Getting in Shape for Success

Portsmouth entrepreneur blasts bodies into shape at Gosport cricket ground boot camp.

Kelly Fielding, 28, from Gosport, lost her job when the company she worked for went bankrupt. She seized the opportunity to do something she had always wanted to do - launch her own personal trainer business.

While living in Australia eight years ago, Kelly had seen fitness classes taught in open spaces, such as the beach or in public parks. Working in the personal fitness industry, Kelly harboured a dream to teach her own public fitness classes, encouraging people to get fit while enjoying the outdoors.

When she returned to the UK, Kelly continued her interest in personal training by working within a number of fitness clubs in Gosport and the surrounding area, teaching a number of studio classes and built up a client base for one to one personal training.

As the years went by, Kelly found work as General Manager at Bodyvisions Health and Fitness club. Kelly’s aspirations of running her own personal fitness business took a back seat as she bought a house, and job security became her main concern.

Kelly was settled in her job, until last year, when the company she worked for went bankrupt. Kelly was left unemployed, with a mortgage to pay. Determined to be positive, Kelly decided to use her ten years experience in personal fitness, and grab the opportunity to achieve her dream.

She had a good idea, but needed advice to turn her fitness business into a reality. She approached InBiz, a national organisation dedicated to the promotion and development of self employment and entrepreneurship, for help and guidance.

At the InBiz office on Northern Road, Kelly was assigned her own business adviser, Julian Robinson. With the help of Julian, Kelly learned about marketing, tax and the legal aspects of running a business. Kelly was concerned about her finances, but through the InBiz programme, she was able to test her business for six months, while still claiming benefits.

Kelly is now running Body Blast Boot Camp on Gosport Cricket Ground, with regular sessions being held twice a week. She is also working towards setting up children’s bootcamp sessions after school and within the holidays, and as part of the ‘Change for Life’ campaign will be promoting bootcamp sessions run in the school holidays where parents can bring their children along with them, encouraging parents and children to be active together. All this information can be found on Kelly’s website, www.bodyblastbootcamp.co.uk.

Kelly said, “Being unemployed gave me the opportunity to go into self employment, doing what I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve gone from unemployed and worrying about my mortgage, to planning my future and expanding my business. My only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner.”

Claire Rock, Area Manager at InBiz, said, “Kelly is a perfect example of the work that InBiz does in Portsmouth. Kelly had a business idea using her experience as a fitness instructor. InBiz helped her to learn the finer points of how a business runs and provided her ongoing support at every stage. Now Kelly is not just a successful personal trainer, but also a successful business woman.”

InBiz Preess Release