How this 24-year old combines crime scene tours with her personal training business
Who are you and what is your business?
Im Faye Pritchard, 24, founder of Faye’s Fitness PT. I have a private studio space at my home near Liverpool and my clients tend to be women who don’t have the confidence to visit a gym but want to make big changes to their health.
I offer personal training, 12 week packages and full and half day retreats that include a tour of Liverpool’s best sights it’s a beautiful city!
What inspired you to start your own business?
My family have been both a huge inspiration and a tremendous support. My sister has her own business in wedding planning, seeing her take the huge step into starting her own business actually encouraged me to do the same. When I started out as a personal trainer, I worked in a gym/hotel setting which was great, but Ive always been very independent and knew that ideally I wanted to work for myself. Most read this week:- ?The UK YouTuber who racked up 25m views talking about sex
- ?Shoestring startups: These founders built their business on less than 500
- “I pitched a product to another brand but Im worried my idea has been stolen”
What are the barriers to starting your own business as a young person?
The main one for me was income. Being employed, you get used to having that safety net of a particular amount coming in each month but when you have your own business that safety net is stripped away. It can be really scary to actually take the plunge and take that first step. Also, you have to get used to the realities of income potentially being quite different each month, in personal training that is definitely true, so you have to be quite clear on the financials and ready to consistently put in the hard work.How did you fund your business?
Im extremely lucky, my family are 100% supportive of my career and helped me by adding an extension on the back of our family home. This bespoke studio is my base to work with clients from and they say they love the privacy and the fact that it’s not a traditional gym. They don’t feel on show or embarrassed.
I have friends who have to pay hundreds and hundreds of pounds each month just to work from a particular gym, the costs can be extortionate as a PT. So yes, Im very lucky and one day I will be paying my family back for the amazing support theyve given me.
What do you think the younger generation can bring to the business world?
When I started out I thought that I would be training people around my age, but my clients tend to be women who are a little older and who are looking for someone who can make fitness enjoyable rather than a chore. That’s what the younger generation bring to the table- fun and enthusiasm. Health and fitness shouldnt be boring. it’s also about creativity and new ideas, helping the industry to stay fresh and innovative.Will you ever work a 9-5 job?
Ive never worked 9-5, even when I worked in a gym my hours were designed to fit around clients and that often meant evenings and weekends. Running Faye’s Fitness PT means I have the option to be flexible, seeing daylight in the winter rather than going to work in the dark and leaving in the dark. That’s not to say that having your own business is easier than the traditional 9-5, often Im going to run a Bootcamp class when my friends and family are coming in from work, but what I love is the flexibility and that feeling of freedom.Is a degree a necessity?
I don’t think a degree is a necessity nowadays. Obviously for some professions, say being a doctor, then you will need one but for many professions like fitness it’s not necessarily something that you need as you can gain the qualifications you need elsewhere. More important is to have passion for what you do.
What tips do you have for other young people wanting to start their own business?
If you have a business idea then talk it over with family and friends as having someone to bounce ideas off can be really useful. My dad is a retired Merseyside Police Officer, not a profession that youd think had much to do with health and fitness but he actually had lots of advice for setting up Faye’s Fitness PT and things I could do. The full day retreat in Liverpool includes a tour of Liverpool’s famous crime scenes courtesy of “Robby the Bobby” it is things like that which make your business unique. Also, invest in yourself. I have done so many courses and am always updating my skills and experience, that’s so important when you work for yourself. Finally, don’t be negative. If your business is your dream and you have a true passion for it, then youll put in the work to make it happen.Who is your celebrity icon?
Fitness wise it would be Paige Hathaway who is an Instagram influencer with over 4 million followers, I can only dream of being as big as Paige! My own Instagram is building but I still have a way to go! Out of the fitness industry, it would have to be Beyonc?!What app do you use the most?
Where do you see yourself at 50?
As a businesswoman with an established brand and a strong team around me, travelling the world and with a successful active wear clothing line! When I started Faye’s Fitness PT, that was always my ultimate objective, developing my personal brand and driving the business forward.
What song should be your life anthem?
This is a tough one! I love so many songs, but anything that makes me dance is a winner like Beyonc s Crazy in Love! Im always first on the dancefloor.Netflix or night out?
Although Im only 24 and should say a night out, I love staying in. Bath, PJs and Gossip Girl on Netflix is my idea of heaven! Training clients and hangovers just don’t mix so I very rarely have big nights out. __________________________________________________________________________________Young entrepreneurs: What’s your story? Our new series is shining a light on the young entrepreneurs launching their own micro businesses to highlight the talents coming through Britain’s ranks. __________________________________________________________________________________
