Since 2001, EHFA has represented the health and fitness sector in the ECVET and EQF processes, as well as on the EU Platform for Action on Diet Physical Activity and Health. EHFA is a European Union approved accrediter of training for health and fitness professionals.

EHFA is a recognised stakeholder for the European health and fitness sector by DG SANCO (the EU Directorate General for Health and Consumer Protection).

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2. What is EHFA governance structure?

EHFA is a not-for-profit organization, based in Brussels, and owned by the members. EHFA has a Board of Directors, and an Executive Director.

EHFA is governed according to its statutes which state the membership decides the strategic direction of the association at a General Assembly.

The General Assembly of August 21, 2007, approved a strategy which EHFA is currently implementing.

Voting at the General Assembly and in the Board of Directors is based on a ‘one-member, one vote’ basis. EHFA is governed by democratic decision.

Voting structures are currently the subject of discussion in the Board and will be presented to the EHFA membership ahead of the next General Assembly in April 2008 for discussion and decision by way of a democratic vote.

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3. Who is on the Board of EHFA and who are Executives?

Currently the Board consists of the following people:

President - Harm Tegelaars (NL)
Secretary General - Paul Eigenmann (CH)
Treasurer - Christian Pierar (BE)
Members: Paolo A. Adami (ITA), Christophe Andanson (FR), Andrée Deane (UK), Luca Ceccaroni (ITA), Paul Kienstra (NL), Christian Pierar (BE), Rosi Prescott (UK), John Sharkey (Ireland)
Executive Director - Herman Rutgers (NL)
Head of Brussels Office - Kasia Scoggins (BE)

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4. Is EHFA truly European?

Yes, EHFA is based on EU statutes, has a Board of only European citizens, and has European organizations as members.

EHFA is based in Brussels, Belgium, at the Maison des Associations Internationales, Rue Washington 40, B - 1050 Brussels.

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5. What is EHFA strategy regarding national associations?

EHFA hopes to count on the support of all European Associations as members. There are two ways in which this can occur: first, at a level that enables the HQ to become a member, and secondly, in a manner that enables all members of the National Association to become individual EHFA members under the banner of the national association.

The FIA (UK) was the first European Association to support EHFA, not just with HQ membership but also by signing up all 2250 of its member clubs.

In addition, the following associations are currently members of EHFA with their HQ:

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6. What is EHFA involvement in Brussels?

EHFA has been instrumental in designing the Standards for the fitness industry under the European Credit (Transfer) System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET) and European Qualifications Framework (EQF) programmes. Funded by the European Commission, and developed in partnership with a number of European stakeholders, EHFA has played a driving role in the harmonisation of standards in Europe, working to ensure that quality of training is in place.

EHFA is an active member of the DG Sanco Platform for Action on Health Physical Activity and Diet.

EHFA is also an active partner in developing a social dialogue for the health and fitness sector.

EHFA is a recognised stakeholder for the European health and fitness sector by the European Commission.

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7. How can a training provider become an EHFA Accredited Institution?

As the Standards setting body for the European Health and Fitness Sector, EHFA coordinates a programme accreditation process. This process will allow organisations at National, Regional or Local level to apply for their fitness programmes to be mapped against the EHFA Standards and Competence Framework developed in partnership with the European Commission.

A government recognised accreditation body has been appointed by EHFA as the EHFA Accreditation Unit (EAU) to undertake this process. Initially the programmes which can be mapped to the Standards are those aimed at training Basic and Advanced Instructors dealing with healthy adults.

Each submission will be considered on its merits and the EAU will evaluate content and process to ensure that the programmes are fit for purpose in producing candidates that can demonstrate the skills and competence required and identified in the EHFA Standards to produce a Health and Fitness Professional.

The EHFA Standards have been agreed as the minimum requirements for an individual to be called a professional. The accreditation process will not rate one programme against another.

EHFA works with National Associations, where they exist, and also liaises closely with National Authorities responsible for qualifications within a particular country.

Steps to Accreditation:

Step No. 1 - is to complete the online registration of interest
Step No. 2 - once this application has been received you will receive, by return, an application pack from the accrediting body which will outline the process in full and the costs involved. The pack will enable you to undertake a self assessment against the check list and this will influence the time required by onsite assessors which will also influence the final cost of accreditation.
Step No. 3 - will be the visit from the assessors. The visit needs to coincide with observation of the practical assessments (at whichever level you are applying for).
Step No. 4 - will depend on Step No. 3 but will be either full acceptance or a remedial action plan towards compliance.

