Health, wellbeing and fitness company Seven Hills Fitness offers corporate personal training, at-home personal training and online coaching. We speak to managing director Barry Wood…
I was inspired to start my business by …
My passion for fitness and how it has positively affected my life. I came from quite a poor background and viewed sport as my ticket out of that to a better life.
I played rugby a lot as a youngster, got a scholarship to play in the US for a year and fell just short of playing professionally. I continued to play a lot while studying at University of Sheffield and went on to qualify as a personal trainer. It was in this role that I really understood the benefits of exercise and how fitness can have such a positive impact on the lives of all of us.
My favourite thing about running my business is …
It is all up to you – how hard you work dictates how successful you become.
Starting a business was an alien concept to me – I’d never done it before, so I am learning each and every day. Every day presents new lessons and challenges – and I love challenges!
The three words that best describe my business are…
Game-changing, exciting, responsible.
Sheffield is a great place to grow a business because …
Of its close-knit, community feel. It is a continually expanding and evolving city with a rich history.
The best advice I ever got was …
Firstly that the main thing about the business should always remain the main focus.
Secondly it is better to punch and hit with 50% of your power then punch and miss with 100%.
The worst advice I ever got was …
Leaflet marketing works!
The Sheffield organisations that have supported me and my business include …
Westfield Health – they have supported the business ever since I first came up with the concept of teaming corporate health and exercise and that ongoing confidence in the business has really helped me shape the vision of the company’s future.
They are our number one corporate backer, inviting us to attend events and networking sessions and we’re looking long-term at building on that to develop a new partnership, too.
The main challenges facing my industry/sector are …
A saturated market, often with poor quality advice.
In 5 years’ time I expect my business to be …
The UK’s number one health and wellbeing company.
