[Podcast] Opening a gym?!

(Part 1) When I first opened that gym, it was one of the first in UK, that was class based. And then after that, obviously, it became a big theme and popular. But we had over 200 classes a week…a […]

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Why Personalisation is Key to Improving Employee Wellbeing

In a world where employee wellbeing has become increasingly important, one company has taken personalisation to the next level. HAWQ, a bespoke corporate wellbeing program hosted by STONE London, has launched a groundbreaking service that uses research-based data to provide […]

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Emma Bernstein

Moving Communities 2023: What Operators Need to Know

The public leisure sector plays a vital role in the health and wellbeing of local communities by providing opportunities for everyone to get active. In fact, the public leisure sector delivered over £1bn of social value in 2022 impacting communities […]

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2023 Trends for Fitness Operators

The end of the year marks a good time to look at your business with fresh eyes. The last several years have been nothing short of transformative for the industry but the reality is that the true fundamentals of fitness […]

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Interview with Inspace Managing Director, Ben Steadman

Ben Steadman has over 25 years of experience working in the fitness industry, driving innovation, directing brand strategy and driving sales. In 2020 Ben joined forces with colleague Phill Griffin to establish Inspace Fitness, a leading fitness equipment and service […]

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Andrea Sullivan

The Key to Successful Strategic Partnerships

Gympass, the world’s largest corporate wellbeing platform, has appointed Andrea Sullivan to the newly created role of Fitness Partner Sales Director to oversee its rapidly expanding portfolio of UK gyms. In her new role, Andrea will be responsible for adding […]

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Mike Seaman

What Will the Return of Live Events Look Like?

Trade shows and events pretty much stopped as a result of the pandemic. While many turned to virtual options, they lacked the human connection and the ability to engage with products and people in the same way as an in-person […]

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How Strava built a global community of 80M athletes

Strava’s mobile app and website connect millions of runners and cyclists through the sports they love. Launched in 2009, the platform has grown exponentially over the years, now connecting a global community of 86 million athletes from 195 countries. We […]

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Rob Beale

Are Gyms Really Bouncing Back? 

Gyms have had a rough year. But as restrictions start to lift, many industry reports are showing some encouraging data about members returning. Is this trend true across all gyms? Does location matter? We spoke to Rob Beale, Fitness Director […]

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How to Future-Proof Your Group Exercise Experience

Gyms are getting ready to reopen after being shut for many months. Socially distanced equipment, enhanced cleaning routines and reduced capacity are just some of things we can expect, but what about group exercise? Is there a way to bring […]

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Charlie Melvoin

How Swimming is Getting In On The Connected Fitness Trend

The popularity of connected fitness grew massively over the last year. With gyms shut, hundreds of thousands of people purchased connected fitness equipment like Peloton bikes or Tonal’s internet connected weight training machine. The category continues to grow quickly, with […]

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Stephen Sims (r) with client Jonny Beer

Five Lessons from a Neurokinex Personal Trainer

Most individuals seeking the guidance of a personal trainer want to improve their general fitness, reduce pain, improve their athletic performance or lose weight. But what if your client had very different goals? What if their goal was simply to […]

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Kim Palmer

Why Femtech is Thriving Right Now

The category of femtech has been growing rapidly over the last few years. Now expanding well beyond reproductive health, the category is estimated to become a $50 billion dollar industry by 2025. In fact, in the past 12 months, femtech […]

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Zoe Bertali

How Technology Can Make Fitness More Inclusive

A year ago, many people might have been hesitant to try new forms of digital fitness over their favourite in-person classes. But with gyms shut, more people flocked to fitness apps and online options than ever before and many were […]

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Barrecore Live

How Boutiques Can Make Live Fitness Work for Them 

With gyms across the world forced to temporarily close their doors, many operators have quickly reinvented themselves in order to stay relevant with their members. In many ways, COVID-19 has accelerated trends that were already happening in the industry, like […]

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emma Barry

Building a Badass Boutique

Being badass is even more critical now that we must collectively recover from the backhand delivered by COVID:19 and the restrictions that will ensue. The boutique sector, already challenged, can expect consolidation and reshuffling as businesses close to the line […]

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How to keep lockdown learning on track

As the coronavirus outbreak forces us into our homes and online, learners in the leisure industry must not only navigate news ways to continue their studies, but actually make the most of this unforeseen opportunity to further their skills ready […]

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How to Know if Becoming a Franchisee is Right for You

