DCG Success Stories

As someone who has always been sporty, working as a personal trainer at Matlock’s Arc Leisure Centre is the ideal job for 18-year-old Jess Guest.

Jess, who first worked at Arc on a casual basis, has been taken on full-time after completing a leisure apprenticeship with Derbyshire Dales District Council.

While an apprentice, she gained her level two personal training qualifications with Derby College and she is currently working towards level three.

Jess, who is from Morton, took PE at GCSE and has been involved in competitive sport since a young age. She used to swim for City Of Derby Swimming Club and trained with Olympic Gold medallist Adam Peaty, who is also a former Derby College student.

As part of her apprenticeship, Jess gained experience across a range of areas including lifeguarding, swimming teaching and Reception, as well as fitness instruction.

In her role as personal trainer, she now helps people to achieve their fitness goals, as well as showing them healthy new ways to shed excess pounds and build muscle tone.

Since taking up her full-time role Jess has introduced Pound – a cardiovascular workout which involves exercising to the rhythm of drumsticks.

Arc is among only a handful of centres to offer Pound in Derbyshire and Jess’s classes are very popular.

Working with people of all ages and abilities, she teaches a whole range of activities, including swimming and aerobics.

Jess said Derby College had been very supportive throughout her apprenticeship and beyond it.