meet the team

I’ve always been passionate about fitness. As a child I would try every sport that I could get my hands on. I didn’t care if it involved a ball, a stick, a beam or a pair of goggles – I just wanted to do it!

That passion for movement led to a sports and exercise degree at university, where I found my second passion – child development – and studied the effect that exercise, or lack of, has on children’s development.

My love of being active didn’t stop when I reached adulthood. It led to an active career as a Captain in the Army, during which I was fortunate enough to travel from mountain to mountain across Europe as a competitive biathlon skier. I left the Army in 2003, and moved into recruitment. After five years in recruitment, I decided that a desk job wasn’t for me. I wanted to make a difference again, like I had in the Army, and I looked for a new, more fulfilling opportunity.

I stumbled across The Little Gym through an old school friend. When I walked in, it was always a wow moment. I was knocked out by how friendly and colourful each gym was, and how enthusiastic the staff were. I took the leap and opened The Little Gym Harrogate in 2005 with two little ones and 7 mths pregnant. Roll on 15 yrs and we now run 3 gyms in Harrogate, Leeds & York with over 1800 members attending every week. Life’s a juggle but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I now get to see so many ex Little Gymers at sports fixtures across Yorkshire and it is lovely to bump into current and old members even on holiday!

Alongside running my three gyms I also support new Little Gym owners opening their gyms and mentor them during this initialjourney and I have been lucky enough to support gyms in the UK and Europe recently opening Bath, Widnes and Wimbledon.

The beauty of our gyms is that it caters to every child as a unique individual. We nurture their abilities, encourage them to be involved, and help them to develop a love for movement without them even realising – they’re just having too much fun to notice!

Each child is unique, and we are so lucky to work with them every day. We love getting to spend time with them in the gym while the grown-ups have a cup of coffee and relax in the foyer.

Thanks for letting us enjoy their company for that special hour a week!