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8. What is EHFA Public Policy Strategy for the future?

EHFA officially opened its new Brussels HQ on 1 December 2007. This will enable EHFA to better serve the European health and fitness sector by being the “eyes and ears” of the industry on the ground.

EHFA Public Policy mission is to:

Protect EHFA members from policy, legislation or new regulation
Identify new opportunities for EHFA members by keeping aware of new policy developments
Build support for the European health and fitness sector among politicians and civil servants for policy development
Raise the profile of the European health and fitness sector among decision makers

The strategy for implementation is to use EHFA position on the ground in Brussels to understand the policy environment, influence the key decision makers and deliver on measurable objectives.

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9. How is EHFA funded?

EHFA is funded through membership fees, sponsorships and grants from the EU.

In addition to these sources of income, EHFA recently announced Platinum Strategic Partnerships with:

Fitness First, the world’s largest health and fitness operator
HealthCity International, one of Europe’s leading health and fitness chains with over 100 clubs in Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands
Johnson Health Tech, one of the world’s leading home and commercial fitness equipment suppliers
Life Fitness, a world leader in commercial and home fitness equipment
Precor, a division of Amer Sports, a leading international sports equipment company
SATS-Group, Scandinavia, a second largest European health club chain with 105 facilities in 4 countries
SkillsActive, the UK Skills Council for Active Leisure and Learning
Startrac, an international leader in commercial quality fitness equipment
Technogym the Wellness Company which is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of home and commercial fitness training equipment
Pellikaan Construction, the leading construction company specializing in designing and building sports facilities
Fitness Industry Association, the UK Trade Association (largest in the EU) with a specialization in public policy.

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10. Who can become members of EHFA?

EHFA is an open organisation. From the largest companies in the world, to an individual passionate about exercise, every individual and every company is free to become an EHFA member. EHFA is a ‘broad church’ that represents the whole industry and all its stakeholders. This is enshrined in EHFA’s statutes of establishment (available on request) and has been the case since 2001.

EHFA represents the whole industry, including associations, suppliers, training providers and individuals because it has a simple unifying purpose: to raise standards in the health and fitness sector and get more people more active more often.

It is that message that EHFA takes to the European Commission, the WHO, the IOC and any organisation that shares those objectives is welcome as member of EHFA.

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11. Can individual clubs become EHFA members? How does this effect National Associations?

EHFA wants 27 strong national associations to represent the interests of the health and fitness sector at the national level.

It is EHFA’s commitment to see that national associations thrive.

To that extent, EHFA will not sign up single operators as members when there is a national association that already holds collective membership of EHFA.

As soon as a national association becomes a collective member of EHFA, the funds and addressee of membership from the operator(s) that joined EHFA directly will be handed over to the national association.

In some cases, there is no national association, as is the case, for example, in Sweden. The largest operator in Sweden, SATs joined EHFA as a collective member. They will be members of EHFA directly until there is a national association with a collective EHFA membership.

It is EHFA’s goal to ensure that the infrastructure is in place across Europe and that the industry is organised in each member state. EHFA will not undermine this goal by interfering in national matters. EHFA will only engage in local issues upon invitation or request from national associations.

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12. What are the key areas of activity for EHFA?

Key areas of EHFA activities:

Set the European agenda on physical activity and fitness
Drive for Quality Standards and Certification through the ECVET and EQF process that will result in the creation of the European Register of Exercise Professionals ( EREPS) www.ereps.eu
Improve the perception of the industry by politicians/media/consumers
Increase participation in our clubs/centres and to positively influence public health, because Fitness is "a force for good" and “Fitness is prevention”
Increase our influence with EU/Governments and to obtain EU funding to help us increase participation
Fully document the European fitness industry and to drive the need for research.

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13. What is the European Register of Exercise Professionals?

The European Register of Exercise Professionals (EREPS) www.ereps.eu is a scheme for the registration of all instructors, trainers and teachers working across Europe in the exercise and fitness industry. EREPS helps to coordinate the development of national registers with agreed common procedures and quality assures that exercise professionals are qualified to do their job. This gives consumers, employers and partners in medical professions confidence in their professionalism and provides a process for assisting in the mobility of workers.

Registration means that an exercise professional has met prescribed minimum standards and that they practice safely, effectively, and legally and are committed to raising standards through a process of continuing professional development.

EREPS is regulated by the European Health & Fitness Association Standards Council using an accepted official European qualification framework which describes the knowledge, skills and competencies exercise professionals need to achieve for registration.

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