As Strategic Projects Officer, Will Smithard oversees ukactive’s strategic projects function which delivers work across health, major brands and research. Prior to joining ukactive, Will spent the previous decade in the management consultancy industry and predominately at Deloitte, where he specialised […]
Ludovic Rossignol is the co-founder of The London, Amsterdam and New York Coffee Festivals – he’s also the mastermind behind Balance Festival and The Balance Urban Triathlon. His vision is to create a cutting-edge portfolio of urban fitness and wellness […]
Geoff Bamber is the CEO of Digme. Geoff studied at the University of Oxford and Stanford University in California before embarking on a career finance. An entrepreneur at heart, Geoff set up his own hedge fund firm in 2010, but […]
Ben Porter is the manager of F45 Wandsworth, just one of the sites that represents the world’s largest growing functional training network. Ben has a wealth of experience in the fitness industry, from creating a clothing brand to personal training, […]
Ben Steadman is the Business Development Director at EXF Fitness. Since his arrival in September 2017, Ben has built strong strategic partnerships which have set EXF Fitness for an exciting year ahead. EXF Fitness have launched a new website, streamlined […]
The founder and lead trainer of famous London gym Reach Fitness, Richard Tidmarsh is one of the leading names in the UK Fitness Industry. Rich has over 12 years of experience in the industry, delivering over 10,000 one to one […]
Jenny Patrickson is the Managing Director of Active IQ, a leading specialist awarding organisation for active leisure qualifications. Jenny has over 25 years of experience within the active leisure sector, leading the development of specialist health and fitness related awarding organisations […]
Emma Forward is the Chief Operating Officer for EMD UK and has over 20 years of experience in the fitness industry. Emma joined EMD UK in 2012 as Development Director and was promoted to COO in 2015. Emma is responsible for the overall […]
Matt Johnson is the Executive Director of Pulse Design and Build, the division of the Pulse Group responsible for designing, constructing, and fitting out state-of-the-art leisure centres as well as completing full refurbishments of existing facilities. Matt has more than […]
Adam Paker is the newly appointed CEO at Swimming Nature, the largest provider of premium swimming tuition in the UK. Adam is the former chief executive of the Commonwealth Games England and Swim England, formally known as the ASA. Using […]
Jenny von Eynern is the Senior Brand Manager at YOGI TEA® . Jenny is responsible for the core business brand portfolio, product innovation and market research. The mission of YOGI TEA® is to make teas that do more than just […]
Eleni Plakitsi is the founder of Esquared, a unique new on-demand fitness app that is helping gym owners make the most out of their under-utilised assets by connecting busy fitness enthusiasts with two-hour gym sessions and one-off classes in real […]
Michael Clark is the Business Development Director at Swimming Nature, the largest provider of premium swimming lessons in the UK. Michael has over 25 years of experience within the sector, which include senior positions at Living Well and Leisure Connection […]
Paul Woodford is Alliance’s Director of Marketing and Partnerships. With over 22 years experience, Paul is considered one of the leisure sectors top experts in brand development, sales, marketing and customer service. We met with Paul to find out where […]
Sarah Beattie is the Regional Netball Development Manager at Everyone Active. Within her role, she is seeing sport participation growing steadily, and bringing further opportunities for operators. We spoke to Sarah about: how sport can be an effective revenue stream […]
Michael Clark is the Business Development Director at Swimming Nature, the largest provider of premium swimming lessons in the UK. Michael has over 25 years of experience within the sector, which include senior positions at Living Well and Leisure Connection […]
Sophie Harriet is a Unity Allstars Competitive Cheerleader who has been training in gymnastics for the past 15 years. With the UK Cheerleading team beating 13 other nations to bag the Gold medal at the World Championships in April, and […]
Ben Steadman is the COO of Speedflex, the high intensity circuit training company set up by Sage Software founder Graham Wylie and former Newcastle United and England Captain Alan Shearer. Ben has been pivotal in driving forward three clear markets; […]
