With our partners at LeisureDB recently celebrating the release of their latest annual State of the Industry report at Evolve 2025, we at Ashbourne Membership Management thought it was time to take a dive into this edition of the much celebrated and anticipated yearly report.
Join us as we dive into how their report can help independent gym and fitness club owners in 2025 and beyond!
Each year LeisureDB’s State of the UK Fitness Industry Report explores transformative trends reshaping the sector after pouring over incredible amounts of data. And 2025 was no different, presenting both the challenges and opportunities facing independent gym and fitness club owners. With shifting consumer priorities, operators must adapt and innovate to stay competitive, embracing new technologies, techniques and operating with ever-increasing efficiency in our dynamic sector.
Here, we break down the top four key takeaways from the report.
- Wellness: How the Report puts Wellness front and centre. From recovery and rehabilitation and to NHS support.
- Longevity: The data and resulting insights into demographics age, functional fitness and healthspan in the UK fitness industry
- Community: LeisureDB’s research highlights that Community is ever-more important to growth, retention and satisfaction.
- Resilience: Get the numbers and analysis that show despite economic headwinds, the fitness industry surges on through innovation, on a technological, social and cultural level
So without further ado, let’s plunge into Wellness, the first of our benefits that the LeisureDB State of the UK Fitness Industry Report 2025 has helped identify.
If you want to get your knowledge directly from the source, follow this link here to find your way to LeisureDB’s Industry Report directly, as well as all their other invaluable work.
What will we cover in this article?
(you can also click to skip ahead!)
Wellness: Independent Gym Owners can Win Big in the Wellness Shift
The report highlights a seismic shift from traditional fitness to holistic wellness, urging gym and fitness club owners to capitalise on the booming demand for recovery services, rehabilitation and self-improvement.
“With a single strategic move, you can double your market potential. That may sound bold, but the numbers don’t lie: by adding wellness and recovery services to your facility, you unlock new revenue streams and secure long-term relevance in a shifting industry”.
– Casey Conrad, State of the UK Fitness Industry Report 2025
The global wellness industry is projected to reach $9 trillion by 2028, dwarfing the fitness sector. Consumers are no longer just searching for “gyms near me”, they are interested in trends such as infrared saunas, cold plunges, red light therapy and compression therapy to address sleep, pain and energy levels.
Only two weeks ago (at time of writing), the UK government put out a notable policy paper. “Fit for the future: 10 year Health Plan for England”. If you are interested, it can be found here. This is the latest in a long line of government initiatives being implemented to try and address the growing societal and health issues that were exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic (and existed long before).
In a UK market where headlines increasingly report record numbers of illness, unemployment and immobility, the Wellness Industry is only going to expand at a significant pace.
“Broader wellness in the shape of rehab and recovery spaces is currently only offered at 6% of sites, although 24% said they had at least one therapy/ treatment room”.
– State of the UK Fitness Industry Report 2025
Independent gym and fitness club owners, with their bespoke facilities and existing place within the fitness and wellness industry, are primed to capitalise on this.
“We’re confident we’ll show our sector can be used very effectively as a national-level secondary care NHS cancer pathway…I think for the first time ever, our sector really does have an opportunity to bring health into fitness. We’re hearing so much more around exercise and movement at a policy level.”
– Dr Davina Deniszczyc, Nuffield Health
The report states that we are already seeing forward-thinking chains like Planet Fitness, Crunch and LA Fitness are integrating these services into their offering, creating premium upsell opportunities while they do so. Independent operators can differentiate themselves from their local competitors by offering short-term wellness programmes targeting issues like diabetes, anxiety and chronic pain. Through these methods, it is easy to see how independent gym and fitness club owners could attract a broader audience and boost retention at the same time.
“Wellness and recovery is the Blue Ocean. Step outside the crowded competitive space and meet consumers where their needs are. When you help people feel better, function better, and live better, you don’t just gain a new member, you create a lifelong advocate.”
– Casey Conrad, State of the UK Fitness Industry Report 2025
And for those gym or fitness club owners worried that this will involve expensive upselling, Dr Davina Deniszczyc weighted in during her section of the report with the following:
“The fitness sector has sometimes felt it has to do it all, but it doesn’t. We aren’t there to talk about medication, illness or the suitability of a treatment pathway. We’re there to focus on movement and coaching to help people be the best version of themselves”.
