In this episode of The Gym Owners Forum Podcast, Tom sits down with industry veteran Phil Learney for a deep-dive into the evolution of the fitness and wellness space.
From circadian rhythms to post-pandemic business resilience, this conversation explores how our biology, habits, and environments impact performance—not just in the gym, but in everyday life.
Phil explains why routine matters more than motivation, how gyms can take inspiration from hotel service models, and why the industry’s shift toward hybrid working, wellness-centred design, and inclusivity is here to stay.
We also discuss the surprising ways COVID reshaped the way we work and train, the role of new tools like GLP-1 in accessibility, and why structure—not perfection—is the key to long-term wellbeing.Whether you're a gym owner, coach, or just someone passionate about the future of fitness, this is an episode you won't want to miss.
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In this special two-part episode of The Gym Owners Forum Podcast, we’re joined by one of the UK fitness industry’s most respected and experienced voices - Phil Learney. With over 25 years in the game, Phil has worked as a coach, educator, business mentor and co-founder of the Advanced Coaching Academy. Known for his no-nonsense approach and deep industry insight, he’s helped thousands of fitness professionals turn their skills into sustainable careers.
In Part 1 of our chat, we dive into Phil’s journey, from his early days in the industry to building a career that blends coaching expertise with business acumen. We also throw Phil into our version of Room 101, where he calls out the biggest red flags and common pitfalls in running a fitness business.
Expect real talk, sharp insights, and practical advice as we explore:
How Phil transitioned from personal training to coaching coaches
The early lessons that shaped his business mindset
What NOT to do when running a gym
How passion for fitness must evolve into structured, strategic thinking to succeed
Whether you’re a seasoned gym owner or just getting started, this episode is packed with wisdom you can take straight back to your business.
Don’t miss Part 2 – coming soon!
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Welcome to The Gym Owners Podcast — the go-to show for fitness business professionals and gym owners looking to grow and improve their business. Each episode features candid conversations with industry experts, offering practical insights, proven strategies, and real-world advice to help you take your gym to the next level.
In this episode, we sit down with Neil Timms, co-founder of Foundry Gym Telford and a key member of the team behind Foundry Gym's expanding franchise model. Neil shares his journey from launching his own facility to becoming part of one of the UK's fastest-growing gym franchises.
We dive into the challenges he faced starting out, how he overcame them, and what led him to embrace the franchise route. Neil also opens up about the pros and cons of the franchise model, offering valuable lessons for anyone considering this path — whether you're looking to join an established brand or explore franchising your own concept.
Tune in for a grounded, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to grow a gym business with long-term success in mind.
Led by data and experiences compiled from hundreds of clubs throughout the UK and Europe, you can get the latest news and guidance, all brought together from the best our industry has to offer.
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Watch Abhi from Love Recruitment's talk on how you can keep amazing staff for years to come, from our recent event in Dublin: https://gymownersforum.ashbourne-memberships.com/gym-owners-workshop-dublin-2024-all-talks/
This week we're joined by special guest Maddie Cummings, the Recruitment Director at Love Recruitment. Love Recruitment is one of the leading recruitment agencies focused on the health and leisure industry. The team at LR help candidates find incredible fitness and leisure opportunities across the UK, offering great job opportunities at all levels across commercial fitness, boutique fitness, independent gyms, suppliers, and leisure.
From personal trainer jobs, gym manager jobs, and leisure centre jobs, to a multitude of other roles in the fitness or leisure industry, they've got you covered.
During a time when club owners are struggling to find and retain great staff, Maddie joins us to help walk club owners throught the recruitment process and selection strategies to land the staff that they need to help their business grow.
And she'll even have extra details about their PULSE Report, which looks into the reasons why fitness staff stay in jobs for longer, and what causes them to quit.
SEE MORE FROM OUR GUESTS:
See more from Love Recruitment: https://www.loverecruitmentgroup.com
Download the latest PULSE Report: https://www.loverecruitmentgroup.com/pages/pulse-survey-2023
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Watch all the GOW Dublin 2024 Talks now and learn more from our guests: https://gymownersforum.ashbourne-memberships.com/gym-owners-workshop-dublin-2024-all-talks/
After a day packed with expert tips and techniques from some of the best fitness and business educators that the industry has to offer, we wanted to share everything that our gym owner guests learned at our workshop in Dublin back in November.
In this episode, we chat to some of our guests and give you access to all the talks and the chance to register for our 2025 Dublin show so you can get even more from The Gym Owners Forum.
SEE MORE FROM OUR GUESTS:
Listen To Sigma Nutrition Radio: https://sigmanutrition.com/podcast-welcome/
Learn More From Phil Learney: https://advancedcoachingacademy.com/
Be Inspired By The Fit Club Redditch: https://thefitclubredditch.co.uk/
Get Support From Ashbourne Membership Management: https://ashbourne-memberships.com/
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Website: https://gymownersforum.com/
Email: info@gymownersforum.com
Creating a community is one of the most powerful tools that any club can do, but as Sarah Jayne discovered, it was far more complicated than just a couple of social posts in her free time.
In this episode, we chatted to Sarah Jayne, the Owner of Sarah Jayne Fitness, who managed to squeeze in a few life lessons in between the laughs and stories that she shared about founding her very own women's only gym.
Sarah Jayne not only managed to build her own class focused club all by herself, but has also created a vibrant and loyal community of ladies who couldn't imagine life without their friends at Sarah Jayne Fitness.
Sarah joins us to discuss not only how her ladies only business model works, but also tell the inspirational story of how she managed to set her business up by herself, and how other aspiring gym owners and personal trainers can do just the same.
The Gym Owner’s Forum is a free space to give Independent Gym Owners and Fitness Businesses advice and support to grow their clubs and thrive.
Led by data and experiences compiled from hundreds of clubs throughout the UK and Europe, you can get the latest news and guidance, all brought together from the best our industry has to offer.
FOLLOW FOR MORE HELP & SUPPORT...
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Website: https://gymownersforum.com/
Email: info@gymownersforum.com
Independent gym owners are increasingly feeling the pressure from large budget chain gyms like Pure Gym which are focused on a "bottom of the barrel" pricing strategy.
But The Fit Club Redditch is one such gym who has emerged from this battle victorious, coming out as a shining example of how focusing on what makes you different and standing up for your gym's value is the most effective way to combat the threat of impossibly discounted gym memberships.
In this episode, we catch up with Drew Newton, Manager at The Fit Club Redditch, to learn how him and his team managed to beat a Pure Gym when it set up its new home next door.
The Gym Owner’s Forum is a free space to give Independent Gym Owners and Fitness Businesses advice and support to grow their clubs and thrive.
Led by data and experiences compiled from hundreds of clubs throughout the UK and Europe, you can get the latest news and guidance, all brought together from the best our industry has to offer.
FOLLOW FOR MORE HELP & SUPPORT...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gym_owners_forum/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1941055312704468
Website: https://gymownersforum.com/
Email: info@gymownersforum.com