Paul Ferris is the Managing Director of Speedflex, a company that offers high intensity circuit training “with a difference”. In 2011 Paul set up the business with Sage Software founder Graham Wylie and former Newcastle United and England Captain Alan […]
Rob Beale is the leading consultant to multi-site fitness operators, having spent the last decade in senior roles with Holmes Place, Virgin Active, David Lloyd Leisure and Aspria Europe. We spoke with Rob to learn about how clubs should hire, train […]
Dr. Paul Bedford is the fitness industry’s leading authority on the management of retention, attrition and the customer experience, and author of the world’s largest retention study. You can find out more at The Retention Guru or by following @guru_paul […]
Kristoph Thompson is the director of S8 Training, specialising in tailored training solutions for the fitness industry. Kristoph is the Director of Sideways8, a training provider specialising in creating bespoke training solutions for the fitness industry. Kristoph has worked in […]
Brian Firth is the CEO of MIE Research and Managing Director of FitQuest, an accurate fitness measurement tool that measures a person’s physical capacity and supports operators’ goals by offering tailored exercise programming for gym goers. With over 30 years’ […]
Having launched over 60 separate health clubs, Neil Haughin of Impact Fitness is regarded as one of the UK’s leading experts in gym and health club pre-sales, with huge experience in everything from sales systems and offline media to SEO […]
Jeffrey Young is the Managing Director of Allegra Strategies, a strategic research consultancy, pioneering research in the health and wellness industry for over 15 years. He is also the CEO and Co-Founder of Balance Inc, the group who own Balance […]
Andy Lewis is one of a rare breed of sales and marketing specialist whose experience falls evenly across both disciplines. As the Export Sales Director for Maclaren’s Buggies, Andy took sales in the US from £100,000 to £6 million, before […]
With a background in IT systems, marketing and data analysis, Guy Griffiths from GGFit is regarded as one of the industry’s leading experts in maximising retention rates for health clubs through data mining/processes and targeted communications. We met with Guy […]
Sam Theyers is an experienced fitness director with two decades global industry experience. Most recently Head of Fitness at Anytime Fitness Australia, Sam has been instrumental in the development and rollout of new products and services which increase participation and […]
Rory McGown is the founder of the award winning GYMetrix who are credited with transforming the industry’s approach to kit selection and floor layout. By tracking the usage of each piece of kit, GYMetrix ensure that operators make decisions based […]
Adrian Worsley is a Regional Manager with more than a decade of experience. Currently with Bannatyne, he oversees their largest region with 13 sites and 40,000 members. Most recently he has spearheaded the development of a functional class series, created […]
Rachel Chatham is the Marketing Manager of Be:FIT London. As well as being the UK’s only health & fitness festival for women, Be:FIT also organise regular small events and supper clubs in partnership with many of London’s most popular gyms […]
Alina Cooper is regarded as one of the most entrepreneurial young minds in the UK fitness sector, and for good reason. Alongside her Director roles at Matuta Consulting, BaseFit and Six3Nine, Alina is also the Co-Founder and Managing Director of […]
Kayleigh O’Connor is the Director of Operations for inbound.co.uk, one of the agencies behind the Fitness Network. Alongside this role Kayleigh is also a professional actress, keen crossfitter and fitness blogger. It was this background that led to her fascination […]
Robin Karn is the National Sales Manager for Harlands Group. Having started in the industry managing a number of private gyms and then as a regional sales manager for Holmes Place, there is little Robin hasn’t experienced when it comes […]
Rob Johnson is the managing director and founder of Future Fit Training, the ukactive Training Provider of the Year, 2016. He built the business out of a desire to deliver better qualified personal trainers and fitness instructors to the industry […]
Jochen Michaelis is the MD UK of eGym, provider of state of the art gym equipment, powered by software that adjusts resistance based on the user’s strength and objectives. Workout data is automatically synchronised with the eGym platform and is […]
