Member Article

Fitness entrepreneur expands CrossFit business across North East

A North East fitness entrepreneur is expanding her business across the region with help from a Durham law firm.

Trading as JoLee CrossFit Ltd, Joanne and her business partner, Lee Howe, have now opened five CrossFit boxes over the last three months with one more planned for early 2014.

Each facility has created six to nine jobs together with a ‘box support team’ that includes an operations manager, membership co-ordinator and administrator.

Swinburne Maddison’s commercial team has been assisting with a wide range of legal work including the provision of shareholder agreements and advice on joint venture relationships, but in particular, the development of commercial lease agreements for each of the new facilities.

Victoria Walton, partner at Swinburne Maddison, said: “Joanne was looking for a local firm of commercial lawyers with a professional yet flexible approach that could be trusted to provide a wide range of advice and support as her business develops.

“We were delighted she selected Swinburne Maddison for the job and look forward to assisting her as demand grows for the CrossFit style of keeping fit and more facilities are opened in the future.”

The CrossFit brand of keeping fit is a global phenomenon with its own community of followers around the world. It is a core strength conditioning programme, which is class-based and suitable for all ages and levels of fitness. It offers a superb way to get fit using body weight resistance techniques.

Lee Howe is one of Europe’s top CrossFit competitors and will be actively involved in the business as regional head coach and co-owner.

Joanne said: “Swinburne Maddison’s team is very easy to deal with and has provided a high standard of advice and support throughout.

“We have been able to open five outlets already in Teesside, Darlington, Hartlepool , Team Valley and most recently Belmont , Durham and plan to open one in Chester-le-Street in the early part of this year.

“CrossFit is really growing in popularity as it harnesses the natural camaraderie, competition and fun of sport and can be totally geared to the individual’s personal abilities. This is always a busy time of the year for anyone involved in the leisure business as we all try to lose the excess pounds we have acquired over the Christmas period, so we expect a lot of new members over the next few weeks.

“We are starting 2014 with a very exciting time ahead of us as we continue to expand the business and open more CrossFit boxes throughout the region.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .