Barclays : Pensioners Power Boom in Gym Start-Ups

• Number of UK health & fitness SMEs up 37% since 2012; according to analysis by Barclays
• Health & fitness business owners aged 65+ have risen by a quarter (25%) in the last three years
• Over half are owned by women (52%), up 28% since 2012
• London, South East and East of England are the UK's 'fitness hot-spots'

The over 65s are helping to power a boom in the UK's health and fitness industry, while the overall number of new businesses in the sector has risen by 37% since 2012,according to new data from Barclays Business¹.

The research, which looks at the number of Barclays' business customers in the health & fitness industry, reveals a surge in the number of power-lifting pensioners setting up their own health & fitness clubs, rising by a quarter (25%) in the last three years². This accounts for 5% of total health & fitness clubs on average.

The findings also show that the sector has benefitted from strong levels of health-conscious consumer spending, with a growth in total turnover of 41% since 2012. In addition to the rise in new enterprises, 1 in 5 (20%) have been running for ten years or more. This correlates with figures from the Leisure Database Company which show that the sector is in good health, with more members and a greater market value than ever before³.

Adam Rowse, Head of Business Banking atBarclayssaid: 'The UK health & fitness industry is dynamic and we are currently seeing SMEs come to market with innovative ways to keep the nation fit. While consumer appetite for keeping healthy continues, it is no surprise that this diversity is not just for good business but also for the bottom line. Businesses wanting to benefit from the growth of the UK's health economy should research their market and competition and look for the funding options available that will help them to flourish and thrive in 2016 and beyond.

'Ourdata also shows that health and fitness is not just a preserve of the young, with an increasing number aged 65 and over demonstrating that it is never too late to set up on your own. It is also encouraging to see a rising level of female entrepreneurship in the sector.'

Female entrepreneurs have played a significant role in the growth of the health & fitness industry with the number of women owning- outright or jointly- in this sector increasing by 28% over the past three years. The level of sole female SME owners in this sector is above the UK average of 38%, with over half (52%) owned by a woman.

Of the total health & fitness businesses in the UK, London leads the way with 21%, followed by the South East (16%) the East of England (14%) and the North West (9%).

The UK's health & fitness trade body, Ukactive, Executive Director, Steven Ward, said:

'These findings show once again that wellness is quickly becoming one of the key drivers of the UK economy, with physical activity at its heart.

'In a time of deep pressures on the NHS and local services, it's more important than ever that all communities have the opportunity and access to get active - entrepreneurs who succeed in providing the answer will find their services in high demand.

'Our members consistently tell us that providing physical activity services is an extremely rewarding business so it is very encouraging to see the sector continue to grow.'

About Barclays

Barclays is an international financial services provider engaged in personal, corporate and investment banking, credit cards and wealth management with an extensive presence in Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia. Barclays' purpose is to help people achieve their ambitions - in the right way.

With 325 years of history and expertise in banking, Barclays operates in over 50 countries and employs over 130,000 people. Barclays moves, lends, invests and protects money for customers and clients worldwide.

For further information about Barclays, please visit our website www.home.barclays .