As an organisation that exists to help martial arts schools, it is no surprise that the past few months have been busy for NEST Management. With Karate, Kick Boxing, Muay Thai and other martial arts businesses re-opening across the country, NEST has been on hand to ensure they have all the information and support they need.
NEST was founded in 2000 by martial arts instructors with the aim of helping other martial arts instructors. There are now over 14,000 martial arts businesses in the UK with more than 800,000 students combined. The estimated combined turnover of these businesses is over £500 million.
After a fallow three months, whereby the government ordered a shutdown of all contact sport, NEST’s help was required more than ever. To that end, the company has laid out a series of steps that it advises all martial arts organisations to follow.
Firstly, NEST emphasises the importance of having a strong online presence, which allows martial arts businesses to keep track of all of their members and to provide them with exciting and engaging content. NEST’s own myMA business management software is designed to do just that. It allows businesses to add a variety of content, including expert guidance on performing specific martial arts moves. It also provides for Zoom, YouTube and Vimeo integration.
The software also allows members to book their place in a class, which is particularly beneficial under the current social distancing regime. Once a class has reached capacity, members will no longer be able to book it. When this happens, NEST advises clubs to offer their members the chance to attend an online version of the class instead, something their platform makes possible.
NEST is also providing its member organisations with guidance on how to use social media to attract and maintain students. They have provided regular webinars on the topic throughout the Covid lockdown and they have also produced detailed marketing training guides.
In a similar vein, they are also offering health and safety guidance in the form of a Risk Assessment Protocol that martial arts businesses can use to ensure their venue is completely Covid compliant. This doubles up as a handy guide that they can pass on to students and parents.
The help NEST has been offering has not gone unnoticed. A video on their website provides numerous examples of the feedback they have received throughout the pandemic, with one business commenting ‘you can always rely on NEST in a crisis’ and another saying ‘it’s nice to know we’re not alone.’
In recent days, NEST has moved to reassure the martial arts world that the government’s new ‘Rule of 6’, preventing gatherings of more than six people, does not apply to them ‘as far as NEST is aware.’ According to Sport England, organised sports that have ‘been through return to play protocols’ are permitted to continue as before.
