Fitness firm helps care home residents across UK to stay active

What is your business called?

Burns Gym, which I set up with my older brother Joe.

Where is it based?

Glasgow.

What services does it offer?

Personal fitness programmes for clients aged between 20 and 100. As well as one-on-one classes we carry out specially-devised virtual exercise classes for care home residents. We are currently working with almost 200 homes across the UK.

To whom does it sell?

Our clients range from professionals with a desire to enhance their fitness regime to care home operators who want to deliver what we refer to as multicomponent exercise classes to their elderly residents.

What is its turnover?

We’re on track to reach a six-figure turnover by the end of the current financial year.

How many employees?

Just two of us currently. We bring on freelance professionals such as an accountant and marketing advisor as required.

When was it formed?

2019.

Why did you take the plunge?

The whole gym business idea had been mulling in our heads for several years. Both of us reckoned that being able to work in a sector which we had real passion for could only be a huge positive.

What were you doing before you took the plunge?

Both Joe and I had trained as personal fitness advisors but previously we had very different career paths. I started my career in the fitness industry in 2007 and then in 2010 I joined the police while Joe had worked in the oil and gas sector in Aberdeen. Like many we always believed that in life it’s possible to have several careers and so were open to change. We are big believers that if you implement that change yourself then the outcome will be more positive – rather than having change imposed. There was a lot of planning, discussion and visualising how we wanted the new business to take shape ahead of us both making that final move.

How did you raise the start-up funding?

Because we’d discussed the plan for some time before launching, we’d both been saving. We weren’t keen on starting a new business with debt so personal investment was our preferred strategy.

What was your biggest break?

We had an idea to introduce in-person personal fitness classes for elderly care home residents. We believe strongly that planned exercise programmes can help in so many ways – no matter what age you are – and after carrying out a lot of research we approached some local care homes in the Glasgow area. We offered trial classes and the response was so good several care home operators signed us up. These sessions were so positive and, for us, so rewarding in terms of feedback from the residents that our focus was sharpened. We explored ways of taking these classes further afield. The goal of our virtual sessions is to increase mobility as well as focusing on the resident’s strength, endurance, balance and coordination. The sessions are completed by the resident in the armchair, and we target upper and lower muscles and joints.

What was your worst moment?

Like most businesses the initial shock of learning we’d be in lockdown was tough to get our heads around but almost as quickly as we locked up our premises Joe and I realised that in fact the lockdown presented us with a big business opportunity. Changing our care home classes from in-person to virtual really turned our business around. Because care homes were in lockdown, they could no longer welcome any outsiders in for either exercise or entertainment.

What do you most enjoy about running the business?

Seeing improvement from our clients – whether it’s a one-on-one client in the gym enhancing their strength, stamina and general wellbeing or the engagement of our care home residents as they carry out our exercises via the virtual classes. For the care home classes music is a big factor and we pick music which resonates for many of the residents. That alone can inspire greater movement and engagements. The smiles on their faces let us know we’re connecting.

What do you least enjoy?

Admin is always a necessary evil. But we farm out the stuff we prefer not to do to maximise the time we can focus on doing what we love best.

What could the Westminster and/or Scottish governments do that would help?

The Scottish Government’s focus on SMEs could sharpen up by having more direct and meaningful contact with business owners. Perhaps hold business breakfasts or discussion forums to hear the business owners’ stories. This would definitely allow ministers to learn and understand the issues that are important to business owners. By learning more about these key issues then perhaps that could help shape policy going forward.

What was the most valuable lesson that you learned?

The value of good solid networking – whether virtually or face-to-face. In our type of business, people buy people.

How do you relax?

My fitness regime is a big focus. I love to walk and workout with my fiancée Jessica.

Joe and his wife Rachael recently had a baby, Emma, who is my first niece, so uncle duties must be carried out too!