Christchurch fitness manager named Skills Active Apprentice of the Year

Skills Active has announced that its Apprentice of the Year for 2018 is CityFitness Regional Director of Fitness, Mark Hurdle.

Each year Skills Active recognises an outstanding apprentice who represents all the qualities that Skills Active hopes to see in the people who undertake its qualifications.

Skills Active acting Chief Executive Leona van der Heyden explains that the sport, exercise, recreation and performing arts industries touch the lives of all New Zealanders - making this country a healthier, happier place through physical activity and recreation.

Commenting on the Apprentice of the Year award, van der Heyden says “therefore, lots of highly-skilled professionals with passion, commitment, drive and empathy are needed - and Mark has all of those traits.”

van der Heyden sees that Hurdle makes the most of every minute that he’s got, in work and in his personal life, to live up to his values and his goals, and to influence as many people as he can to make a positive difference in the lives of New Zealanders, adding “he has an infectious enthusiasm about the physical, mental and emotional benefits of exercise. He believes in the power of fitness to give people a sense of balance and wellbeing, and he’s using his considerable skills and expertise to spread that message far and wide.”

Hurdle says he took on the apprenticeship with the goal of growing his management skill set, commenting “I had no formal training or education around managing people so I was just going with my gut.

“Here was a chance to validate what I was doing. Managing people is a huge part of my career, so the apprenticeship was perfect for me to fine-tune my skills.”

Mark accepted his award at the New Zealand Recreation Association awards evening at the Auckland Museum last week.

Click here to read more about his apprenticeship journey.