Purple Mustard Fitness Studio

The gym, based in the former dance studios above Early Learning Centre in Market Street, York, is on the verge of expansion and after tailoring its proposition for customers, hopes to win Small Business Of The Year.

The business, called Purple Mustard, was set up by Bernie Colling, a fitness fanatic since his schooldays in South Africa, three years ago.

Bernie, who came to the UK in 1998, worked for music broadcasters MTV for nine years before accepting voluntary redundancy in July, 2007.

He went back to college to study fitness training and gained an NVQ level 3 in Advanced Personal Training.

He became a personal trainer operating from his home in York, but gained so many clients, he decided to look for a venue.

He said: “I wanted somewhere which was in the centre rather than the outskirts of York.

“Too many people working in York dislike the inconvenience of travelling some distance to the nearest fitness health club chain – and paying membership fees to boot.”

He invested more than £60,000 to convert the building which was without water or ventilation, into a gym with the latest equipment with shower rooms.

In October 2011, he was joined by Neil Owens whose 15 years in education as a PE instructor ended with redundancy from a school in Beverley.

Neil joined as a freelance personal trainer, but bought into the company last October and set his sights on improving the gym’s experience for clients.

The gym created a “pod” system, with screened-off areas, each with its own equipment so clients could have privacy and didn’t have to wait for equipment to become available.

The business, which has increased turnover by 60 per cent in three years, soon hopes to open franchises in other towns.

Neil said: “With clear signs that we are taking off, we’ll soon be in a position to carry out our business plan to the next stage and set up more city centre Purple Mustard Studios in other major conurbations in North Yorkshire.”