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What makes a workplace fitness programme successful?
For us, it’s not simply about filling a timetable with popular classes. It’s about creating a programme that people genuinely want to use.
That’s why every year we ask attendees across all our sites to share their feedback on fitness classes with That Day. We want to understand what it is that people enjoy about our classes, which instructors are making an impact, and most importantly, what we can do to continually improve their experience.
Last year, our fitness classes received an average rating of 4.7 out of 5, which we were very happy with. We took some of the constructive feedback on board, and this year, our fitness classes received an average rating of 4.8 out of 5! All classes consistently got rated 4 or 5 across all of our customer sites.
Respondents gave an average of 9.4 out of 10 when asked how likely they would be to recommend our classes to a colleague.
We are so pleased with this feedback and especially proud of all our instructors who design and deliver these sessions.
Superstar Instructor Feedback
What’s most encouraging is the feedback behind the number. Again and again, people mentioned the quality of our instructors, the variety of classes, and the way sessions are adapted to different abilities.
One attendee described Steve’s boxing classes as “very enjoyable”, adding that he is “very knowledgeable about boxing and explains it very well.”
Another attendee highlighted Conor’s boxing sessions, saying he is “great at reading people’s level and tailoring accordingly.”
And it wasn’t just about the fitness itself. The instructors were repeatedly praised for making classes welcoming, enjoyable and accessible.
One attendee said of Julie’s strength classes:
“She makes you feel capable and helps you throughout. She is constantly watching you to make sure you are doing the exercises correctly and she remembers everything you tell her about yourself. Her class is fun and a joy to attend.”
Another simply summed up Oxana’s Pilates with:
“She is fabulous – no notes!”
That combination of expertise, encouragement and personality is something we look for in particular when recruiting for trainers. We know it makes a huge difference to whether people want to come back week after week.
Different workplaces, Different needs
One of the most interesting things to come out of the survey was just how different the preferences can be from one workplace to another.
At some sites, people asked for more lunchtime strength classes. At others, there is demand for earlier starts or more after-work sessions. Some communities want more high-intensity options, while others are looking for Pilates, mobility or slower-paced sessions.
That’s exactly why we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all workplace fitness programme.
Roz Smith, our Head of Fitness Services, explains:
“Each of our client sites has its own unique ecosystem – classes and instructors that are fully booked with waitlists at one site may look very different from those that are most popular at another. For each site to be successful, it’s essential that we listen to what that building’s community wants and needs.”
This is why whenever we take on a new client, we always survey their workplace to see what classes, times and days of the week they would like to train. Because it's always different!
One attendee summed up the value of having the programme on-site particularly well, saying:
“It’s rare I get to go but I LOVE this about our building.”
Another said:
“They are something I look forward to every week and are really good.”
For us, those comments are just as valuable as the headline scores.
Feedback that shapes what we do next
The survey has given us plenty to celebrate – but also plenty to work with.
Feedback is hugely important to how we run our services. As Roz explains:
“The more feedback we gather, the better we can tailor the experience to that community, helping to drive engagement and ultimately make our classes and services more impactful.”
That means feedback isn't simply something we collect and file away. We use it to help shape class timetables, identify opportunities for new sessions, understand which formats and instructors are resonating with different communities, and make changes where they are needed.
Big thank you to all our feedback respondents!
With an average class rating of 4.8/5 and a 9.4/10 recommendation score, we’re delighted to see such a positive response from the people taking part in our classes.
Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to share your experience of attending fitness classes with That Day.
