Limitless Studios
A new private fitness facility has opened in St Leonards, East Sussex with support from business support project Hastings RISE.
Mike West, owner of Limitless Studios, is a personal trainer offering a variety of small classes, group PT, injury rehabilitation and youth coaching. In the beginning of his career, Mike worked as a fitness trainer, before moving into other roles within the industry. Growing up his main goal was always to become a PE teacher, working with students at GCSE level. After a sudden change in the curriculum, Mike decided to instead focus on how he could start his own business.
Establishing himself at Ivyhouse Lane in Hastings, Mike began to take on new clients and help them to achieve their goals, whether through losing weight or rehabilitation. With there only being limited space, he focussed mostly on 1:1 sessions, hoping in the near future to be able to find a bigger space to train groups.
“I like to think of myself as more than just a personal trainer. I understand that there’s only so much I can do to help people – it’s all about your own mentality and pushing through to overcome your struggles.”
With his client base starting to grow and business taking off, Mike knew his next step was to secure a bigger premises. After searching around for a year, he heard about Let’s Do Business Group and the business support it can provide through one of its previous clients. After getting in touch with Business Manager Emily, Mike was able to gain support to fill in a Start Up Loan application, something he has previously struggled with, due to its complicated terminology. Working with Emily, Mike was able to complete and submit his application, securing a Start Up Loan.
With Mike’s business being located in Hastings and under 3 years of operating, he was able to receive this support completely free of charge under the business support programme R.I.S.E. Hastings. Standing for Reboot, Ideas, Skills, and Enterprise, R.I.S.E. Hastings is a programme led by Let’s Do Business Group and funded by Hastings Borough Council using the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to encourage and reinvigorate economic growth in the town. Through the programme, businesses and individuals based in Hastings can receive help to start-up and grow their business from our team of locally based experts.
“Working with Emily has been fantastic, her knowledge and help throughout the application process made a daunting task feel so much more straightforward than I thought it would have been.”
Utilising our Finance arm, Let’s Do Business Finance, Mike was approved for a £10,000 Start Up Loan. In February of this year, Limitless Studios found their new home in St Leonards. Working tirelessly to get the studio from its originally derelict state to a place he is proud of. Mike used the loan to purchase new equipment for the studio, which he wouldn’t have been able to otherwise.
Securing the premises has been the biggest highlight for his business. The move has pushed him into the right direction with the expansion of his business, hoping in the future to be able to purchase more equipment for the space. Mike also plans to work with other local businesses, stocking their drinks and supplements at the studio for clients to purchase pre- or post-workout.