Unbeatable Online Fitness Community - A2 Functional Fitness

Team Subkit -

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and fitness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Joey Allott, Co-Founder of A2 Functional Fitness, located in Wakefield, Yorkshire, UK.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I have an Online Fitness business that I co-founded with my brother Tommy. We focus on Functional Fitness - a style that encompasses a range of training modalities and is the best way to improve your Fitness, physique, and all-around life performance. We’ve built an active community of people on our signature service, the A2 Programme. The community is a big part of it for us. A digital platform in which people can chat with each other, ask questions, and inspire one another. The great thing about it being online is that you engage with people from all over the world. That’s pretty cool.

Tell us about yourself

I’ve always been active and sporty. Playing Rugby at the county (Yorkshire) and international level (England County U20s). I attended Loughborough University and studied Sports Science. So I’ve always had an active interest in the human body and what can be achieved through movement. However, when leaving University in 2014, I decided to pursue a career in Marketing, as I wanted to understand the inner workings of a business and learn skills that would allow me to set up my own business one day. It wasn’t until the COVID lockdown (2019) that I was able to step back and have some time to think… ‘What are my real passions, and what do I want to build?’ This was when we laid the first foundations for A2.

It’s actually funny how it began. We didn’t originally think. ‘Oh, let’s start a business.’ We just wanted to do some workouts in our back garden whilst gyms were closed. So we borrowed a load of kit from our old school and converted our garage into a gym. We thought we’d document the journey on Instagram to share with our friends. Then one thing led to another, and before long, we had a little following of people who were enjoying our content and free workouts. That’s when we realised we’re enjoying this and we can help others with their fitness goals along the way. Then one thing led to another, and here we are today.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Surviving Year 1! You hear so many stories of startups not even getting past the 12-month mark. So I’m happy we managed to jump the first hurdle. Now we’re just looking to continue that momentum and build more sustainability into the brand. We’re still got that burning desire to build as high as we can, which is a big positive. Another big accomplishment was opening our own gym space, A2 HQ, in collaboration with Super League club Wakefield Trinity. We have joint use of the gym with a professional sports club which has many mutual benefits!

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

You never switch off from it. When it’s your own business, you can’t get up from your desk at 5 pm on a Friday and forget about it. Luckily I enjoy the lifestyle and other aspects that come with A2 - which helps!

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. There are going to be times when you doubt yourself. Take the rough with the smooth.
  2. Never stop learning. Keep up to date with industry trends and changes. I heard someone say recently, ‘Don’t be afraid to be the dumbest in the room’ - I think that’s solid advice.
  3. Enjoy the process of it all. Even if it doesn’t work out, you’ll learn a bunch of skills and valuable lessons along the way!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://a2functionalfitness.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joeyallott
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joeyallott/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/joeyallott
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeyallott/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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