Jenny Patrickson is the Managing Director of Active IQ, one of the UK’s leading awarding organisations for the leisure and wellbeing sector. With over 25 years of experience in the industry, a reputation for strategic business planning and a deep […]
Ed Yates is a Digital Strategist for Xercise4Less. With an extensive agency background, Ed has considerable experience in all aspects of digital marketing, from SEO and link building to content production and conversion rate optimisation. Since joining Xercise4Less Ed has […]
Owen Bowling is the founder and CEO of CrankIt Fitness, Australia’s leading functional training product and education company. With a background in both gymnastics, circus and elite level sports (both playing and coaching), Owen has a unique experience in human […]
Nicola Joyce is a leading copywriter in the fitness industry. She has worked with some of the industry’s most respected brands, such as Speedo, Berghaus, Bulk Powders, Escape Fitness and Holland & Barrett, as well as writing for large media […]
Michael Clark is the Business Development Director for Swimming Nature, the largest independent provider of personalised swimming tuition in the UK. Michael has over 20 years of experience within the sector, which include senior positions at Living Well and Leisure […]
A gold medalist in the 2012 Olympics, Zac Purchase MBE has founded ZacsFitness.com, a boutique group fitness facility in the small town of Marlow. Having only opened their studio in November, within weeks they were already up to 7 classes […]
Paul Ferris is the Managing Director of Speedflex, a company that offers high intensity circuit training “with a difference”. In 2011 Paul set up the business with Sage Software founder Graham Wylie and former Newcastle United and England Captain Alan […]
Duncan Jefford is a Regional Director with Everyone Active, a leading leisure operator managing 150 leisure facilities nationwide. Over the last decade Duncan has been instrumental in the company’s extensive growth, increasing the number of operational sites five-fold and growing […]
David Williamson leads the UK health and fitness accounts for Imagesound, who provide visual and audio solutions to over 22,000 sites in 139 countries. We met with David to learn about how gyms and clubs can use sound to enhance […]
Alister Rollins is the founder and CEO of MoveGB, a free online platform that enables fitness operators to offer their services to a network of 100,000s of active people in the UK. Think ‘Netflix’ for physical fitness outlets. Prior to […]
We spoke to Stretch Rayner, Founder and Trainer at Momentum – CrossFit Hackney, one of London’s leading CrossFit boxes, who transformed Runner’s World’s, Kerry McCarthy into a lean machine. CrossFit Hackney affiliated the London Box Battles, who partner with Fresh […]
Rob Smyth is the Commercial Director of British Military Fitness (BMF), With over 400 classes in more than 140 locations across the UK, BMF is regarded by many as the leading provider of outdoor fitness. Prior to joining BMF, Rob […]
Zoom Media is one of the world’s leading providers of advertising and promotion for the health and fitness sector. In the UK alone it has 4000 screens across 700 venues and works in association with all the leading health and fitness chains […]
Andy Gill is the MD of Ethics Leisure, a leading fitness consultancy with specific expertise in gym floor design. Over the past 20 years Andy has advised more than 200 facilities on equipment procurement, mix and layout. We spoke to […]
Becky Fletcher, Senior Digital Writer at NetDoctor, is regarded as one of the UK’s leading fitness journalists, having worked with the likes of Health & Fitness, The Express, and Cosmopolitan. NetDoctor is the UK’s independent health website, which aims to […]
James Poole is the co-founder of Advent Running, a rapidly growing free running group that has recently been nominated for the best online community at The Running Awards, 2016. James is also a triathlon coach, an ultra runner and a member of the 2016 […]
Rob Beale is the leading consultant to multi-site fitness operators. He is currently advising Next Gen on product and member services in Australasia. He has spent the last decade in senior roles with Holmes Place, Virgin Active and David Lloyd […]
Joanne Mathews is Founder and Managing Director of Ten Health and Fitness, widely regarded as the UK’s leading chain for dynamic pilates. The brand is highly regarded for its holistic approach to health, exercise and rehabilitation, and for its unique […]
