Gym powering forward after small capital grant
"It’s been a really positive development for the business as a whole as we have taken on two new employees and are in the process of recruiting another.”
A gym and personal training business has hit the ground running with its expansion into Stratford-upon-Avon following business support from Warwickshire County Council.
Fitness Worx has been on an upward trajectory ever since founder Jack Gibson opened their first gym in Kenilworth, assisted by a start up loan from Coventry and Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust, back in 2014.
The business, run by brothers Jack and Matt with support from dad Richard, now operates across Warwickshire with gyms at Kenilworth, Warwick, Southam and Leamington. Stratford has been added to the list with the flagship new expansion to the chain.
After opening in July, the gym in Timothy Bridge Road is already above target in terms of users with the aim of being up to full capacity by Christmas.
Fitness Worx is a real success story of a local entrepreneur with a business idea and the skills and determination to see it through to fruition. In terms of the latest expansion, a Small Capital Grant from Warwickshire County Council has been a massive help. Since 2015, WCC has awarded 118 Small Capital Grants worth a total of £2,510,568. These have created 230 jobs with a further 239 forecast to be created.
“We had been looking to open in Stratford for a while,” said Jack. “Then the perfect premises came up and the grant from the County Council has enabled us to fit out the place exactly as we wanted with top-quality gear.
“Quality of kit is everything in this business and we have brought in the best kit from the USA. Our customers are loving it. The grant, along with our own investment, added to our spending power which meant that we got better deals too. It was a win-win.
“We would have been able to do it without the grant but not as well and not as quickly. It’s been a really positive development for the business as a whole as we have taken on two new employees and are in the process of recruiting another.”
Fitness Worx is a great example of a family business with a proactive, forward-thinking approach which is bringing employment with 26 people employed at their gyms across the county.
Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economy & Place, Cllr Martin Watson, said: “I am delighted that a Small Capital Grant has proved so influential in the continued growth of Fitness Worx. Since 2015, the Small Capital Grants have been an integral part of the support offered by Warwickshire County Council and it is great that well over 100 SMEs have now been supported by them.”
* To find out what other support is available to your business, please call CW Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747