Sunday, 22 March 2026

We’re Fighting Over the Same Members – And Missing the Bigger Opportunity

I attended the LFX event this week, and one message stood out above everything else.

The 83%.

Only around 17% of the population currently engages with gyms and fitness facilities. That means the vast majority of people… don’t.

And the real question is not how do we compete better for the 17%.

It’s this:

How do we reach the other 83%?

Because for years, we’ve been stuck fighting over the same people.

The same members.
The same demographics.
The same marginal gains.

And in doing so, we’ve unintentionally created a battleground within our own industry.

Competing on price.
Competing on offers.
Competing on who can shout the loudest.

All while ignoring the biggest growth opportunity sitting right in front of us.

Have We Built Barriers Without Realising?

If we’re honest with ourselves, we have to ask a difficult question.

Have we actually made it harder for the majority of people to engage with fitness?

Because when you step back and look at it objectively, there are clear barriers that exist across the sector.

Many facilities and programmes are intimidating.
Walk into a lot of gyms for the first time and it’s not hard to feel out of place.

Our marketing is often aimed at people who already train.
We speak to those who already understand the benefits, the language and the environment.

We focus heavily on price and offers.
But very little on outcomes, support and long-term change.

We invest in great technology.
But how much of it genuinely benefits the majority of members?

And perhaps most importantly…

Our onboarding and ongoing support is simply not good enough.

Most clubs would struggle to clearly identify a member’s goals, track their progress and proactively support them through their journey.

We assume people will figure it out.

But most don’t.

Community… or Just a Word We Like to Use?

“Community” has become one of the most overused words in the industry.

And in some clubs, it absolutely exists.

But if we’re honest, in many cases it’s limited to small pockets of highly engaged members.

The confident ones.
The regulars.
The people who already feel comfortable.

What about everyone else?

The quieter members.
The unsure ones.
The people who come in, do their session and leave without speaking to anyone.

That’s not a community.

That’s a missed opportunity.

Are We Doing Enough to Bring People In?

Here’s another uncomfortable truth.

In many cases, we expect people to come to us.

We wait for enquiries.
We wait for sign-ups.
We wait for interest.

But what about the people who need us to reach them first?

The public sector has long been involved in outreach work, engaging communities directly and breaking down barriers to participation.

Why isn’t the private sector doing more of this?

“It’s not our job” isn’t good enough anymore.

If we want to grow the market, we have to go and find it.

The Industry Problem No One Wants to Address

We don’t operate as a single sector.

We operate as competitors.

Constant offers.
Constant discounting.
Very little collaboration.

And in doing so, we limit our own growth.

Imagine a different approach.

Clubs still competing, but also working together to grow participation.

To educate.
To promote the value of fitness.
To make it more accessible.

If we moved engagement from 17% to 25%… or even 30%…

The opportunity for every operator would be enormous.

More members.
More revenue.
More impact.

Without needing to take from each other.

Where Change Actually Needs to Start

There is also a wider structural issue.

We often look to central government, the NHS or national strategies to drive change.

But the reality is, that’s too big. Too slow. Too complex.

Real change happens locally.

Through local government.
Through community partnerships.
Through operators working together within regions.

We need a more coordinated approach to health and fitness that includes both the public and private sector.

Right now, that simply doesn’t exist in a meaningful way.

And it should.

The Opportunity in Front of Us

The fitness industry does incredible work.

We change lives.
We improve health.
We build confidence.
We create environments people genuinely enjoy being part of.

But we’re still only reaching a fraction of the population.

The future of this industry isn’t about getting better at selling to the 17%.

It’s about becoming more accessible, more supportive and more relevant to the 83%.

That means:

Better onboarding
Better support
More inclusive environments
Clearer messaging
More collaboration
More outreach

And ultimately, a shift in mindset.

Because growth won’t come from fighting harder over the same people.

It will come from bringing new people in.

A Final Thought

If we get this right, the impact goes far beyond business.

We improve public health.
We reduce pressure on healthcare systems.
We create stronger communities.

And yes, we build more successful, more sustainable businesses.

17% is not good enough.

We can do better.

The question is… are we ready to change how we think in order to get there?

Saturday, 14 March 2026

Community Fitness: Are We Missing the Biggest Opportunity?

People sometimes see me criticising the building of expensive new leisure centres and assume that I am against them.

That simply isn’t true.

In fact, many leisure trust facilities are fantastic. They deliver vital services, they support communities that might otherwise have no access to sport or fitness, and they produce some incredible outcomes for public health.

My issue isn’t with the facilities themselves.

My concern is that local government may be missing an enormous opportunity to build something much more powerful around them.

