Mission:FIT in Kilwinning win Best Gym at Ayrshire Retail Business Awards

Mission:FIT claimed the 'Best Gym' accolade at the recent Ayrshire Retail Business Awards having only opened their Kilwinning premises in July.

It has taken a lot of hard work and dedication to get to this stage, and one of the gym's owners Roy Blakely said he was overcome with the recognition.

He commented: "Honestly for a light to be shined on us and the business and just knowing that clients have went out their way to nominate us was praise enough then to receive 1000’s of votes and win was really emotional and made all of us feel so grateful.

"As coaches we give so much to the craft, we care about helping everyone that comes on board to any of our services and we work tirelessly every day raising our clients up (ages eight years to 60+ year olds).

"It’s never been for accolades or prizes but knowing what we do, the quality in our service and that the values & ethics are clear to see feels amazing.

"This was the icing on the cake for us. Sean and Nicki are new members of the team who are absolutely flying and growing their knowledge everyday. They are now a very big part of the Mission:FIT future and as a team we are amazing.

"Not only in a work capacity but as friends who are like family. So for this new venture I’ve brought them in on to get such honourable recognition is wonderful and a testament to how good a job we must be doing and how much people can relate to us as coaches."

The Mission:FIT team and some of their clients. (Image: Mission:FIT)

Though Roy commended the work of the team so highly, he says it is their members hard work that really set them apart.

He said: "I personally think it’s our members and the huge variety of the clientele we have that keeps us sharp, relevant, relatable and reliable.

"We are three diverse coaches with the same values and work ethos/ethic so the differentiation of helping and supporting people with an array of needs and requirements is something we have become very skilled at.

"We get to know our clients on a more personal level and learn so much about what they enjoy both inside a training environment and away from the gym.

"It’s about feeling your best while making really impactful yet sustainable changes to create a healthier lifestyle in all fronts: physical, mental, emotional, environmental and spiritual."

Given the tough times the nation has gone through recently, Roy said the benefits physical health can also have on mental wellbeing have come to the forefront.

He added: "I think health and fitness has helped us all fight demons and dark times so knowing we can help others by giving them a really positive and fun experience is something we absolutely love."

The hard work won't stop now though, and Roy says the team want to keep building and moving forward.

He said: "We want to continue to be the reputable voice and guidance in this industry and undoubtedly expand our premisses to allow more people to come and get the best guidance and support without feeling like it’s a chore or this sacrifice of all of others lives pleasures.

"We believe starting at grass roots level and encouraging youth development by explaining the benefits of excercise & recovery will give generations to come a clearer and better understanding of the benefits of being healthy and not just as an avenue to lose weight or look good for their next holiday.

"This is one of the main reasons we include sessions for eight to 16 year olds weekly and is a huge driver for us personally. Female health and pre and post natal are other avenues we we are developing our knowledge on behind the scenes so we can assist more woman struggling with a lack of knowledge in complex areas.

"The main goal is to stay true to ourselves, maintain the high standards and ensure our values and ethos never wavers or gets lost."

Mission:FIT won the 'best gym' award (Image: Mission:FIT)

Roy concluded that he knows the hardest step is finding the time and getting started, but that he and the team are always happy to help anyone work through this.

He commented: "We understand the time constraints and the plethora of confusing and conflicting information out there on the best place to start but I promise anyone reading this that health is not suppose to feel difficult in a way you hate it.

"There are many ways to skin a cat and one of us here at Mission:FIT are more than happy to help you find a way that compliments your life and allows you to feel phenomenal whilst looking amazing."

Mission:FIT is located in Alexandra Terrace in Kilwinning, and offers tiered memberships and a session-based system that aims to make exercise more financially accessible.

For more information, you can visit their website here.