We will look further at how this focus on Wellness in the report can be applied at the end of our next section on longevity.
Longevity: The Longevity Goldrush
The fitness industry is evolving from aesthetics-focused workouts to data-driven, personalised longevity solutions.
“We are facing a healthspan crisis. Today, 27% of the world’s population lives with multiple chronic conditions, and obesity affects around 65% of people in the US and UK”.
– Teemu Arina, Best-selling Author, Founder of HOLOLIFE.
With life expectancy declining after decades of sustained growth and people spending 20% of their lives in suboptimal health, gyms are uniquely positioned to bridge the gap left by traditional healthcare. This is especially true in the UK, where the NHS crisis and declining living standards have caused significant societal issues. These are the sort of big-picture trends that the State of the UK Fitness Industry Report’s have always excelled highlighting.
The report goes on to highlight that blood biomarkers, wearables and genetic testing now allow hyper-personalised fitness and nutrition plans, making longevity science accessible on the gym floor in a way that was previously unimaginable .
In addition, the report highlights how this is not only an issue that won’t go away, it is going to intensify. As we all know, the population is getting older. People are living longer, there are less children being born. We’ve heard these words so often they are almost cliche. But it is important to think of the impact that this will have on the fitness industry. LeisureDB certainly has.
“By 2042, over one in five UK residents will be aged 65 or older. If we continue treating older adults as one uniform group, we risk getting it wrong. Their needs are varied and evolving, and our approach must reflect that”.
– Lisa Forsyth. Managing Director, Max Associates
This is something we at Ashbourne have advocated in the past in several articles, and it is something that has been validated in the findings of recent Industry Reports. This helps illustrate one of the many applications that LeisureDB’s Industry Report can have. Not only can it provide new avenues and ideas, it can help confirm the intuition of decision-makers within the fitness industry.
Longevity is an issue that has only grown in importance, even within the last five years. There is no indication in the data that this will abate within the next decades.
“The future of fitness is not just about being active. It is preventative, holistic and deeply personalised. The fitness industry is perfectly placed to lead the longevity movement by uniting science, technology and real human support”. – Teemu Arina, Best-selling Author, Founder of HOLOLIFE.
Independent gyms and fitness clubs must consider catering to older adults, a demographic often overlooked and undersupported in the fitness industry. By offering age-specific programmes, mobility-focused classes and community support, operators can tap into a growing market.
Wellness and Longevity Key Action Points for Gym and Fitness Club Owners:
- Integrate wellness services: Increasingly affordable and popular wellness techniques and technologies can be used, such as Saunas, cryotherapy, recovery tech, to attract new members.
- Leverage data-driven personalisation: Stay ahead of the game by integrating wearables, biomarkers and smart phone interfacing into your facility. Increase marketability, technical sophistication and enhance member retention.
- Expand offerings for older adults: Offer tailored mobility and longevity programmes. Invest in trainers, equipment and classes better suited for this growing and increasingly engaged demographic.
Community: Strength Lies in Communities
How Independent Gyms Can Lead the Movement?
While national chains dominate headlines, it’s the independent gyms that are quietly transforming fitness into a community-driven experience. LeisureDB’s 2025 Report highlights how these local hubs are not just gyms but vital social anchors, yet they face significant challenges that demand industry-wide support.
“Gyms are evolving. They’re becoming more social and integrated into everyday life. Health partnerships are expanding, and many newer designs now include community zones, coworking areas and flexible spaces that blend wellness with day-to-day relevance”.
– Lisa Forsyth. Managing Director, Max Associates
The Future: A Community-Centric Approach
The shift that we have already seen in the first 25 years of the century shows no sign of slowing down. As Lisa Forsyth said above, Gyms are evolving to meet the demands of the 21st century. Despite being more interconnected, people are, conversely, more solitary than ever before. The gym, especially independent gyms, have proven to be an antidote to this.
When combined with the aging statistics we covered in our longevity section and Gen Z’s increasing demand for social, mental health-focused fitness, it looks very likely these demands will keep growing. The most successful independent gyms and fitness clubs will be the ones that evolve into inclusive spaces that serve every age and every stage.