The Facilities Are Great. The Strategy Often Isn’t.

Across the UK, local authorities are investing significant sums of money into new leisure infrastructure.

It’s not uncommon to see £25 million, £30 million or even £50 million invested into new leisure centres.

And when they open, they can be impressive.

But bricks and mortar alone don’t solve the real problem.

The real challenge is participation.

According to Sport England data, only around 17 percent of the UK population are members of a fitness facility.

That means more than four out of five people are not engaging with gyms or leisure centres at all.

For an industry that plays such an important role in physical and mental wellbeing, that number should concern all of us.

Because it means the vast majority of the population still isn’t being reached.

The Private Sector Is Being Overlooked

Where I believe we are missing a trick is in how local authorities approach community health and fitness.

If we can find tens of millions of pounds to build these incredible facilities, why can we not allocate even five percent of that investment toward creating a truly integrated community health strategy?

One that includes the private sector as part of the solution.

Across the country there are thousands of independent gyms, studios and health businesses delivering fantastic services.

They already have:

Facilities
Staff
Expertise
Established communities

Yet very rarely are they included in broader community health initiatives.

Instead, the sectors often operate in isolation from one another.

Commercial Pressure Is a Real Barrier

Of course, it’s important to recognise that private clubs operate under very different conditions.

Commercial gyms face pressures that public facilities do not.

They must cover rent, staff, equipment finance, utilities and marketing costs every single month.

This creates risk.

Taking part in community health initiatives can feel like a financial gamble if the outcomes are uncertain.

Which is why any integrated strategy must recognise the commercial reality of private operators and create models that allow them to participate without putting their businesses at risk.

The Industry’s Own Mindset Needs to Change

But we also have to be honest with ourselves.

Sometimes the barriers are not just structural. They are cultural.

The private fitness industry can be relentlessly competitive.

Constant offers.
Discount wars.
Little collaboration between neighbouring clubs.

Every gym trying to win the same customers from each other.

Imagine instead if more clubs focused on growing the market rather than fighting over it.

If we could move overall engagement from 17 percent to 25 percent, or even 30 percent, the growth across the entire industry would be extraordinary.

There would be more members for everyone.

More opportunities.

More impact.

Why Central Government Isn’t the Starting Point

Whenever the fitness industry talks about change, the conversation usually turns toward central government and the NHS.

We campaign for tax relief.
We campaign for business rate reform.
We talk about partnerships with the NHS.

Those conversations are important.

But in my view they are not where real change will start.

Central government is like a massive oil tanker.

Turning it takes years.

The NHS is under extraordinary pressure financially and operationally. Fitness, however important it is, simply doesn’t sit high enough on their priority list.

And even when central government does make decisions, implementation almost always happens at a local level through commissioning groups and regional authorities.

Even DCMS themselves acknowledge that many of these decisions are ultimately local.

Which is why we need to start there.

Where Real Change Can Begin

The real opportunity lies with:

Local authorities
Sport England
Local health departments
Community partnerships
National Lottery funding streams

These organisations already control funding, programmes and community initiatives.

But private fitness businesses should not be standing outside those conversations.

They should be inside them.

Because if the goal is better health outcomes, then surely the focus should be on all of the resources available in a community, not just those owned by the council.

Prove the Impact First

Before we ask for national support or government intervention, we need to do something else first.

We need to prove our value.

That means showing measurable outcomes.

Participation improvements.
Retention improvements.
Health improvements.
Community engagement.

If the industry can demonstrate genuine, measurable impact, the conversation with government becomes much easier.

Evidence changes everything.

A Call for Cooperation

Right now we have pockets of incredible work happening across the UK.

Brilliant leisure centres.
Innovative private clubs.
Community initiatives that genuinely change lives.

But they often operate independently.

Imagine what could happen if they worked together.

Public and private sector clubs aligned around a shared goal.

Raising participation.
Improving health outcomes.
Building stronger communities.

Because 17 percent participation simply isn’t good enough.

If we truly want to change the nation’s health, that number needs to move closer to 25 or even 30 percent.

And the only way we get there is through cooperation.

The facilities already exist.

The expertise already exists.

The passion certainly exists.

Now we just need the strategy to bring it all together.

Wednesday, 11 March 2026

What Is the Biggest Threat to a Gym’s Success?

Most gym owners believe the biggest threats to their business are external.

Competition.
Equipment quality.
Technology.
The size of the facility.

But after working with gyms across the UK for many years, it becomes clear that the biggest threats are rarely what owners think they are.

Before we explore what actually damages a gym’s performance, it’s worth starting with what doesn’t.

