About

Hi there, welcome to my page. I'm the founder of Apex Boutique Gym. Apex is a result of my life's work in the fitness industry.

Let me tell you how Apex became what it is today. For me it all started all the way back to when I was 8 years old, believe it or not thats when my enthuisasm for all things fitness began. As an 80's kid I was very much inspired by my favourite larger than life heros, from film stars such as Arnold Swarzenegger and Syvestor Stallone, through to my favourite wrestlers and cartoon heros. I wanted to be strong like them. I remember my first set of weights were water weights, a gift from my uncle Paul, himself very much involved in weight training and a childhood idol of mine. I learnt the basics at a very early age and this continued into my teens. I grew up in a poor area in very much a working class family, my amazing mum allowed me to buy a multi gym from my bedroom, even swapping my bed for a foldable footon, I literally turned my room into a gym, my first gym. I know now this was a genius move from my mum, kept me on a positive path and also taught me valuble lessons with finance as a bought most of my own equipment my self by working before, after school at a green grocers amoungst other jobs, glass collecting and a saturday job at a frozen food shop. Work, socialising with friends and education were the priorty from a young age, extremly valuble for me at the time. I was also active in sport, primarily Rugby league and boxing. I later went on to study sport science whilst also completing numerous courses in health related exercise and fitness.

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Where I started

​My career began as a casual member of staff, cover essentially. I was given my first pay number by a lovely gentleman called Mick Manson, this allowed my to cover shifts in the gym across Leeds for the local authority. This allowed me to gain valuble experience working with an extremly broad range of peole, over 6 years​ I would wopen one gym for my first shift, usually finish my day at another gym working until closure. This experience was incredibly valueble for me and my development. At 23 I got my first managerial post as a Bodyline Manager, this was a part time job share initially and later became fulltime. I then went on to develop a brand new facility at the time and this was my first big challenge. I was transfered into Armley Leisure Centre, my role was to design the brand new gym, recruit and manage one of the largest teams in Leeds, develop and manage all programming, retention stragies, marketing just to name a few areas that I was reponsable for. Following a restructure I was successful in become one of three area fitness coordinators for Leeds, during this time I worked with 9 facilities.

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Pre Apex

After my time with Leeds local authority I began working towards my goal of opening my own gym. I left my role to initially start making the steps needed, I was set on doing this off my own back so I began by focusing on 1:1 coaching and fitness bootcamps. 

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