Gymnasium becomes the first gym in the UK to become a B Corp.

We are incredibly proud to announce that we are the first gym in the UK, and only the second CriossFit gym in the world, to become a B Corporation. We have joined a prestigious global movement of companies including Patagonia, The Body Shop, Burton, Ben & Jerry’s and Innocent as Certified B Corporations.

B Corp certification is the preeminent sustainability credential. It was created by B Lab, a global non-profit that aims to make it easier for mission-driven companies to have a more positive impact on the planet and its people. Ultimately it’s about businesses being a force for good in the world. 

B Corp certification is to business what Fair Trade certification is to coffee or what Organic certification is to food production.

Gymnasium is the first gym in the UK to achieve this certification. With two sites in South West London, Gymnasium offers expertly coached, small-group fitness classes for all abilities, from HiiT and CrossFit to Mobility and Olympic lifting.

We believe all businesses should invest in a purpose higher than just profit. People care about where they spend their money, who they work for and are increasingly choosing to do that with companies that share their own values. Becoming a B Corporation has been a key objective to demonstrate our commitment to the community we serve, the staff members we support, and the environment we use. We started Gymnasium to change the way the world works-out and becoming a B Corp is a key step to help us achieve that.

To certify as a B Corp, Gymnasium had to meet rigorous standards in 5 key areas; governance, workers, community, environment & customers. These principles are written into its Articles of Association – placing impact on people and planet alongside profit in any decision taken by its management team.

This has been achieved through a long list of initiatives that include:

A commitment to salaried positions in an industry dominated by hourly workers, the development of an internal Coach Academy programme for staff development, pay above industry average wages and the provision of a range of other benefits.

The creation of a Spartan program for underprivileged youths in collaboration with local charities and online Legends classes for those over 60. These are both provided free of charge.

Commitment to reviewing significant suppliers, seeking local alternatives wherever possible, and selecting suppliers that meet our rigorous standards including Teemill, Eleiko & Nocco.

Our charitable giving policies – supporting local charities through generation of funds collected from no-show/late cancellation fees and events.

Since its launch in 2006, more than 100,000 businesses have signed up for the B Corp Impact Assessment, yet only 3,500 have been certified which is testament to its extremely high standards.

You can read our B Corp report here.

You can’t have amazing members without great coaches

That’s why we have highly qualified, experienced and well-educated coaches. Importantly they are full time with sick-pay, pensions & holidays. There is real career progression as Gymnasium expands. They all go on regular courses across a range of fitness & nutrition specialisms and bring their knowledge back top the wider team and members. New coaches all go through our Academy, our coach development program. We are recruiting and training coaches with a wide range of skills and backgrounds who receive a series of practical workshops, videos and our handbook to show them how we coach at Gymnasium.  They then join classes to shadow our full time Coaches before starting to lead classes themselves.

Coaches are the cornerstone of our community and so we want the best. The Gymnasium Coaching Academy is our in house coaches training programme. The aim is to take people who are passionate about a career in fitness and develop them to become epic Gymnasium Coaches.

Our programme lasts approximately 3 months, and during this time coaches will participate in classes as members, before shadowing classes with our full time coaching team, and eventually leading classes whilst under supervision.

Every week the academy coaches meet for their Coaching Academy Clinic session. During these sessions our experienced coaching team will work with the academy to develop key coaching skills.

Alongside weekly coaching clinics there are also Coaching Academy Camps. These are all day sessions where coaches are taken through all the key progressions, coaching cues and corrections that we use in our classes.

All academy coaches receive regular feedback as they progress through each stage and those who graduate can go on to join our part time and full time coaching team.

Understanding what it is like to be a Gymnasium member is one of the cornerstones of the programme, that is why all of the Academy coaches benefit from a free membership for the duration of the programme.

Our next intake of for our academy is summer 2022, to apply please contact jack@gymnasium.fit

What set us apart is our focus on members above everything else

Everyone is welcome and all our workouts are adjusted to match the needs and abilities of every individual. Our current mix of Athletes is diverse and includes 75 year old Peter, competitive athlete Gwendolyn (and her new baby), 36 year old teacher Rebecca and 10 year old want-to-be pro footballer, Elliot.

We use Teemill, a pioneering sustainable business that only uses organic materials and renewable energy powered factories. Real time, individual printing and shipping worldwide, all from the Isle of Wight. Visit our Gymnasium Teemill store here.