Because many operators spend a huge amount of time, energy and money worrying about the wrong things.

What It Isn’t

The Brand or Cost of Your Equipment

Gym owners often become obsessed with equipment brands.

Technogym.
Life Fitness.
Matrix.
Hammer Strength.

But the reality is that for the vast majority of members, the brand on the side of a machine is almost meaningless.

Most members simply want equipment that:

Works properly
Is clean
Is maintained
Does the job it is supposed to do

Outside of a very small group of enthusiasts, most members could not tell you the difference between major equipment manufacturers.

That knowledge largely exists in the minds of gym owners and industry professionals.

What does matter, however, is whether the equipment aligns with the brand and experience you are trying to create.

If you are positioning your gym as a boutique or premium training environment, then equipment needs to reflect that. The visual experience matters.

But if you are operating a mid-market or accessible community gym, investing heavily in ultra-premium equipment rarely produces a return.

Too often equipment decisions are driven by ego rather than strategy.

The Size of Your Gym

Another common belief is that bigger facilities automatically create more successful businesses.

In reality, larger spaces simply increase both opportunity and risk.

Yes, a larger gym may allow you to accommodate more members. But it also brings:

Higher rent
Larger equipment investment
Increased staffing costs
Greater utility bills
More debt and financial exposure

A bigger gym does not guarantee better performance.

Some of the most profitable gyms in the UK operate from relatively modest footprints because their systems, service and member engagement are exceptional.

Meanwhile, many large facilities struggle because the operational foundations are weak.

Bigger is not always better.
Sometimes it is simply bigger.

The Latest Technology

Technology has become one of the most common selling points in modern fitness clubs.

Apps.
Wearables.
Body composition scanners.
Member platforms.

And whilst these tools can certainly add value, their impact is often overestimated.

Across the industry, average gym app adoption rates sit below 30%. Even among those who download the app, regular engagement is often far lower.

The truth is that many members are impressed by technology during a tour, but once they start training they revert to simple behaviours.

They work out.
They leave.
They repeat.

This does not mean technology has no place in fitness clubs. But investing heavily in technology while neglecting the fundamentals of service and engagement is rarely a winning strategy.

Most members are not looking for more software.

They are looking for support, consistency and results.

So What Are the Real Threats?

In most gyms, the biggest risks to long-term success are internal rather than external.

And they are often surprisingly simple.

Poor Systems

Strong businesses run on strong systems.

Weak businesses rely on hope and good intentions.

Operational systems govern everything from how leads are followed up, to how members are welcomed, to how teams communicate and perform.

When systems are unclear or inconsistent:

Leads go cold
Members drift away
Staff improvise rather than deliver a consistent experience
Time and money are wasted

Well-designed systems do not make a gym robotic. They create clarity, efficiency and reliability.

They also free staff to focus on what matters most: delivering great service.

Without strong systems, even good teams struggle.

Untrained and Undermanaged Staff

Many gym owners believe that hiring good people is enough.

It isn’t.

Even the most capable employees cannot consistently deliver great service without training, guidance and clear expectations.

As a club owner or manager, you must decide:

What experience you want members to have
What behaviours you expect from staff
What standards define your brand

Then you must train your team to deliver those standards and manage them to maintain them.

Without that structure, staff naturally fall back on their own instincts and habits.

Sometimes those habits are excellent.

Often they are inconsistent.

One of the most uncomfortable conversations you can have with a struggling operator is this:

“What training has your team received?”

All too often, the answer is none.

Blaming staff without investing in their development is not leadership. It is abdication of responsibility.

No Real Focus on Member Engagement

One of the most overlooked areas of gym management is structured member engagement.

Many clubs assume that community happens naturally.

It rarely does.

The reality is that in every gym there are members who are confident, social and outgoing. These members naturally interact with staff and quickly become part of the culture.

But there is another group who behave very differently.

They arrive quietly.
They train quietly.
They leave quietly.

These members rarely ask questions. They rarely seek help. They rarely initiate conversations.

And because of that, they are often the ones who drift away unnoticed.

Engagement should not rely on personality.

It should be planned.

Successful gyms establish clear protocols for interaction and communication, ensuring members receive regular touchpoints that encourage participation, connection and support.

Because the members who need engagement the most are often the least likely to ask for it.

Not Understanding the Numbers

Perhaps the most dangerous weakness in many gyms is a lack of understanding around performance metrics.

Ask many operators how many members they signed up last month and they can answer immediately.

Ask them how many members they lost and the answer becomes far less certain.

Growth in a gym is not simply about new joins. In fact, the biggest performance issue in many clubs is not sales at all.

