One of the biggest mistakes the fitness industry still makes is advertising almost exclusively to people who already look and live like gym members.

Built around behaviour change science, guruPaul is an innovation from retention specialist, Paul Bedford.

Heart rate training and gamified technology are creating uplifting fitness experiences that keep members coming back for more, as Julie Cramer reports

Workplace wellness schemes now go well beyond gym memberships, with increasingly-aware employees looking for wider wellbeing services

NRG Gyms has announced the acquisition of Pump Gyms, expanding its UK estate from seven to 12 sites and almost doubling the number of members.

Dr Paul Bedford has announced the return of the Retention Convention, which will take place on Thursday, 25th September 2025, at The Slate Conference Centre, University of Warwick.

Fitness First has opened the doors to its 28th site in Marylebone, central London – the first new site in more than 10 years.

Landmark research from Les Mills reveals the vital interventions required to set new members up for success and keep them coming back for more

Respected retention expert, Dr Paul Bedford, will be continuing his popular tenetion event after a two-year break. The 2024 Retention Convention will take place on 5 December, with five sessions focused on practical approaches to increase lifetime value.

The Lancet Psychiatry Commission on youth mental health has identified an ‘alarming and ‘dangerous’ mental health crisis. The sector must act, says Liz Terry

Paul Bedford discusses the ‘double-edged sword’ of the growing trend for strength training, and his ambitions for the health and fitness sector

Cheriee Wales reports from the recent Fitronics and Proinsight ConnectCX conference and CoursePro Summit

A new pilot study – The Prevention and Enablement Model – has shown exercise interventions can deliver economic value

As the physical activity sector works to deepen its relationship with the health sector, a new study has revealed how exercise interventions can deliver proven economic value to the economy.

Fitness First UK’s annual ‘Red Monday’ campaign, which ran across the UK on 16 January 2023, increased visits by a third and resulted in sign ups from a thousand new members.

Questex’s Sibec Europe|UK, Europe’s leading one-to-one event for the fitness industry, concluded its event last week at the Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort, in Portugal, with over 750 one-to-one meetings between premier global suppliers and owners and operators of health and fitness facilities in Europe and the UK.

Questex’s Sibec Europe-UK, Europe’s leading hosted buyer event for the fitness industry, will take place on 27-30 September 2022 at the Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort, in Portugal.

How can operators ensure members feel a continual sense of improvement that keeps them coming back for more?

A round up of recent research into mental health and highlights from the gamechanging Move Your Mental Health Report from the John W Brick Mental Health Foundation

Keeping members actively engaged has never been more important. Abi Harris reports on the latest ideas and inspiration from the Retention Convention

People suffering from mild depression in England should be offered exercise, mindfulness, therapy or meditation before medication, such as antidepressants.

Creating workout experiences will be the main theme of this year's Retention Convention, which will be held as an online event on 9 December 2021.

Paul Bedford and Jamie Owens discuss opportunities and tactics available to operators to regrow memberships

Chronic pain sufferers should be prescribed exercise, not painkillers, says the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. We find out more

Adults suffering from chronic pain should be advised to take exercise, rather than be prescribed painkillers, according to new guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

The Retention Convention saw experts sharing exciting examples of best practice around customer relationship building

Gyms and leisure facilities in south-east England are to close from midnight tonight under a variety of new restrictions announced during an emergency press briefing this evening by prime minister, Boris Johnson.

A number of gym operators are concerned that local lockdowns could come into effect in some areas of the UK before gyms reopen, further delaying the full restarting of the industry –  especially in major urban areas.

The active leisure industry is increasingly feeling the pressure as countries introduce measures to tackle the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.

Retention specialist, Paul Bedford, has released a video tutorial advising health and fitness operators the best ways to retain customers during the coronavirus outbreak.