“Sustainability in fitness isn’t just about the environment. It’s about economic stability and social wellbeing too. I believe this industry has a unique ability to improve not only physical health but also mental resilience and community connection. That’s why we need a long-term vision. One that focuses on impact, not just output. That’s where data and technology, used with intention, can help us create something lasting”. – Gonzalo Atriach President, DECIDATA
Key Community Strategies for the Fitness Industry
- Strengthen Community Ties: Host social events, workshops and local partnerships to position your gym as a wellness hub, not just a workout space.
- Leverage Collaboration: Join or form networks with other independents to share resources, negotiate better supplier rates and amplify advocacy/policy influencing efforts locally and nationally.
- Engage Underrepresented Groups: Older adults and Gen Z are often overlooked. Offer mobility classes, mental health-focused sessions and social fitness programmes to attract these demographics.
- Advocate for Policy Change: Push for fairer business rates and VAT reforms by uniting with industry bodies to lobby policymakers.
Blend Physical & Social Spaces: Introduce co-working areas, recovery lounges and community zones to make your gym a multi-functional destination.
“Imagine setting out to create healthy communities. It changes the dynamics. I see us reaching out into the community, qualifying our customers who live in those new housing estates to deliver our programmes for their neighbours. We will have built a community hub, so that’s where we’ll deliver the courses, but for the people who struggle to get to us – the carers and others who can’t come to our facilities – it all happens within the community. It all becomes self-sustaining, with a real sense of community and ownership. That’s where I see the future”. – From the “Operator Perspective” Section of the 2025 Report.
Rising costs, unfair VAT practices and business rate hikes threaten the survival of small gyms despite their proven ability to foster deep community connections. Without policy reform, the UK risks losing the very businesses that boost mental wellbeing, social cohesion and acts as preventative healthcare at a grassroots level.
Key Action Points for Independent Gym and Fitness Club Owners:
- Host community events: Wellness workshops, charity fundraisers and similar events to boost engagement and increase community bonds between members.
- Partner with local businesses: Partner with businesses such as physios, nutritionists and mental health professionals to add value to your membership within the local area.
- Develop age-specific programmes: Target specific demographics mobility for seniors, stress-relief classes for younger demographics.
- Join independent gym alliances: To strengthen bargaining power and to leverage increased influence on policy-makers. Gym Owner’s Forum is a great example of this.
- Redesign facility spaces: Redesign spaces be more than just workout floors, explore adding social, community and recovery zones.
Community has been routinely highlighted as a vital and growing function for gyms and fitness clubs, one that independent facilities and facility owners are in a fantastic position to capitalise on.
Resilience: How the UK Fitness Industry is thriving against the odds
The LeisureDB State of the UK Fitness Industry Report 2025 reveals an industry not just recovering but breaking records, proving its impressive resilience amid economic pressures. With total membership surpassing 11 million for the first time, the market value exceeded £6 billion and the number of private gyms has grown by 4.7% in just 12 months.
A Sector Defying Expectations
Despite rising operational costs, the fitness industry continues to expand, with private sector clubs driving much of the growth:
“There is great buoyancy in the UK’s private fitness sector, with data for the 12 months ending 31 March 2025 showing all-time highs being achieved across all key metrics”.
– State of the UK Fitness Industry Report 2025
Even mid-market operators like Bannatyne Group are reporting record years, while low-cost gyms demonstrate surprising pricing power:
“With average fees in the low-cost sector rising above £25 for the first time this year… Members aren’t as price-sensitive as we expected. Putting the price up hasn’t materially affected overall member numbers.”
– State of the UK Fitness Industry Report 2025
However, challenges remain:
“Ours is not a sector in turmoil, but it is a mixed bag economically. No-one can sugar coat the rising cost of providing services.”
– State of the UK Fitness Industry Report 2025
Building a More Inclusive and Resilient Future
LeisureDB is keen to reinforce in the report that in order to make sure that growth is both sustained, sustainable and resilient, it is important for the industry to address workforce shortages, diversity gaps as well as satisfying rapidly evolving consumer demands.