Sarah Emblow is the Manchester franchisee at Barrecore, London’s premium boutique barre fitness studio. The instructor-turned-franchisee is a prime example of believing so wholly in a brand and its ethos that you invest yourself and your career into growing the […]

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Busting apprenticeship myths

Apprenticeships can provide a fantastic pathway for people looking to forge a career in the leisure industry. But don’t be fooled into thinking they’re just for young learners and career-starters: apprenticeships are growing in stature and number.  While apprenticeships remain […]

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Capturing corporate interest in wellness

The Deloitte Corporate Wellness Report shows a clear opportunity for operators to capitalise on corporate wellness with 78% of employers surveyed saying they are looking to invest in physical activity programmes in the next three years. Operators know this with […]

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Bryce Hastings Les Mills

How Operators Can Harness Groupness to Best Effect

Groupness is the measure of the impact other people have on your workout. Not to be confused with Group Exercise, which is an activity, groupness is a positive perception that can promote exercise adherence, maximise exertion and, importantly, keep members […]

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5 tips to recruiting a personal trainer - The Fitness Network

5 tips to recruiting a personal trainer

Paul Swainson is the Head of PT at Future Fit Training, the first ever training provider to win Training Provider of the Year for two consecutive years. With over 15 years experience as a personal trainer and tutor, Paul is […]

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Les Mills Instructor Experience Director - Jean-Ann Marnoch

How Group Exercise Instructors Impact Your Bottom Line

Jean-Ann Marnoch is the Instructor Experience Director at Les Mills, the world’s largest supplier of group exercise programming. The instructor-turned-quality assurance expert is a firm advocate for making Instructors feel valued, and she’s adamant that most gym owners today are […]

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Innovative Fitness Equipment, Rob Knox, The Fitness Network

The Secrets Behind Innovative Fitness Equipment

Rob Knox is product director for Matrix Fitness, part of the Johnson Health Tech Group and one of the world’s largest and fastest growing innovative fitness equipment manufacturers.  Rob has been with the business for 21 years and involved from […]

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Is Your Fitness Facility Monitoring Return on Engagement?

Is Your Fitness Facility Monitoring Return on Engagement?

John Halls is the Managing Director of Physical Company. Physical Company provides complete fitness solutions to the leisure industry supplying functional, results driven, innovative equipment for fitness, sports & rehabilitation. It produces high quality, fully commercial fitness equipment and also […]

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Success in the Personal Training Gym Industry

3 Steps to Success in the Personal Training Gym Industry

Nick Mitchell is an author, writer, fitness expert and founder of the world’s leading personal training business Ultimate Performance. He is widely recognised as one of the world’s foremost personal trainers, body composition experts and for being a huge success […]

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The Fitness Network interview with Ashley, Define London

How to Maximise Client Retention at Your Boutique Studio

Ashley Verma is the founder of the boutique studio Define London. Ashley suffered an injury during her broadway dance career and following her recovery was a journey into developing a fitness program designed to be gender, age and fitness-level inclusive. With […]

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Interview with Duncan Jefford, Everyone Active. The Fitness Network

How Can Leisure Providers Maximise Their Retail Offering?

Duncan Jefford is a luminary in leisure management and is currently Regional Director with Everyone Active, a leading operator managing 150 leisure facilities nationwide. Renowned for his ability to positively impact business profit, without compromising on quality or service, Duncan […]

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coco-pro-header

How is the Nutrition Industry Changing?

Rory Lawson is a former international rugby player and owner of Coco Pro. After a career-ending injury in 2013, Rory was fed up with the number of brands on the market claiming to be ‘healthy’ while packed full of artificial […]

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Jake Saunders, TFN interview

Is it Possible to Design a Perfect Gym?

Jake Saunders has worked within the leisure industry for 19 years starting out as a fitness consultant and has spent the last five years at leading leisure solutions supplier, The Pulse Group. Jake is currently Pulse’s National Account Manager for […]

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Sam Cole Fit XR, interview with The Fitness Network

Is Virtual Reality the Future for Fitness?

