Success Stories: Legends Personal Training

 

In recent times, the UK government through the department of health has introduced a system of exercise referrals from GP surgeries to gyms and other fitness centres, leading to opportunities for personal trainers. Business partners, Leon Gabbidon and Rachael McCarthy exploited this gap in the market and started up Legends Personal Training.

Leon and Rachael graduated from Leeds Metropolitan University with an MSc in Sports and Exercise Science and a BA in Business Studies respectively. The areas of expertise make them an ideal business partnership, with Leon taking the personal training, and Rachael doing the day-to-day running of the business.

With Bases in North and Central Leeds, and now in Huddersfield, Legends Personal Training offers training with a difference, by including injury recovery and nutritional advice. The team of trainers are dedicated to put the same level of commitment into their clients training and nutritional guidance, as they are their own. They will suit their client’s needs by carrying out sessions at home, outdoors or in the gym/studio.

The company has benefited from the services we provide at Business Start-Up in a number of ways, from mentor appointments to the proof of concept grant. Leon and Rachael received the grant back in Christmas 2008. They have also shown an interest in some of our other services, including the Business Concept Competition, which takes place annually. When asked how they found the advice and support given to them they replied;

“Invaluable. The advice and direction that the Business Start-Up team gave us really helped turn the Idea into a reality. We received £1000 from the Proof of concept fund that we used to purchase promotional T-shirts, and all of our stationary, business cards, letterheads Training diaries etc. This has added a level of professionalism to our business that has given us the edge!”

Through our services, Leon also got the chance to participate in the Flying Start Sports Enterprise Programme, which was a three day intensive entrepreneur training course at Molineux, home of Wolverhampton Wanderers FC. The event was sponsored by the football club, the National Council of Graduate Entrepreneurship (NCGE) and the University of Wolverhampton. Leon said;

“It was great just to be around like minded people! Being in business can often be a lonely place with your friends not really understanding the difficulties that you are facing, it was a real treat just to be able to talk to people who although they are at different stages in their business development all have common goals and understand what it takes to reach these goals!”

If you would like more information on Legends Personal Training, please visit – www.legendspersonaltraining.com.