Success Story
A group of four friends have joined forces to launch BKW CrossFit, a new community-based gym in East Bristol, with the help of a Start Up Loan from the British Business Bank.
| Region/Nation | South West |
|---|---|
| Sector | Arts, Entertainment and Leisure |
| Programme | Start Up Loans |
| Partner |
Adam Facey, his partner Raquel Sanjurjo Doval, and friends Holly Hawkins and Hayden Cotton came together in 2022. The group all met through going to the gym and bonded over their mutual love of fitness. They all believed they could build upon the community aspect of CrossFit and acquire a space that allowed for socialising after training, rather than having to leave immediately after.
In 2023, the friends took the plunge and BKW CrossFit was born. They each took out Start Up Loans amounting to £60,000 between them, via BizBritain, to start BKW CrossFit.
Their key focus is to create a strong sense of community with a family-oriented feel. Thanks to the finance they received, they were able to secure a unit with a mezzanine level which could be used as a place for people to meet fellow gym users. They kitted out the space with a children’s area, TVs, sofas, and free coffee. This means that at BKW CrossFit, parents don’t need to leave their children behind when working out.
The gym opened in March 2024, with a launch party a few days prior to celebrate. Adam said:
Our launch party was really successful. We had over 200 people in attendance on the day. We were handing out free doughnuts, had some small gym challenges and were also letting people try out new tech which shows people detailed information about how they’re working out and what their bodies are doing.
The team are continuing to focus on breaking down barriers to fitness by hosting mum and baby classes as well as social events in which children can take part, like Easter Egg hunts, with food and music around classes. They are also hosting classes specifically aimed at children from ages 6 to 10 and 11 to 16.
“Securing this finance has meant everything to us,” said Adam. “We wanted a trusted loan provider that looked at the business plan, not just at the potential profit behind it. It’s given us the opportunity to purchase all of the equipment instead of renting it and to be able to secure a big unit in the location we wanted.”
“We’re able to make the decisions based on our experience in the industry without someone saying no. This means we can provide the best services for our customers.”
To find out more about BKW CrossFit, visit bkwcrossfit.com.
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