Meet Ben, BWPT
Ben runs BWPT, a by-appointment-only personal training studio in Bristol, offering mostly one-to-one personal training alongside small-group sessions of up to three people.
His relationship with Nicky goes back much further than his current work with FBDA.
Nicky became Ben’s first ever business coach around 2012, when Ben describes himself simply as “one guy with a clipboard.”
With Nicky’s support, Ben reached an important early milestone in growing the business:
“He took me from being one guy with a clipboard to having my first 2 members of staff.”
Years later, that relationship has come full circle, with Ben working with Nicky again for roughly 18 months at the time of his testimonial.
The Challenge
Like many personal trainers, Ben didn’t enter the fitness industry to spend his time analysing finances, forecasting, or dealing with administration.
He got into it to coach people and make a difference.
But as a fitness business grows, understanding the numbers behind it becomes increasingly important.
Ben recognises that being good at coaching clients isn’t the same as automatically knowing how to manage the financial side of a growing business.
“We got into it to change people's lives and do the stuff we really enjoyed.”
The challenge was finding a way to retain that purpose while also developing the financial understanding needed to make better decisions about the future.
Why Ben Chose to Work with Nicky Again
Having experienced Nicky’s coaching earlier in his career, Ben knew the approach wasn’t about chasing quick wins or forcing rapid growth before the business was ready.
That was something he particularly valued.
“Be prepared to play the long game, which is going to pay dividends for years and years and years to come.”
For Ben, the value comes from drawing on the experience of someone who understands what it takes to build and run a business — and who is prepared to challenge you when necessary.
He describes Nicky as sincere and genuine, but also someone who will hold him accountable.
If plans haven’t been implemented or mistakes are being made, Ben knows they won’t simply be ignored.
What Changed
A key area of support has been helping Ben gain greater control over the financial side of the business.
With guidance, software and actionable steps put in place, Ben describes being able to understand the business’s weekly and monthly finances, while also looking further ahead.
That means being able to project where the business is going, think about how it needs to grow and understand what staffing may be required to support that growth.
Rather than treating finances as separate from coaching, they become part of making informed decisions about BWPT's future.
The Results
Across his long-term experience of working with Nicky, Ben highlights:
- Growing from working alone to employing his first two members of staff.
- Greater control over the business’s weekly and monthly finances.
- The ability to project forward and think more clearly about future growth.
- Better understanding of the staffing needed to support that growth.
- Practical steps and systems to help manage the business.
- Accountability when agreed plans and actions aren’t being implemented.
- A focus on building the business sustainably rather than pursuing quick fixes.
For Ben, this is about creating a business that works for everyone involved.
He refers to Nicky’s concept of the “3 wins”: a win for the client, a win for the coach and a win for the business.
Building for the Long Term
One of the strongest themes in Ben’s testimonial is that he doesn’t see business coaching as a quick solution.
He specifically warns against expecting someone to simply flood a business with leads before it has the foundations to handle them.
Instead, his experience has been about playing a longer game: understanding the finances, implementing actions, planning ahead and creating a business that can support its future growth.
Alongside that knowledge, Ben places considerable value on the coach.
“When you're with Nick, you have his undivided attention.”
For Ben, the combination of experience, accountability and genuine personal support is what makes the relationship valuable.
What This Means for Other Fitness Business Owners
Ben’s experience highlights an important part of growing a fitness business: being a great coach and being in control of a business require different skills.
Understanding the numbers doesn’t mean losing sight of why you entered the fitness industry.
For Ben, gaining greater financial control and being able to plan ahead helps create the foundations for a business he can continue to grow with confidence — while still focusing on helping clients.
And after working with Nicky at different stages of his business journey, Ben’s recommendation is clear:
“I wouldn't hesitate at all to employ Nicky and any of the guys at the FBDA because they're all excellent.”
Find Out More About FBDA
Experience a Complimentary FBDA Coaching Session. We don’t want to sell you into a coaching programme that isn’t right for you. Instead, we’d love you to experience how FBDA coaching actually works before you make any decisions.
We’ll take the time to understand your business, where you want to go, and what might be holding you back. You’ll experience real FBDA coaching, leave with greater clarity on your next steps, and get a feel for how we could help move your business forward.
Then we can both decide if working together feels like the right fit.
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