With Jo's guidance, David lost the weight in just eight weeks, lowered his blood pressure and now follows a healthy lifestyle with a nutrition plan and regular gym sessions. Following that success, BBC Radio Cornwall also invited the gym to participate in their display at The Royal Cornwall Show, with Mike himself performing workout demonstrations to an estimated 16,000 people visiting the tent each day.
Jo's input at the gym saw membership numbers rise by 43% and provided enhanced facilities and new programmes for gym members. One scheme that was implemented involved a diet and fitness master class led by Simon Jurkiw from Maximuscle, a leading sports nutrition supplier. Jo also forged links with multinational companies including Technogym- which provides professional workout equipment and is an official supplier to the 2008 Olympic Games.
Jo, who studied at Cornwall College St Austell and the University of Gloucestershire, was always determined to build her career in Cornwall, explaining, "Finding a job close to home was essential for me, as my family have lived here for generations and there really is nowhere as special as Cornwall. Inspiring people to get active and feel better about themselves is something I really enjoy and to be offered a full time job doing exactly that is a dream come true."
Owner Mike Munds had recruited Jo through Combined Universities in Cornwall's graduate placement scheme- Unlocking Cornish Potential (UCP)- in June 2006 when he had been looking for a skilled graduate to take control of the marketing and events management functions of the business.
He is obviously pleased with the positive effect Jo has had at the studio, commenting, "Jo came to us through UCP and we couldn't have asked for a better candidate. Jo has proved to be a great asset to the business and I am very pleased that she will be continuing with us as Marketing Manager". He adds," The UCP programme works really well- matching the right person to the right job. And the ongoing support from the project officer is invaluable too."
Now Jo has reached the end of her UCP project and her achievements have been rewarded by a full time management level position, she is keen to play an active and ongoing role in the local business community, commenting, "I was recently invited to speak to Cornish businesses at Cornwall College's Business Event called 'Good for Cornwall, Good for Business' and I was delighted to be involved. My UCP project was the start of so many opportunities."
The Unlocking Cornish Potential scheme, which is supported by Objective One and managed by Cornwall College, specialises in arranging placements for graduates within Cornish businesses to work on projects which will improve company success and also provide real life work experience. With 148 UCP placements already completed and over 70% of their graduates gaining full time employment as a result, UCP remains a valuable resource for Cornwall's businesses.
