A boom in sports retail and healthy lifestyle has boosted Hong Kong's gym and fitness club sector in recent years. But increased business and growing competition have fuelled a shortage of homegrown talent that is felt across the local industry.
Many companies understand that in order to stay ahead in this highly competitive market, improving staff quality and developing talent are of utmost importance.
'Good people can help grow the company, that's why we are always on the lookout for high-quality staff,' says Isabella Tam, regional human resources manager of JV Fitness Limited, which operates the California Fitness chain and mYoga.
'It is difficult to find the right kind of talent, especially when the demand is higher than supply. But because we are a global leader in this sector with a long history and a quality brand, we can attract quality people,' she says.
Managed by JV Fitness Limited, California Fitness is a wholly-owned subsidiary of 24 Hour Fitness, which has about 400 clubs serving more than three million members worldwide. The first California Fitness club was opened in Hong Kong in 1996.
Apart from the conventional channels, the company also uses alternative recruitment platforms to source talent, including online activities and fitness associations. It has even explored hiring from across the border, searching for potential candidates in Shenzhen and Guangzhou.