with career advisers from the National Careers Service.” 

Steve Hanley, a careers adviser at the National Careers Service, says: “There’s no better time to take stock and review your skillset than at the start of a new year. But taking that first step can sometimes feel really daunting. 

“I know from my experience as a careers adviser that there are lots of reasons why people can put off learning new skills – whether that’s the perceived cost of courses or people simply thinking they’re too old to learn something new. But we would encourage people to look again. Learning new skills doesn’t always mean you have to spend money and is for everyone. 

“We hope this exciting partnership with Better will inspire people across the country to also think about their learning health this January. With so many free and flexible training opportunities available, it’s never been easier to get started. Search Skills for Life to find out more.” 

Skills for Life is encouraging adults to explore the various government-funded courses available. From short courses like Skills Bootcamps, available in a range of subjects, to apprenticeships or Higher Technical Qualifications. 
For more information and a list of participating Better leisure centres visit: https://www.better.org.uk/healthy-communities/skills-for-life 

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Notes to editors  
About the research 
Research was carried out by 3gem between 23 – 27 November 2024, commissioned by the Department for Education’s Skills for Life campaign and Kindred, with 2,000 adults in England surveyed (nationally representative sample.) 
About Skills for Life 

The Skills for Life campaign invites young people, adults and businesses to make the most of their potential by engaging in a range of government skills and technical education offers. 

The campaign supports the government’s Plan for Change to offer opportunity for all by creating a skills system that supports people of all backgrounds into secure and well-paid employment. This ultimately gives businesses the skilled workforce, they need to invest and kickstart economic growth. 

Inspiring action, the campaign promotes a range of priority skills programmes, such as apprenticeships, T Levels, Skills Bootcamps, Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs), Free Courses for Jobs, Multiply, essential skills (English, Maths and digital) and support and advice from the National Careers Service (NCS). 

The campaign directs people to Skills for Life, where they can explore information about skills, education, training options and careers. 

About Better 
Better is the consumer facing brand for GLL.  Established in 1993, GLL is the largest UK-based charitable social enterprise delivering leisure, health and community services. Operating under the Better brand, we manage 253 public sport and leisure centres, 114 libraries and 10 children’s centres in partnership with over 70 government, public agency and sporting body partners. It has 700,000 leisure members and welcomes 52 million customer visits per year. www.better.org.uk  

For further press information 
Carole Pendle 
On behalf of Better  
carole@pendlepr.com 
07768462601 
www.better.org.uk