Investment in EGYM’s Open Mode is driving member engagement at Active Blackpool, as Chris Rushton explains

Following the phenomenal success of EGYM’s integration as an engagement driver and data-capture solution across multiple physical activity-led health pathways, Active Blackpool has expanded its investment in EGYM hardware to ensure everyone can benefit.

“EGYM’s Smart Strength series – functioning as a circuit – has been instrumental in enabling us to scale and demonstrate our exercise-on-referral pathways,” explains Chris Rushton, head of Active Blackpool. “The automated setup, AI-powered progressive exercise prescription and indisputable outcomes data have allowed us to attract referrals from healthcare professionals and support those who need it most, creating incredible health-improvement opportunities for the wider population. Now, we want to encourage more people, not just those with health conditions, to integrate EGYM into their training.

Opening up access to everyone
“As part of our member journey, everyone is inducted into the EGYM Ecosystem,” continues Rushton. “Some members prefer to mix up their sessions with modular, free-weight and cardiovascular equipment and don’t always want to complete a full EGYM Smart circuit every visit, so we now offer a hybrid model, with EGYM available both within and beyond a circuit.”

Blackpool Sports Centre has introduced additional EGYM Smart Strength units, the Hip Thrust, Bicep Curl, Tricep Curl and the newly launched Squat, all positioned as standalone stations on the main gym floor.

“These units can be accessed via EGYM’s ‘Open Mode’,” explains Rushton. “This empowers users to enjoy the same automated setup, digital coaching and smart personalisation as circuit users, but with the freedom to incorporate EGYM into a broader workout. It’s opening up access to all the benefits of EGYM for everyone and connecting our community through a fully-integrated fitness experience.”

The role of gamification
Enabling EGYM equipment in Open Mode also unlocks opportunities to gamify the gym experience, introducing strength-based challenges that pit members against themselves, each other or even their trainers. This friendly competition builds community spirit, boosts motivation and delivers both mental and physical benefits, helping create the ‘sticky’ members who stay active for longer.

“Members who train on EGYM remain active for around 20 per cent longer, according to EGYM’s global data,” says Rushton. “The more people we engage in the EGYM Ecosystem, the stronger our community health outcomes and our commercial sustainability become.”

More: www.egym.com/uk