Sam Cole is the co-founder of FitXR, along with Sameer Baroova. Their main product, Box VR, is a rhythm-based boxing inspired workout app with regularly updated workouts by professional fitness instructors. The very first time Sam and Sameer met, while studying […]

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Mo Chaudry - How to scale up your small business

How to Scale-Up Your Small Business

  Mo Chaudry is an entrepreneur, property investor, leisure investor and sports manager. He is Chairman of M Club Spa and Fitness chain, owner of the UK’s most successful Waterpark, Water World Leisure Group in Stoke-on-Trent, owner of Adventure Mini […]

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The Fitness Network interview with Will Smithard

How to Plan a Successful Large Scale Fitness Event

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 […]

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TFN interview with Ludovic Balance Festival

The Secret to a Successful Event Marketing Strategy

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 […]

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TFN interview Geoff Bamber

How to Create an Outstanding Spin Studio Brand

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 […]

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Ben Steadman Interview with The Fitness Network

The Best Ways To Maximise Gym Floor Space

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 […]

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The Fitness Network - Interview with Rich Tidmarsh

How to Become a Leading Group Fitness Facility

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 […]

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Matt Lovell interview with The Fitness Network

Key Considerations For Entering the Supplement Market

Matt Lovell is a registered Nutritionist with a wealth of experience in the Sports Nutrition industry. Matt’s past and present clients include London Wasps, London Irish, Saracens and Leicester Rugby Clubs. Matt is also developing a range of sports supplements under the trade […]

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The Fitness Network - Interview with Kara Rosen

How to Develop and Market your Health Drink Product

Kara Rosen set up  after many years spent running on empty and becoming ill. Failed by traditional medicine, Kara began seeking out nutritional advice to replenish her body and build back immunity and energy. Inspired by the power that intelligent […]

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How to Succeed as a Mass-Market Protein Brand

Damien Kennedy is the CEO and founder of Wheyhey! After becoming increasingly frustrated by friends and family digging into so-called ‘healthy snacks’ that were secretly extremely high in sugar, Damien decided to put his science degree to good use. He bought an […]

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Every Second Counts

How Clothing Brands Can Disrupt The Activewear Market

Sally Dixon is the Founder and Creative Director of British activewear brand Every Second Counts.  As a qualified Pilates instructor who is passionate about living a balanced healthy lifestyle, Sally lives and breathes her brand. After graduating from the London College […]

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The Fitness Network - Interview with Jenny Patrickson

The Best Ways to Maximise Apprenticeship Plans

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 […]

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The Fitness Network - Interview with Matt Johnson

How to make a small refurbishment budget go a long way

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 […]

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How to Communicate your Nutritional Snack Brand

Erin Moroney is the founder of Nibble Protein Bites, a lower sugar, high protein, premium snack. Coming from a creative background, Erin ran a top photographic agency in London for over 15 years, selling to the best newspapers, magazines, ad […]

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How to Choose the Perfect Influencers to Market your Brand

Fitness blogger, practicing PT, and published author, Zanna Van Dijk is the first female UK ambassador for Adidas and recently released her first trainer collection with the brand. Zanna is also a co-founder of the #GirlGains movement, a global community dedicated to educating and […]

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How to Improve Customer Relationships Through Data

How to Improve Customer Relationships Through Data

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 […]

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How to Maximise Gym Downtime and Boost Revenue

How to Maximise Gym Downtime and Boost Revenue

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 […]

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successfully offer swimming lessons

Why pool-based fitness is the next big trend

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 […]

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Paul Bedford the fitness network

7 Ways to Maximise Member Feedback

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 on Twitter. […]

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Paul Woodford The Fitness Network

7 Mistakes every Leisure Centre makes

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 […]

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Why fitness operators can do more to reduce barriers to physical activity

Dr Dane Vishnubala, MBBS PGCME PGDipSEM MRCGPDipSEM (UK&I) MFSEM FHEA, is the Chief Medical Advisor for Active IQ, the UK’s leading Ofqual-recognised Awarding Organisation for the Active Leisure, Learning and Wellbeing Sector which specialises in designing and delivering sector-leading vocational qualifications. He has over 14 years’ experience in the health […]

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mistakes-nutrition-businesses-make

The mistakes nutrition businesses are making

Hello, nutrition businesses! We interviewed Shivraj Bassi, the founder of Innermost, a London-based brand that’s creating a buzz with their new approach to nutritional supplements.  After a successful career in banking and finance, Shivraj launched Innermost with a clear mission to make […]

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Fulfil Nutrition, The Fitness Network

Is this the shake up the protein market needs?

Tom Gannon is one of the co-founders of Fulfil Nutrition a brand that’s been taking the health bar market by storm. Despite having launched less than two years ago, they’re already being distributed in major retailers throughout the UK and […]

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fitness tracking

Fitness tracking: the next big thing for boutiques? 

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; […]

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