FitWorks Training
Background
FitWorks HQ is an independent gym in Beaconsfield, opened in November 2023 by business partners Hannah Camden and Pippa Lance. Conceived as a gym for everyone – everything from mums-to-be to families to strongman enthusiasts – with the slogan #findyourfit, everything is group exercise-based and designed to be fun.
On offer is everything from functional and strength training to yoga and wellness; buggy fit and a large pre-natal offering to MMA, HIIT and strongman training; pole fitness and aerial silks to wellness retreats and kettlebells – Camden is a world champion in kettlebell sports, competing for England.
“The idea is to help people develop a good level of base fitness so they have the confidence to try anything and everything. It’s about bringing movement into their lives and helping them ‘find their fit’ – the things they love doing – all within a supportive community of like-minded people,” Camden explains.
The FitWorks business pre-dates the opening of the gym, however, with FitWorks Training originally an outdoor group fitness provider based at Beaconsfield rugby club. With the rugby club just a stone’s throw from FitWorks HQ, these outdoor sessions continue to run today.
Objective
Located in the former St John’s Ambulance station, FitWorks HQ has two distinct spaces: a strength studio and a main, multi-purpose room.
The concept was for a community hub in Beaconsfield where the space would be used not only by FitWorks, but also by other local businesses. These currently range from an acting and dance school to an active rehab business, as well as a number of local PTs.
For launch, Camden and Lance focused primarily on the 12-person capacity strength studio, turning to Physical to create the perfect space for FitWorks’ signature workouts.
“I’ve known Physical for a long time, including working as part of its demo team for events such as FIBO, so I know how reliable the equipment is,” says Camden.
“I also love the look of Physical’s kit and have used it for 15+ years myself, including for our outdoor FitWorks Training. Physical was the obvious partner for FitWorks HQ.”
Solution
“Ours is a fantastic space for a gym – it has such a great vibe – but I’m not brilliant at interior design or visualising how things will look,” admits Camden.
“Physical played an invaluable role in bringing everything to life for us: we took our space to them and they helped us design it. They also fully kitted it out, from the flooring, rig and lifting platforms to all the equipment we needed: weights, dumbbells, hex bars, competition kettlebells, SkiErgs and so on.
“The Physical team is always brilliant to work with. They’re also great fun. They get what we’re trying to do and they’re so helpful and easy to partner with.”
Results
FitWorks HQ has been so successful that the time has now come to upgrade the main room, says Camden.
She explains: “Since launch, the main room has played host to a wide range of FitWorks programmes: HIIT, yoga, meditation, pole training, MMA and more. It’s also the space used by the various external businesses. However, we haven’t yet done it up. That’s the next project!
“The plan is to keep it as a big empty space, just with some great new flooring along with lighting to create different moods. Around the edge will sit all our kit, ready to bring in as needed; Physical has some excellent storage solutions to help keep the room a blank canvas.”
While the current focus is on getting FitWorks HQ fully up-to-speed, Camden is also keen to formally license or franchise FitWorks Training, extending the reach of this outdoor GX brand across the UK and beyond; there are already FitWorks Training venues in Marlow, Thame and New Zealand, each run independently by individuals trained in the programming and inclusive brand ethos.
Once fully developed, the licensing programme will include a full package of Physical equipment as well as training, programming and mentoring for the first year.
Finally, FitWorks is further developing its online programming, which it plans to support with an online shop. Here, members will be able to purchase the necessary kit – “Physical, of course!” – to train from home, or indeed elsewhere, when they can’t make it to an in-person class.