Total Fitness, the Wilmslow-based fitness club operator, has forged a partnership with DRax, a fitness equipment supplier already popular with millions of gym goers in Australia and Asia.

As the first UK health club to offer gym users access to the equipment offered by DRax, it says this partnership highlights Total Fitness’s commitment to delivering its members the best possible workout experience through continued investment into its clubs.

The partnership with DRax involves an investment of more than £500,000 and will see the replacement of cardio equipment across all 15 Total Fitness clubs. Members will benefit from new cross trainers, upright bikes, and recumbent bikes, ensuring a robust and reliable workout experience that caters to the high demand for cardio-focused exercise. Additionally, the number of stair climbers in each club will be increased, meeting the growing popularity of this equipment.

The new DRax equipment will begin appearing in Total Fitness clubs this month, with installations continuing into February. Careful planning ensures minimal disruption to members, who will be able to start enjoying the new equipment as soon as it’s in place. Fitness coaches will be available to introduce members to the features and benefits of the new machines, including ‘My Mountain’.

My Mountain is a standout feature in the partnership between DRax and Total Fitness, an innovative machine that combines the benefits of a treadmill, and stair climber into a single, versatile piece of equipment. Total Fitness is the first gym to bring this equipment to the UK, showing its commitment to offering members the best possible workout.  

Dean Zweck, Total Fitness Product Development Manager, said: “Our collaboration with DRax marks an exciting new chapter for Total Fitness. The addition of My Mountain is a game-changer for our members. This partnership underscores our commitment to providing members with cutting-edge equipment that supports their fitness goals and keeps their routines fresh and engaging.” 

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Popeyes UK, which claims to be the UK’s fastest growing QSR (quick service restaurant) brand, has revealed its plans for expansion during 2025 which involves moves to almost double its UK footprint with the opening of a further 45+ restaurants.

In doing so, it will increase its presence in major cities including Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol, London and Scotland. The new sites planned for 2025 will span multiple formats and channels, including eat-in restaurants, drive-thru sites, and delivery kitchens, spanning high street units and travel hubs including rail and roadside locations.

The openings will create approximately 2,500 jobs across the UK as the business targets sales of more than £200m in 2025.

The company’s expansion plans follow on from a year of transformational growth in 2024 when it opened 33 locations, sold the equivalent of one sandwich every three seconds, and delivered a 100% increase in total sales to more than £118m, equating to above £2m per week on average. 

Tom Crowley, CEO Popeyes UK, said: “Our ambitious roll-out strategy – which will see us open, on average, close to one new site per week in the coming 12 months – will mean that we can bring joy to even more customers across the country, from breakfast through to late night. At the same time, we are looking forward to welcoming around 2,500 new team members in the year ahead to support our expansion plans, all the while continuing our clear focus on exciting menu and technology innovation.”

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Kiran Metha, left, and Rory Southworth

A Lancashire County Council (LCC) initiative which supports the county’s early-stage finance and funding community, fhunded, has partnered with VC investment specialist Kiran Mehta to help boost levels of early-stage investment activity and deal flow in Lancashire.

Kiran, a former VC Investment Manager at Mercia Ventures, will work closely with the fhunded programme lead, Rory Southworth, and LCC’s wider finance and funding teams, to identify early stage businesses which have high growth potential and help them to get investment ready. He will also engage with investors looking for new innovation-led investment opportunities across the county.

During his four years at Mercia, Kiran facilitated more than £20m of early stage VC investment into tech businesses around the UK. He also sat on the boards of the companies he backed, helping them to secure further finance and scale up. He was one of the first VC investors to get involved with fhunded when it was launched by LCC 18 months ago, and said: “Whilst a VC, I experienced first hand the energy and ambition which underpins the fhunded programme. I could also see the immense untapped early-stage investment potential Lancashire has.”

Rory Southworth, Lancashire County Council’s Investment Ecosystem Manager, said: “Kiran has extensive experience and an outstanding track record across the equity investment and tech VC landscape. The incredibly positive feedback from delegates who attended fhunded events which Kiran participated in also highlights his ability to engage with the county’s early stage businesses.”

Aidy Riggott, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Growth at Lancashire County Council, said: “LCC’s fhunded initiative has clearly demonstrated that Lancashire has significant growth potential within the tech and innovation investment space, and in a very short space of time it has firmly put the county on the early stage investor map.”

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John Bowker

Contractors and consultants are now able to apply for places on a North West social housing consortium’s £500m framework. JV North, which has 14 housing association and local authority members, will build in the region of 3,000 homes over the course of the framework. The Invitation To Tender (ITT) has opened with three lots for contractors and seven for consultants for JV North’s framework.

Construction lots range from upwards to £4m, £4m to £12m and £12m and over. Consultant lots are open for architectural services, employers agents, purchaser agents, engineers, clerks of works, principal designers and principal designers for Building Regulations.

