Self-belief is at the core of what we do and we share that belief across our organisation, with our learners and with our employers. We believe that given the right support and guidance, people can achieve many great things. Through every step of the journey, our tutors provide skilled guidance, working with our learners’ commitment and determination. With the help and support offered by our master trainers, our learners can leap every hurdle that comes their way.

ICON is a company that helps our learners gain new skills and knowledge, improving work-based performance and employer objectives.

Case Studies

Harry’s Story

Harry is a true inspiration when it comes to what’s possible with the right amount of learning and support. He began his training with ICON as a Gym Instructor Apprentice in December 2015, supported by both his very proactive Mum and a great Manager, James Gould, at easyGym in Southampton. Harry has Asperger’s Syndrome and needs support from those around him to help him learn key skills as well as the best ways to relate to others, colleagues and customers.

Harry’s Mum Jasmina explains more: Harry seems to learn and understand things better when they are explained in a specific way. He has a great memory and capacity to learn, as well as being kind-hearted and very positive in his outlook on life. He just needs support and patience to allow him to absorb details in a way that he can really understand.  I thought going down the Leisure Apprenticeship route would be the most useful for him, as it would allow him to learn at his own pace, be physically active, which is really important to him, and enable him to work in a people focused environment. He’s really good with people but he doesn’t always understand the subtleties of social interactions. However, the more contact he has, the more he develops his understanding.

James and the team at easyGym have been amazing! Harry has been accepted for who he is and has become friends with many of the people he’s met during his learner journey.  He has fallen in love with fitness and spends much of his spare time working out.

Achievements

Since starting out two years ago, as an Apprentice Gym Instructor Harry has now become a fully qualified Personal Trainer. He is also a qualified Gym Instructor, Circuit Instructor and Cycling Instructor.  He achieved his Level 3 Personal Training qualification in July 2017.

Challenges

Group delivery didn’t work for Harry when it came to learning so he was offered dedicated support and additional visits by James Coates, ICON Skills Assessor, who ensured Harry was able to take his time with each stage of the programme.  The extra time was often spent explaining questions and concepts in a very specific way so that Harry could use various points of reference he felt comfortable with, to understand each element of the programme.

Harry had to re-sit a couple of the exams but he never gave up and persevered each time he had a setback. He has achieved many high scores throughout, most recently scoring 93% in his latest exam.

The Future

It’s been such an incredible journey and we couldn’t have done it without the help and support of James Gould and James Coates and the team at easyGym.

This is a huge milestone for Harry and it means he will be able to get a job, make a living for himself and be more independent; which goes a long way towards helping him live a productive and fulfilling life.

We have really enjoyed working with ICON and appreciate all the hard work and patience from everyone.