It is attrition.

Yet surprisingly, many gyms do not track attrition accurately, do not analyse it and do not set clear targets for improvement.

Even more concerning is the number of operators who run businesses without clearly defined performance targets at all.

Without measurement there is no clarity.

Without clarity there is no control.

And without control there is no sustainable growth.

The Real Difference Between Average and Exceptional Gyms

When you look closely at the most successful clubs in the industry, their advantage rarely comes from equipment, technology or size.

It comes from fundamentals.

Strong systems.
Well-trained teams.
Structured member engagement.
Clear performance tracking.

These are not glamorous topics. They do not make exciting marketing headlines.

But they are the foundations of a stable, profitable and resilient fitness business.

The uncomfortable reality is that when a gym struggles, the cause is often much closer to home than the owner would like to admit.

The question every operator should ask is simple:

Are the real threats to my business external…

Or are they internal?

Because once you understand that, improvement becomes far easier.

Monday, 2 March 2026

Are We Focusing on the Wrong People in Fitness?

For years, the fitness industry has faced the same two problems.

We either struggle to attract the majority of the population into our clubs, or we attract them and fail to keep them.

With more than 11 million people in the UK having previously been members of fitness clubs but no longer active, a number that exceeds current active membership, it is difficult to avoid one conclusion. Somewhere along the line, we are getting something wrong.

This is not a criticism of effort or intent. As an industry, we work hard. We innovate. We invest. We care.

But the results tell us that effort alone is not enough.

We’ve Become Very Good at Serving One Type of Person

The fitness industry has become exceptionally good at serving people who already love exercise.

Those who feel confident walking into a gym.
Those who understand the benefits.
Those who actively seek interaction, advice and progression.

For these people, our environments often work brilliantly.

The problem is that they represent only a fraction of the population.

If we want participation to grow meaningfully, we have to stop designing our clubs, messaging and systems primarily for people who are already bought in.

It may be time to focus on the other side of the coin.

The People We Are Not Reaching or Retaining

There is a large group of people who are not naturally drawn to fitness environments.

People who feel nervous about joining.
People who lack confidence.
People who do not fully understand the benefits of exercise.
People living with long-term illness, injury or health anxiety.
People who feel they do not belong.

These individuals are not lazy or uninterested. More often than not, they are unsure, intimidated or unconvinced that fitness spaces are built for them.

If we are honest, many clubs are not.

The First Challenge: Attraction

Our marketing needs to change.

Much of our messaging still assumes a level of confidence, motivation and understanding that many people simply do not have. We talk to those who already “get it”, rather than those who need reassurance, clarity and empathy.

If we want to attract this group, we need to:

Demystify fitness rather than glamorise it
Normalise nervousness instead of ignoring it
Talk about support, safety and progression, not just results
Show real people, not just confident regulars

Attraction should be about lowering barriers, not raising expectations.

The Second Challenge: Retention

Getting someone through the door is only the beginning.

For people who lack confidence or familiarity, the early weeks matter more than anything else. This is where many clubs lose them.

Our onboarding needs to improve.
Our monitoring and touchpoints need to be organised and deliberate.
Our follow-up needs to be proactive, not reactive.

These members do not need to be left alone to “figure it out”. They need to be guided.

In many cases, they need to be actively supported, reassured and checked in on. Not indefinitely, but intentionally. We need to babysit them early so that, over time, they can become part of the community.

Treating Different People the Same Is Not Equality

One of the biggest mistakes we make is treating all members the same.

Confident members seek interaction. They ask questions. They put themselves forward. As a result, they receive the most attention.

Less confident members do the opposite. They keep their heads down. They avoid conversation. They hope they are not noticed.

In many clubs, this means the people who need the most support receive the least.

Equality in fitness does not mean identical treatment.
It means appropriate treatment.

If we want better outcomes, we have to design systems that identify who needs more support and ensure they receive it without having to ask.

Building a Different Kind of Community

If we truly want to grow participation, we must stop designing clubs purely around those who already believe in what we do.

We need:

Better onboarding journeys
Clear, deliberate touchpoints
Structured check-ins
Staff trained to notice who is not engaging
A culture that values inclusion as much as performance

Community should not be something people have to earn. It should be something they are welcomed into.

A Final Thought

The future growth of fitness will not come from converting people who already love exercise.

It will come from supporting those who are unsure, nervous or unconvinced, and helping them feel safe, capable and included.

We have proven that we can serve the confident and committed.
Now we need to prove that we can serve everyone else.

If we can do that, participation will rise, retention will improve, and fitness will finally begin to reach the people who need it most.