Made up of housing associations and local authority members, JV North’s latest procurement framework will run for four years from August 2025 to 2029. Successful contractors and consultants will be able to secure contracts from the consortium’s 14 members as they build more than 3,000 homes. The closing date for submissions is March 3, with successful bidders announced May 19, before the framework starts on August 2.

Saffer Cooper Consultancy is managing the procurement of the framework on behalf of JV North and Director, Sean Stafford, said: “Last year JV North celebrated building its 10,000th home, housing 30,000 people and members have a big appetite to do even more.”

JV North Chair, John Bowker, said: “The founding principle of JV North is partnerships in the form of members working collaboratively and also businesses appointed to our frameworks. Contractors and consultants are crucial in helping us build the homes the country’s population craves with the core focus being on quality of delivery so we create neighbourhoods we are really proud of.”

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Sample home gym

Gym equipment specialist, Jigsaw Fitness, has received £350,000 of funding from NatWest to support the development of its Solo Fitness home gym equipment brand.

The business, which is based in Crosby, north Liverpool, designs and manufactures custom gym equipment for fitness studios and individuals worldwide. Clients include BXR, Fairmont Hotels, Under Armour, Fitness First, Gymshark, and Everlast.

Jigsaw Fitness, which was founded by Sam Marsh, also has a premium home fitness brand called Solo Fitness which designs and equips luxury home gyms. Solo Fitness was set up around the time of the Covid pandemic in an attempt to bring well-designed home fitness equipment to the market. Funding from NatWest, which includes trade loan facilities, will support Jigsaw Fitness as it continues to develop the Solo Fitness range, expanding the brand’s presence in the UK and around the world.

Managing director, Sam Marsh, said: “Over the last few years, we have invested in bringing new products to market for a segment that was previously underserved. We have carefully crafted a range of Solo Fitness products that we believe to be one of the finest on the market. Armed with these, we look forward to growing the brand with new clients in the UK and abroad.” 

Nathan Johnson, Senior Relationship Manager at NatWest, said: “Sam has a clear vision for the business, and we’re delighted to support his plans for growth. We’re looking forward to seeing what Sam and his team do in future, and will continue supporting them on their journey.”

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Aimee Spilsbury, left, and Kerry Roberts

Cheshire’s fitness scene is set to expand with the exciting launch of ((BOUNCE)) BED Tarporley, a boutique Reformer Pilates studio located at Rose Farm, Utkinton.

Launching towards the end of February, the studio is owned and operated by Cheshire locals Kerry Roberts and Aimee Spilsbury, both busy working mums and passionate advocates for accessible fitness who have invested £20,000 in equipment and refurbishment to bring this fun fitness concept to the local community.

Unlike any other Reformer Pilates classes, ((BOUNCE)) BED tones and sculpts the whole body in a cardio-focused class choreographed to music with the difficult levels controlled by the participant by varying the resistance of the springs on the beds. ((BOUNCE)) BED Tarporley welcomes all fitness abilities and supports both beginners and advanced participants together in any session.

Kerry, a merchandising business consultant and busy mum of two who lives in Delamere. She launched her own fitness classes and after the successful debut of dynamic trampoline-based workouts ((BOUNCE)) Fit in Kelsall and subsequently in Waverton, Kerry is now advancing her fitness journey with the launch of ((BOUNCE)) BED Tarporley.

Partnering with her is Aimee Spilsbury, a marketing professional with a background in retail and logistics who lives in Kelsall. The two met through their children’s local primary school. Aimee said: “We’re so excited to open ((BOUNCE)) Bed Tarporley. We’re combining our love for fitness and wellness with a business that makes a real difference, alongside an accessible timetable.”

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Stockport-based Sports Feet has secured a second loan of £10,000 through the British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans programme, delivered by GC Business Finance (GCBF).

The independent specialist running shop was founded by Alison Cheetham and David Edwards in 2020 to embrace their shared passion for running. The pair began working together as travel agents in 1984 and have been running together for more than 15 years.

Alison and David established Sports Feet during the Covid-19 pandemic after the travel industry closed down overnight and they needed to adapt their travel agency business model. To kit out the shop and purchase the initial stock needed to start the business, the pair secured their original £10,000 Start Up Loan from GCBF. Despite setting up in one of the most difficult times for businesses, Sports Feet is now the only specialist running shop in Stockport. The business sells running shoes and accessories from its shop in Hazel Grove and organises a social running group that is accessible to runners of all levels.

Alison Cheetham said: “Starting our business during the pandemic brought us lots of uncertainties, but since then we have built Sports Feet into a business that brings together members of the Stockport community. Our business not only gives people a place to run, but it also gives them a space to meet new people.”

Alex Mearns, Head of Start-up Lending at GC Business Finance, said: “In just four years, Sports Feet has transformed itself into a thriving business that is offering something unique in the local area. Jamie Ralph, the underwriter on this deal, has done a great job supporting Alison and David, helping them access the funding and support they needed to get the business to where it is now. I look forward to seeing what is next for the pair as they continue to take Sports Feet from strength to strength.”