DCG Success Stories

Derby Arena wellbeing adviser Lyndsey McLaughlin likes a challenge so jumped at the chance to take a Level 3 Personal Training Apprenticeship with Derby College Group.

Lyndsey, who, helps adults of all ages to improve their fitness levels, has worked at the council-run gym for eight years but was keen to further her knowledge.

She said: “Although I’ve got a degree, I found the End Point Assessment interview quite hard as there’s so much you need to know. It was good to challenge myself. I found I’d forgotten some of what I thought knew, namely the science side of diet and nutrition, so it was good to be tested on that.

“I liked the practical side best where I got chance to put on a little class and show the assessors what I know. The DCG lecturers were brilliant and my experience of my apprenticeship has encouraged colleagues to advance their own learning and take PT qualifications.”

Lyndsey only works with adults at the moment but sees getting into coaching children as the next step in her PT career.

She added: “During the pandemic, when we were working online from home, I did some training videos for clients with my 11-year-old son which were well received. I’ve always been sporty.

“I’m a runner and have done several marathons and half marathons, my last race being the Derby 10 mile last November. I tend to pick up my running training regime when I’ve got an event coming up but I’m currently massively into weight lifting in the gym as well.”