Duo share sporting business success

Emma Richardson and Dan Plant, who own the Farnsfield-based gym Fortis Fitness, gave a presentation to students highlighting their journey of building a successful fitness business. The pair explained how their joint love of fitness spurred them on to look at setting-up their own gym, which was first based in Kirkby-in-Ashfield.

Now situated on Hexgreave Hall’s estate, the gym has continued to flourish even through the pandemic. Dan shared with students how good business sense, attention to marketing, sales techniques and retention incentives are key to keeping a business strong.

The students, who are studying on the BTEC Level 3 in Sport, Fitness and Personal Training were able to ask questions about Dan and Emma’s rise to success and how they developed their business acumen.

Both Dan and Emma spoke about their early backgrounds. Dan joined the RAF and did tours of Afghanistan and Iraq. His training with the air force gave him the motivation to do well, as well as discipline.

Emma went to university and trained to be a midwife, going on to work with people with mental health issues, and she then worked with the homeless. When they met they both had the joint dream of wishing to change people’s lives, which is when they came up with their fitness and wellness business idea.

Tutor Maria Higgins said: “Visits from business people like Dan and Emma are absolutely invaluable for our students who are all starting to take steps to think about which road their higher level studies and then employment will take.

“They can learn from their experiences, both the positive and the negative, and they were able to ask some really in-depth questions about the whole process of setting-up as self-employed in this varied industry.”