Sarah Scott has been pole dancing for the last 8 years and is a master trainer for Xpert Pole and Aerial Fitness. Her many accolades include 1st place for Miss Pole Dance UK, 2012, and 2nd place in the 2012 […]
Christina Eccles is the Editor of Workout Magazine, one of the UK’s top industry magazines. Christina has been a journalist for 10 years and has been the editor at Workout Magazine for the past three, so she certainly knows a […]
Jacqueline Hooton is the founder of WIFE (Women in Fitness Empowerment) Events. She created the first ever all-female conference in March 2015 to champion professional women working in health and fitness and provide a platform for their voices to be […]
Award winning fitness expert and author of The High Fat Diet, Zana Morris is founder of The Library Gym, The Little Library and The Clock, a collection of premium boutique gyms around London. We met with Zana to learn why […]
Gemma Newton is the Managing Director of the UK Blog Awards with a legal background and over 10 years’ experience in the events and marketing sector. Gemma sat on the idea of developing the UK Blog Awards for over 2 […]
Lesley Aitken is one of the fitness industry’s leading experts in lead generation and conversion. With over 25 years experience in sales, Lesley now works internationally across many brands, including the likes of Matrix Fitness, and speaks at regular industry […]
Having launched nearly 50 separate health clubs, Neil Haughin of Impact Fitness is regarded as one of the UK’s leading experts in gym and health club pre-sales, with huge experience in everything from sales systems and offline media to SEO […]
David Monkhouse is a Trustee and Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity. He has an MBA in International Sports Management from Loughborough and is joint Director of Leisure-net Solutions. Working with the […]
Michael Clark heads up Customer Relationships and Business Development for e-commerce fitness specialists Gym-Partners. Over 25 years Michael has held numerous senior positions with the likes of Leisure Connection (1Life), Livingwell and Fitness First as well as having created and […]
In the last 5 years, Cheryl Hersey has been part of the duo who have built Action PR into one of the fitness industry’s leading PR agencies. They put their success down to a complete understanding of the industry, and […]
John Halls is the Managing Director of Physical Company Ltd, one of the UK’s fastest growing gym equipment company with 55% growth since John joined in 2007. We met with John to learn how he’d achieved this growth and, in […]
With a background in IT systems, marketing and data analysis, Guy Griffiths from GGFit is regarded as one of the industry’s leading experts in maximising retention rates for health clubs through data mining/processes and targeted communications. We met with Guy […]
Lee Cain is the founder of HFE, one of the UK’s foremost fitness industry training providers. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and has a First Class Honours Degree in Sport and Exercise Science. For over 15 years […]
Dr Paul Bedford of Retention Guru is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading authorities on gym membership retention. With a master’s degree in exercise and health behaviours and a PHD from the London Sports Institute into adherence and […]
David Minton is widely regarded as one of the leading authorities on fitness trends within the UK, and for good reason. Having founded the Leisure Database Company 30 years ago, David has collected more insight into consumer and operator trends […]
Rory McGown is the founder of the award winning GYMetrix who are credited with transforming the industry’s approach to kit selection and floor layout. By tracking the usage of each piece of kit, GYMetrix ensure that operators make decisions based […]
Jon Johnston is the Managing Director of Matrix Fitness UK, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of fitness equipment. He has helped grow the commercial division of the business from £3m to over £31m in under 8 years. Jon has […]
Ben Coomber is a qualified Nutritionist and the owner of online nutrition and education company Body Type Nutrition. He also owns and operates a number of other businesses including a transdermal technology business, a weight loss coaching programme for women […]
Dan Edwardes is a founder and director of Parkour Generations, and the co-creator of two global instructor certifications: A.D.A.P.T™ and Movement Fitness Specialist™. Over the past decade Parkour has gone from being a very underground sport to one that is […]
