Posted:31-August-2021
FITNESS FRANCHISING SHOWS ITS RESILIENCE AS ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT THRIVES
Anytime Fitness, the UK’s leading fitness franchise, has reported a near 300% increase in new franchisee enquiries in the past twelve months, compared to the previous year.
Despite the impact of the pandemic on the fitness industry, Anytime Fitness has seen that people have taken the time to reassess their career options, seeing the potential in becoming a gym owner and being part of an industry that has bounced back admirably.
Since the sector’s first reopening in July 2020, Anytime Fitness has opened 14 new clubs across the UK and Ireland and has grown their network to over 175 franchised locations. Further sites are due to open shortly in London Fields, Harborne, Loughton and Swiss Cottage as the operator sets its sights on reaching the 200-club landmark in the next 12 months.
This rise in interest has been boosted by a change in legislation last year, which means there are now greater opportunities for leisure facilities to open on the high street. The amendment to the Uses Classes Order means there are fewer planning obstacles when moving into previous retail units and allowing a quicker turnaround for facilities in these sought-after locations.
“One of the good things to come out of the past year-and-a-half is that people and businesses have taken it as an opportunity to reinvent themselves,” said Neil Randall, CEO of Anytime Fitness UK. “The sharp rise in enquiries we’ve received is directly linked to that and the attraction of owning your own business. We’re seeing people of all ages, experience and backgrounds get in touch with us and recognising the potential of owning their own health club and being able to directly improve the health and lives of their local communities.
“We also believe our sector can play a huge part in breathing new life into the high street and we’re seeing a raft of high footfall locations in town centres become available. As our country’s workforces transitions back to offices, people are recognising the huge opportunity of being able to open health clubs in these locations that were previously off-limit to us.”
Such is the growing pipeline of new openings, Anytime Fitness has recently created new positions in its Support Office, including Head of Franchise Development and Head of Club Openings, as well as adding a Director of Franchising to its senior executive team.
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