Fitness entrepreneurs to beef up Stockport gym business

A gym in Stockport is looking to expand just six months after moving into its new home.

The minds behind The Lean Body Project, which relocated to Princes Street in May, said the business has room to triple in size within its new facility.

The company was founded by Damien Coates and Lianne Sykes in 2010 as a series of bootcamps.

Today, The Lean Body Project offers group training and employs seven people, with member numbers now three times higher than a year ago.

Discussing the last 12 months, co-owner Lianne said the business was made homeless in December 2016 and subsequently moved into a temporary space.

She explained that while the interim home was not ideal, she and Damien “stuck it out while we secured the ideal premises with room to grow”, adding: “Fortunately we had several years’ experience and hard work behind us where we’ve developed and created what we have - a solid community of amazing people.”

Having grown from a bootcamp service covering Reddish and Handforth, The Lean Body Project has expanded its services to include sports massages, mindset coaching and meal planning.

Lianne continued: “We wanted to create a place that was different from any other gym, and where people wouldn’t feel intimidated or ignored.

“Our members often start out with fear, anxiety and a lack of confidence but our goal is to make sure after their first session with us they walk out feeling better and knowing they have made new friends.”

In 2018, the company plans to launch a new website, online coaching and more cookbooks.

Damien commented: “We’ve got room to double or even treble the size of the gym, which will allow us to bring an extra dimension to The Lean Body Project so we can help even more people on a bigger scale.

“Firstly, however, we will be opening up more daytime group training to give our members even more access and flexibility.

“Everyone in the gym plays a huge part of LBP and all our members get involved with supporting each other. We aim to create a ‘sports club’ atmosphere rather than your usual ‘soulless’ gym.”

Speaking further, he said: “We have the ability to keep improving and growing the business on our terms and it’s great to be in the centre of Stockport and contribute towards its regeneration.”