INDUSTRY VIEWS
Meet Your New Club Management Team Here at Ashbourne, we work with thousands of clubs across the UK and Ireland with a simple goal of offering a truly all-in-one gym management service that reduces admin for your staff, increases your earnings and helps you focus on giving your members the support they need to thrive.
LET’S EVEN THE PLAYING FIELD GIVING INDEPENDENT GYMS THE TOOLS TO COMPETE SMARTER
Gym owners know all too well how tough it can be competing with the rise of low-cost, big-name chains. At Ashbourne, we see it first-hand. Our own test club, The Fit Club Redditch, sits just down the street from a major budget operator, so we see the battle up close every day. But rather than see this as a losing fight, we believe there’s real opportunity here. When you understand why members choose a local club, not just over cheaper chains, but even staying away from gyms entirely, you can build something truly lasting. We’re committed to making real insights available to independent gyms, not just relying on gut instinct. The better we understand member behaviour, the stronger the whole industry becomes. And we’re proud to be a part of that journey. Smarter decisions make stronger gyms. We believe that the right information, at the right time, changes everything. That’s why we’re investing heavily in technology like NFC (Near Field Communication), which makes gym access easier and more secure, while also giving gym owners a clearer picture of how members are using their facilities. The data we’re gathering is already helping gyms make better decisions. For example, we know Tuesdays are the busiest days (especially 5 to 7pm), while Sundays tend to be the quietest. Around 75% of members visit twice a week, but about 5% struggle to attend even once. Many owners might sense these trends already from experience and instinct, but seeing the data tailored to their own club empowers them to adjust schedules, staffing and programming more confidently. We’re also tuned into the wider industry conversations. With 40% of non-members feeling gym membership is a luxury, and more than half, especially women, experiencing ‘gymtimidation’, these challenges can’t be ignored. That’s why we openly share our findings with our partner gyms and collaborate with groups like Leisure DB and The Gym Owners Forum. It’s about getting practical, usable knowledge into the hands of the people who need it most. Growing, learning and sharing. At Ashbourne, we believe sharing knowledge is just as important as collecting it. That’s why we’re learning from clubs not just in the UK and Ireland, but also in Norway, Greece and the US. Every market offers fresh ideas, and we’re committed to bringing those lessons back to support independent gyms at home. Ashbourne’s mission has always been simple: help independent gyms not just survive, but truly thrive, now and for decades to come.
The better we understand member behaviour, the stronger the whole industry becomes
TOBY WASSELL Head of Business Development, Ashbourne Owner, The Fit Club, Redditch
PAYMENT COLLECTION
We directly handle your direct debits and payments to collect your monthly memberships and give you regular cashflow. We don’t combine with any third parties, we handle it all. GYM SOFTWARE Our gym software allows you to see real time results of your members, payments and the freedom to instantly communicate with your customers through email or SMS. COMPLETE SUPPORT Our team is just a phone call away for both you and your members to handle everything; From payments, to technical help and assistance with all aspects of managing your gym.
01564 393 116 sales@ashbournemanagement.co.uk
www.ashbourne-memberships.com
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STATE OF THE UK FITNESS INDUSTRY REPORT 2025
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