The value of the UK fitness club market has been valued at £5.1bn – a figure which is expected to grow by more than 8 per cent each year.

The latest in-depth survey of the UK fitness club market – Project Fitness UK 2018, published by Allegra Strategies – projects a compound annual growth rate of 8.5 per cent in value and a 5 per cent increase in the number of gyms and health clubs over the next five years.

Allegra’s estimates are based on significant growth to date – 7.1 per cent in value terms since 2013.

Having increased its retail footprint by 15.1 per cent since 2012, the health and leisure centre sector is deemed to have been the fastest growing business sector in the UK over the last five years.

Between 2013 and 2018, the number of private sector clubs increased from 3,269 to 4,400, although the public sector contracted from 2,750 to 2,680 facilities.

The growth has been fuelled by increasing awareness – and actual experience – of the benefits of exercise on both physical and mental health.

The rise in obesity, heart disease and diabetes has further highlighted the need to alter sedentary lifestyles, and government initiatives and sporting events have given the industry a further boost, as have technological developments.

Given the fitness club market should now be in a mature state of development, and taking into account economic forecasts for the UK generally, these are impressive growth estimates.

For more analysis and data on Allegra Strategies' Project Fitness UK 2018 report, click here for the July 2018 issue of Health Club Management magazine.

and projects a compound annual growth rate of 8.5 per cent in value and circa five per cent in the number of gyms and health clubs over the next five years.