North East fitness firm strengthens market position with £600k gym investment

An expanding North East fitness firm is strengthening its market position by making a £600k investment in refurbishing its flagship Gateshead gym.

Vision Health & Fitness has upgraded its 27,000 sq ft gym on the Sands Industrial Estate in Swalwell by bringing in a range of Olympic-standard Eleiko training equipment and becoming the only North East centre of excellence for Team ICG Indoor Cycling Group, the world’s largest indoor cycling equipment specialist.

The new investment follows the opening 12 months ago of Vision’s second state-of-the-art training facility, a £1.3m, 20,000 sq ft gym on Crowhall Road in Cramlington which offers over 200 pieces of equipment, a 20m sprint track and more than 200 exercise classes every month.

The management team is now aiming to consolidate Vision’s market position through 2020, with both the Gateshead and Cramlington facilities moving to 24-hour opening in the next few months, and plans to open its next North East gym by the end of the year.

The business now employs 30 people and is on track to achieve its goal of becoming a major player in the regional health and fitness industry by reaching a 20-strong gym portfolio within the next seven years.

The company was founded 13 years ago by Mark Clauzel, a former boxer and kick boxer who was forced to retire through injury at the age of 31, and who then decided to put his knowledge of the fitness industry to commercial use.

Mark and business partner Jason Atherton have grown the business by developing a model which encourages maximum member retention rates, while also directly employing their own trainers and instructors to ensure they are working to Vision’s specific standards.

Mark Clauzel, managing director at Vision Health & Fitness, says: “The positive impact for members of the investment in Gateshead is clear to see and the move we’re planning to make is a 24-hour opening in the coming months both here and in Cramlington which will be another major step forward.

“We’re focusing this year to make sure the two gyms are operating as well as possible, but we also have locations in mind for what we want to do next and have a clear path towards establishing the Vision brand right across the North East over the next few years.”