Dr Mark Mullineaux

EdD, MA, BA QTS(hons) Physical Education, TDLB Assessor (D32/33), External Verifier YMCA PT, NSCA-CPT


A former RAF Physical Educational Instructional Officer and university lecturer, Mark currently runs Personal Training and Conditioning Service in North Lancashire.

Having completed a BA in Physical Education and an MA in sport at the University of Warwick I began my teaching career at Lawrence Sheriff school, Rugby in 1990. My love of sport at school had meant serious fitness training began when I was 14 and has continued ever since, so going into Physical Education was a natural step for me.

My career since leaving Lawrence Sheriff has seen me work as a Physical Educational Instructional Officer for the RAF, further education lecturing and university lecturing. It was whilst I was university lecturing that I first became interested in YMCA qualifications; the first module I completed was Level 2 Gym: I thought it was brilliant. What struck me was the attention to detail and the enthusiasm of the tutors; as a consequence, I enrolled immediately on another module: circuits (a natural step since I used to take 15 circuits a week in the Air Force).

I thought after the gym and circuits modules that Northern Fitness was a company that I’d like to work for, so I gave them a ring. It was a daunting conversation: I hadn’t realised what was required to work for them: assessor awards, PT qualifications and industry experience. Nevertheless, I was invited to a meeting of prospective assessors the day after the phone call, so off I went. I haven’t really looked back since.

After about a year of training, I was asked to work for NFE as an assessor on L2 Gym. I then moved on to assessing circuits and have extended my scope ever since. In 2003 I decided that I wanted to leave university lecturing and branch out on my own. I stood on the edge of this decision for some time and then made a second significant phone call to Northern Fitness, this time asking if they would like me to tutor for them. One month later I found myself assisting on a L2 gym course and my new career was under way.

As well as tutoring on the majority of the personal trainer award modules, I now run my own successful PT business in the South Lakes and am an external verifier for the awarding body (Central YMCA Qualifications). I have branched out into strength and conditioning and have worked for professional rugby league clubs, elite level hockey clubs, PGA golfers and Commonwealth karate champions. My varied experience comes across in my teaching of PFE students: realistic, up to date and (most importantly) enthusiastic.