Dom Horton and Lewis Meszar, both aged 20, completed the Level 3 Personal Training course at DCG’s Broomfield Hall and quickly realised they shared the same ambition of launching their own business.
Three years on, they have just opened Tenacity Fitness in the former 1930s cinema building (later a bingo hall) on St John Street, Wirksworth, signing up nearly 100 members in their first week.
The historic premises, more recently occupied by hardware business Stones of Wirksworth, has been converted into two floors of state-of-the-art workout space for up to 350 people.
Catering for all ages and fitness levels, Tenacity Fitness offers four different class types – cross training, high-energy cardio, race event training, and strength progression. The gym also includes a recovery suite with a sauna and ice baths.
Dom is the driving force behind Tenacity Fitness and brings with him previous experience of running his own gym at home.
Lewis, who previously worked as a personal trainer at Moorways in Derby, is also qualified in sports massage.
The pair are supported by two other coaching professionals – Jamie Townshend, aged 24, who holds a BSc (Hons) in Strength, Conditioning and Rehabilitation, and Joe Greaves, 29, who devises Tenacity’s training programmes.
Dom said:
“We’re really pleased with the response so far. Our members are typically aged between 25 and 35, and we currently have more women than men, with the ratio 60% female to 40% male. Most live in Wirksworth, but we also have members from Belper and Duffield.
“Quite a few older local people have come in for a look around. They remembered playing bingo here and even watching The Beatles’ movie Yellow Submarine in the late 1960s.
“You can still see where the cinema screen was. Most fitness studios look like warehouses, but our building has a fascinating history.”
Dom and Lewis have also invited their former college lecturers and current cohorts of PT students to try out a training session at Tenacity Fitness later in the year.
Dom added:
“We’re so grateful to Derby College. What made our course really special was the chance to play team sports like football and basketball in the first year.
“Through that, Lewis and I got talking and bonded over our love of fitness coaching.
“I inherited some money when my grandad passed away and told my mum and dad I wanted to use it wisely – not spend it on cars and holidays.
“I’ve put most of it into the Tenacity business as it’s an investment in the future.”
Find out more about Tenacity Fitness.
