Fitness organisation Energie Fitness has been shortlisted in the Business Resilience category of the bfa HSBC British Franchise Awards.
One of the largest and fastest-growing low-cost fitness franchises, Energie Fitness is home to nearly 100 clubs across the UK.
Known as the ‘Oscars’ of the franchising industry and set to take place on 30 November in Birmingham, the bfa HSBC British Franchise Awards evening is the flagship event in the franchising calendar.
This year saw a record number of entries submitted across all categories, leading to an overall increase of nearly 30 per cent when compared to 2020. Despite what has been a challenging 18 months for most standalone businesses, the franchising sector has shown strength and resilience. As a result, many bfa members have reported their highest ever level of franchisee recruitment and one of their most successful years for profitability and business development.
Energie Fitness will be battling it out against five other franchise brands to take home the coveted Business Resilience accolade.
An award nomination serves as a marker of success for any franchise, proving the business works ethically and in the best interests of franchisees and staff.
The Business Resilience category seeks to celebrate the businesses that have shown great determination, creativity, and resilience in the face of exceptional challenges.
Pip Wilkins, CEO of the British Franchising Association, congratulated Energie Fitness:
“The gym and fitness industry was certainly one of the hardest hit by the pandemic with many businesses like Energie Fitness left with no choice but to close their doors. However, unlike other gym operators in the UK, Energie did not freeze all memberships over lockdown, but instead, created reasons for members to continue to pay fees while their gyms were closed. They invested more than £100,000 in the rapid building of an entire digital fitness platform, with over 240 ‘on demand’ videos and 40 live classes per week. The new platform provided thousands of members with good reason to continue paying and this resulted in the franchise network earning £6.2m of fee income over the pandemic closure periods.
“The team were quick to adapt and evolve with the times and it’s this that has helped them weather what was an exceptionally difficult time for the whole gym sector and put them in great stead to secure the Business Resilience Award in November.”
Andrew Brattesani, Head of Franchising, HSBC, said:
“Energie Fitness have shown exceptionally high levels of resilience and determination during a period that was exceptionally difficult for the whole fitness industry. They were quick to adapt their operations despite having to close their doors and all their efforts and hard work are certainly commendable.
“While others closed down, Energie Fitness invested in innovation which allowed franchisees to offer amazing flexibility and support during lockdown periods. This award nomination is very well deserved and we’d like to congratulate the whole team for all their hard work over the past year.”
For the full list of nominees at this year’s bfa HSBC British Franchise Awards, visit www.thebfa.org/awards-finalists/