The last five years have been one of the most interesting periods of time for the global sports and fitness industry as we’ve never been in the position to track the economic and societal impact of a pandemic to this extent. The UK was not spared from the adverse effects, but the more interesting question is ‘what happened next?’ The answer is – ‘a lot!’ First, there’s the strong uptick in gym memberships and the rising demand in personal training services. Then there’s the widespread embrace of digital fitness solutions. In 2024, the number of gyms and fitness centres across the UK reached an all-time high, while membership numbers crossed the 10.5 million mark for the first time. The story is clear-cut and quite simple honestly, the public is famished for physical wellness. If you need any more indication, look at the job market. Employment within the sports and fitness industry in the UK now stands at approximately 190,000, including 67,000 fitness and wellness instructors. Personal training, once seen as a luxury, is now increasingly mainstream with more than 22,000 personal trainers active in 2023. Consumers appear to be valuing one-on-one guidance, motivation, and customisation more than ever. Group fitness classes remain incredibly popular and engage over 5.5 million participants each year. Millions more across the UK are training independently, whether outdoors or at home. Fitness apps, health trackers, and smartwatches are no longer niche tools—they are embedded in daily routines. By 2029, the UK’s digital fitness and wellbeing apps market is expected to generate nearly $775 million in revenue. Already, 42 percent of Britons report using wearable tech to monitor their health and activity, suggesting a permanent shift toward tech-supported fitness journeys.