Key Challenges & Opportunities
Skills & Diversity Shortfalls
– Only 4% of fitness professionals come from Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic backgrounds (vs. 14% of the general population).
– New CPD courses on tackling ethnic and religious inequalities aim to foster inclusivity.
Specialist Training Demand
Rising interest in pre/post-natal fitness, Pilates and other niche fitness and wellness interests.
Workforce Wellbeing
Mental health support for staff is critical.
“By investing in people through education, inclusive practice and collaboration, we can unlock fitness and leisure’s full potential to strengthen communities, improve public health and drive sustainable growth”.
– Steven Dick, Co-Founder & Director, The Fitness Group Education
Strategic Investment & Innovation
With energy costs, sustainability pressures and digital transformation reshaping the sector, gym owners are urged by the findings of the report to adapt:
– Energy-efficient upgrades: Recommendations such as LED lighting, Solar panels and Heat recovery systems
– Hybrid models: On-demand workouts, app-based coaching.
– Community-driven spaces: Designating room for co-working zones/spaces and social fitness hubs.
“Strategic investment can play an important role in this landscape. Whether it’s supporting the installation of energy-efficient equipment, expanding premises, or navigating succession planning, access to the right financial tools and guidance makes a real difference.”
– Phil Brown. Corporate Director, Travel & Leisure, NatWest
Key Action Points for Gym Owners
– Leverage Pricing Power: Test modest fee increases; consumers prioritise value over cost.
– Invest in Staff Development: Upskill teams in specialist/specialised areas and offer more sophisticated and bespoke software for club management.
– Adopt Sustainable Practices: Cut costs via energy-saving tech and promote eco-conscious branding.
– Innovation: Investing in innovative and streamlining technologies. Greater technical sophistication brings greater resilience.
Looking to the Future
The UK fitness industry has proven its resilience, but long-term success hinges on innovation, inclusivity and smart investment.
“A stronger, more inclusive fitness industry will not happen by chance. It will be built by those who choose to innovate, act with integrity, and drive real impact”.
– Steven Dick. Co-Founder & Director, The Fitness Group Education
Final Takeaway: The sector isn’t just bouncing back, it’s reinventing itself. By focusing on community, adaptability and workforce development, independent gym and fitness club owners can future-proof their businesses in an evolving landscape.
Conclusion: The Future of Fitness is Pro-active, Inclusive and Resilient
The LeisureDB State of the UK Fitness Industry Report 2025 paints a clear picture: fitness is no longer just about lifting weights or burning calories, it’s about gym and fitness club owners adapting to offer bespoke services, innovation and community.
The Path Forward
Those who read the entire of LeisureDB’s wonderful state of the industry report will be able to fully understand how the most successful gyms and fitness clubs in 2025 and beyond will be those that:
- Blend fitness with holistic wellness services.
- Build inclusive communities
- Leverage data and technology to meet individual needs and streamline processes
- Adapt to economic pressures with smart pricing, innovation and cost-efficient operations.
So if our brief review of this massive 168 page report has got you keen to learn more, follow this link for more information about our partnership with LeisureDB and where to download the State of the UK Fitness Industry Report 2025.
If all this talk of 2025 has got you thinking about the future of your independent gym or fitness club, you might already be in the right place!
Our role as a report partner is just one of the countless ways we at Ashbourne Membership Management demonstrate our absolute commitment to the fitness industry in the UK and beyond.
After 25 years of operating and thriving within the fitness industry, we are always happy to utilise our expertise and experience. Partnership with Ashbourne Membership Management brings countless benefits to gyms up and down the UK and Ireland, and your gym could be the next to benefit.
From the installation of state of the art access controls such as turnstiles and finger-print scanners to the latest cutting-edge software, data analytic suites and dashboards, our Club Management expertise can help save hundreds of work-hours for you and your staff.
Whether it is our direct debit payment collection services, online class booking infrastructure or sleek and bespoke Members Apps, countless gym owners are offering more services every day thanks to Ashbourne Club Management.
So if you are a gym owner or manager who wants to use LeisureDBs finding to adapt and innovate in order to bolster and future-proof your business, arrange a meeting with our demonstration team here. Together you can start planning a partnership that will help not only grow, but protect your fitness business.