Neil Harmsworth and Jamie Ward are the co-founders of PayasUgym, an online aggregator which currently features over 2300 gyms across the UK. PayasUgym customers can view reviews and other information about these gyms on the PayasUgym website, and use these […]
Niki Rein is the founder of barrecore, a series of movements that uses a ballet barre, someone’s body weight and isometric exercises to stretch every muscle group in the body. After moving to London in 2009, Niki spotted a gap […]
After a career as player, coach and manager in rugby league, Callum Irving took a position with Sport England working on projects to increase participation in sport. Since that time Callum has developed a boutique consultancy, gorillaBC, that’s renowned for […]
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson is the chair of the board for ukactive, an organisation set up to get more people, more active, more often. She is widely regarded as one of the UK’s most successful disabled athletes; during her career she […]
Jonathan Woodward and Nick Luder are the management team of Edge Cycle, an indoor cycling studio based in Holborn, London. The studio has been described as London’s most innovative cycle studio, offering a wide variety of combination-based workouts alongside the […]
Giles Dean and James Balfour are the co-founders of 1Rebel, a no-contract, ‘pay-as-you-train’ group training boutique based in the heart of London. 1Rebel has cultivated an incredibly strong brand and a large contingent of brand advocates, and in September they […]
Don Saladino is a celebrity trainer and co-founder of Drive 495, a golf-specific gym based in Manhattan. He started the club with his brother Joe, a former professional golfer, in 2004. As well as being featured in the likes of […]
Christina Albe is the Marketing Director of BOOM Cycle, “A high energy, bike-based, music focused fitness experience.” In 2011 American Model Hilary Gilbert partnered with Robert Rowland to set up BOOM Cycle. Their Shoreditch site was London’s first indoor cycling […]
John Treharne pioneered the Budget Gym model with The Gym Group back in 2007. They now have 62 gyms live with have a further 18 due to launch this year. However, far from approaching saturation, John believes the budget market […]
After retiring from an international rugby career which saw him represent both England and the British Lions, Phil Greening turned his attention to professional coaching and has since been involved with London Welsh, England 7’s, Scotland 7’s and has been […]
James Brant is the Social Media Manager for David Lloyd Leisure. James oversees the strategy and implementation for each of their social media platforms as well as the new David Lloyd blog. We met with James to discover how David […]
For the past 12 years Mel Spooner has worked with the biggest fitness brands in the industry, including TRX, TriggerPoint, PTA Global as well as the top 100 health clubs. In a career which has encompassed domestic roles, EMEA and […]
Mark Anthony, also known as the ‘body genius’, is not only one of the UK’s most notorious celebrity personal trainers but also the owner of Rush Fitness, a new chain of “premium budget” gyms around London. We met with Mark […]
Andy Tee is the Managing Director of Simply Gym, a rapidly expanding chain of premium budget gyms. With 9 profitable sites active and plans for another 4 over the next 12 months, Simply Gym have developed a highly effective budget […]
As Chairman of PTA Global’s Certification Board and Fitness Manager at 24 Hour Fitness, Christopher Ybanez is well known for his strong leadership style. With over 12,000 members and 44,000 workouts a month in his gym, Christopher needs to know […]
Graham Bertrand is the owner of Physique Sports, the UK’s largest provider of remanufactured gym equipment, and advisor to many of the fastest growing budget gyms in the UK. We met with Graham to learn what separates the best budget […]
With over 150 gyms using his member subscription software, Jack Malin, the founder and MD of membr.com, has some strong views on how the market is embracing marketing technology and where major improvements still need to be made. Jack founded […]
Scott Baptie is a physique and sports nutritionist who specialises in helping people lose fat, build muscle and improve their sports performance. In addition to running Food For Fitness, Scott provides nutrition advice to many multinational companies, professional football clubs, […]