INTERVIEW ANDY LANCASTER
Fit for the future
W hat does it take to stay relevant in a fast-evolving commercial landscape? This is the question NatWest’s Future Fit 2025 report set out to address. Here, Andy Lancaster – director of commercial banking, leisure & retail coverage at NatWest – translates the ndings into practical guidance for tness operators. The NatWest Future Fit 2025 report was developed as a thought leadership piece to help businesses of all sizes think more clearly about long-term resilience, pro tability and relevance. Based on a survey of 1,000 mid-market UK businesses across multiple sectors, it captures how leaders are approaching the challenge of becoming “ t for the future”. While not tness-speci c, its ndings are highly transferable. Across industries, four consistent pillars emerged as being central to futureproo ng: sustainability, supply chains, talent and technology. For tness operators navigating rising costs, shifting consumer expectations and increasing competition, these pillars offer a useful framework for action. The revenue-boosting prize for getting this right is signi cant; where executed well, businesses are already outperforming their peers. Crucially, these businesses aren’t simply reacting to change. They are proactively building agility, embedding purpose and aligning long-term strategy with day-to-day operations. What follows is how I believe the four central themes should be interpreted and applied within the tness sector.
What does it take to stay relevant in a fast-evolving commercial landscape? This is the question NatWest’s Future Fit 2025 report set out to address. Here, Andy Lancaster – director of commercial banking, leisure & retail coverage at NatWest – translates the findings into practical guidance for fitness operators.
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STATE OF THE UK FITNESS INDUSTRY REPORT 2026
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