In what is the most challenging time for everyone across the globe, there has never been a more important time to promote health and fitness to everyone in society. ‘Fitter families’ getting fit and staying fit together is a key component of what makes HITIO GYM so unique and what the company believe will make the brand a major force in the UK gym market in 2020 and beyond.

“It has been a phenomenal start to the year,” said Simon Hayes, UK MD for HITIO GYM. “We have signed some amazingly passionate and skilled franchisees who have really bought into what we want HITIO GYM in the UK to stand for and what will make the gyms a great success in the communities they serve. The only impact that coronavirus has had so far is to slightly push back some openings that are now planned for the late summer.

“If anything, it has just supported a really detailed planning exercise with our franchisees, enabled us to really get to know each other and made us all even more excited about how we can support the local communities so that we become a ‘beacon of health, fitness and positivity’ once the lockdown is eased and we all get used to moving forwards as individuals, as families, as communities and as a country.”     

The company have set a target to open 20 new gyms this year, and with a growing internal team and expert suppliers supporting each franchisee, Simon believes the future is bright for the business, “We know that as of today it is hard for everyone, but our eyes are fixed on a brighter future and working with our franchisees to drive their businesses and the HITIO GYM brand in the UK.

“People have really bought into the structure we have created and we have been able to still secure franchisees during the lockdown period. From my conversations with franchisees and wider industry contacts, this time has further strengthened many people’s views that gyms and the environments they create will become even more important in the future.”         

While the fitness industry, like many others, has and will continue to face significant challenges as the country begins to re-open, HITIO GYM was delighted to hear the government’s chief medical adviser, Chris Whitty, implore people to exercise in the government’s daily press conference last Wednesday, when he stated ‘exercise is the best thing you can do during lockdown.’

Mark Chambers, HITIO GYM CEO commented, “Many of us that have worked in the fitness industry all our professional lives have waited a long time to hear such a positive message regards the benefits of proactive health to help people not only be fitter, but stay healthy and help fight all types of illnesses. What we really hope now is that once the crisis is over, that the likes of ukactive, with the support of the industry, can pressure the government to create a series of strategies and incentives that enable gyms likes ours to become even more accessible to even more members in their local communities.”

As the HITIO GYM team expands, the company is on the look-out for a new National Pre-Sales Manager and Regional Pre-Sales Manager (Greater London). If you are interested and have the appropriate levels of experience, you can view the job description and apply here – http://bit.ly/HITIO_Jobs.  

For more information on joining our growing team of franchisees simply visit the HITIO Gym Franchise Profile.