Let's Celebrate Local!

By Stu Gatherum, director and founder of T2 Fitness. T2 is an education provider in the fitness industry responsible for qualifying and upskilling fitness professionals.

How are you feeling about your business?  

After the initial reflection period, and obvious concern at the start of lockdown we refocused our efforts on a new plan to move forward. I’m feeling really confident in it, and the business in general, even in these trying times. I believe if you always stay true to your core values you’ll be fine. 

How are you feeling about business in general? 

I think business will change, I think there will be a growing need to adapt to the climate, and although I think the outlook will change I do think if you plan for this and have contingencies in place it will be fine. We already see many businesses doing this.

Tell us how you now apply this phrase to your business and/or life ‘buy local supply local’. 

Our marketing team, and designers that help us in developing our online content are local businesses with whom we have forged awesome relationships. They understand us because they know the local area and therefore they know the audience.

What has changed for you positively as a result of lockdown? 

We have launched several fully online course offerings. We have had the time to dedicate to this whereas although we had some offerings previously we didn’t have the time to totally focus on this. 

We have learned with our students to become more tech-savvy and delivered lots of ‘live’ education through live webinars. We have also successfully run two series of educational webinars to enhance our audiences learning while they’re locked down. In addition, we have recorded five new episodes of the T2 Talks Podcast.

Tell us what, for you, makes a ‘good’ local business.  

For me it is knowing your audience, surroundings and local area. If you have a firm understanding of who you’re talking to and what they need then you will be successful.

Can you name a local business which you support around food & drink? 

We love Lynwood Café in Lechlade, and closer to home The Gulshan in Shrivenham. We are lucky where we are to also have farm shops and local delis nearby. 

https://www.lynwoodandco.com

https://www.gulshanbrasserie.com

Can you name a local business which you support around health, wellbeing or fitness? 

Several come to mind as we taught the owners to become qualified. This includes George Webb at GW Fitness. 

https://www.facebook.com/georgewebbfitnesstraining/

Can you shout out to three local customers you wish to celebrate? 

1. Danielle Moreton has been a client of mine for a long time and she has decided to become a qualified PT herself. 

2.Shrivenham Football Club, whom we sponsor every year do a tremendous service for our local area and we are proud to be a club sponsor. 

3. Finally Vaughan Covil, who is a professional footballer for Forest Green Rovers. We have been helping Vaughan get ready for preseason. He is an awesome young lad with a big future.

Can you name anyone in business who has really had your back over the months? 

Charlie, our media manager has been fantastic in her support of T2. She has created an incredible strategy and implemented it during lockdown.

Can you name one person in your life who has really helped you during this time? 

My wife Tori of Tori Fae Fitness has been a pillar of strength. Her belief in me as a person, and T2 as a business is unwavering and this kind of support makes you feel you can achieve anything. Her business has completed adapted to the current situation also in a really inspiring way and what she does for the female fitness community is fantastic! 

What are your business plans for Q4? 

We are actually currently developing a brand new branch to the business. I won’t say more until its completely ready but it’s very exciting for the future of T2.

Your parting thought? 

Thank you for your support during this period. We appreciate it and we are incredibly proud to be able to help people develop their existing career in the fitness industry, or achieve the career change they have always wanted! 

For more information visit https://www.t2fitness.co.uk