Top 5 UK Gym Chains for Personal Trainers: Facilities, Salaries & Benefits

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Choosing where to run your personal training practice – choosing the right gym chain – will directly impact your income, access to and types of clients, and the quality of the facilities you can offer.

Happily, gym chains provide excellent opportunities for trainers to grow their careers while enjoying attractive perks – a robust and ever-expanding UK fitness industry sees to this. This means you have plenty of options open to you, some of which we’ve broken down below.

What to Look for in a Gym Chain

There are several factors to consider when looking for a gym to commit to.

For instance, you will want to ensure competitive salary structures, whether employed or self-employed, are in place. Look for gyms that set fair and competitive rates, including hourly pay, commission models, and/or hybrid options.

Professional development (CPD) opportunities are also important. As a personal trainer, you need to spend your whole career learning and bettering yourself, so look for gyms that offer CPD courses, mentorship programs, and workshops to refine your skills.

Work-life balance also needs to be taken into account, especially if you have other responsibilities outside of work. Whether it’s flexible hours for self-employed trainers or supportive management for employed roles, balance is crucial.

Equipment is key to your customers’ experiences. You will need to make sure you’ve got all the kit you need – squat racks, cardio machines, potentially even saunas and other spa facilities. As a side note, you also want to make sure the gym you choose has a supportive culture which fosters collaboration, networking, and client referrals.

Top 5 UK Gym Chains for Personal Trainers

These five are amongst the best gym chains leading the current UK market.

1. PureGym

PureGym is an incredibly modern outfit boasting 24/7 access facilities, plenty of good quality equipment, and high footfall. It’s perfect for any personal trainer looking to build up a good client base. Self-employed trainers gain access to the gym in exchange for set hours of gym floor work, which is a pretty common set-up. Freelance trainers can typically earn around £25-35 per hour.

As a PureGym trainer, you will receive free gym memberships and access to ongoing support.

2. David Lloyd Leisure

David Lloyd clubs are known for being more luxurious centres that include high-end fitness equipment, pools, tennis courts, and spa amenities designed to cater to more affluent members. This will allow you to work with higher-paying clients. You will be able to earn up to £30-50 as a David Lloyd team member.

Trainers using David Lloyd will have access to CPD programs and will enjoy employee discounts, childcare options, and access to luxury facilities for personal use.

Read more expert insights on David Lloyd’s typical interview questions, and how to answer them.

3. Virgin Active

Virgin Active locations consistently offer high-quality equipment and a range of fitness classes, including yoga studios and swimming pools. Virgin Active uses a zero-hour contract structure with new trainers given 110 paid hours in their first 12 weeks to help them build a client base. Trainers are paid on a tier system, with their pay increasing as they advance in their development.

It’s a good place to start, and you’ll get access to plenty of in-house CPDs

4. Nuffield Health

Nuffield Health focuses on a well-rounded wellness mission, and their gyms include medical-grade fitness equipment, group classes, and rehab facilities. You will learn a lot working with them. Trainers often earn around the £30-50 hourly mark, with further opportunities for private sessions and specialised programs.

Trainers will be given access to world-leading CPD courses, private healthcare plans, and advanced wellness tools for themselves and their clients.

5. Fitness First

Fitness First makes use of fantastic, cutting-edge equipment and typically fosters a community-oriented culture in all their locations. Trainers will all be self-employed and will be able to earn around £30-45 per hour, depending on where they’re training and their expertise and experience.

You’ll get access to CPD resources, as well as their world-leading PT mentoring programs.

Rent can be pretty variable, however, so make sure that you check with your local centre.

Conclusion

The right gym will set the tone for your PT practice. A good client pool and supportive atmosphere will make your career, whilst going with a gym that doesn’t align with your goals and growth will see you floundering. 

Research, visit gyms, and weigh your options carefully to set yourself up for long-term success in the industry.