HCM SUMMIT
23 October 2025
Tickets available soon
Leisure Opportunities
Job search
Job Search
see all jobs
Latest job opportunities
star job
Doncaster Culture and Leisure Trust
£47,000 - £50,000pa + pension + generous benefits package
Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Everyone Active
Competitive
Cleveland

Flexible gym contracts better for retaining members: ukactive report

Job opportunities
Doncaster Culture and Leisure Trust
£47,000 - £50,000pa + pension + generous benefits package
location: Doncaster, South Yorkshire, United Kingdom
more jobs

Flexible gym contracts which don’t require members to commit to a fixed term are actually better for retention than traditional 12-month tie-ins, according to a new report.

ukactive’s mid-year Business Performance Benchmarking Insight Report – based on data from more than 600 UK fitness and leisure sites – has found that enabling health club members to leave whenever they want is actually the best way to keep them.

The report found gyms with a fixed-term minimum 12-month contract saw an average membership length of 11.2 months, whereas gyms not requiring a 12-month commitment and offering more flexible contract lengths saw an average stay of 17.2 months.

The insight helps to neatly demonstrate one of the major shifts witnessed in the health club market over the past decade. Whereas the once dominant big box gyms were often synonymous with iron-clad, fixed term contracts, these operators have lost a significant share of the market to low-cost operators, who typically eschew contracts in favour of rolling monthly memberships.

Jan Spaticchia, CEO of fitness chain énergie Group has been well place to observe this shift. “énergie is in the relatively unique position of having one of its brands in the low cost sector whilst its other two brands are very much mid-market,” he said.

“There is no doubt that the low cost revolution has been a key driver for growth in the sector in recent times and we are seeing a democratisation of fitness where we are beginning to reach a broader cross section of society.”

The new ukactive report – produced in partnership with audit and accountancy firm Mazars – revealed several other findings. It showed that the sector is continuing to grow, with membership numbers up by nearly 1 per cent on this time last year and public trusts performing best – reaping the rewards of a renewed focus on widening their offerings.

Despite this, the report also found that the gap between the public and private areas of the sector still remains, with the average length of membership at 23.5 months for private gyms and 13.2 months at public sites.

“Business Performance Benchmarking is the lifeblood of many developed sectors,” said ukactive executive director Steven Ward.

“We must ensure we continue to analyse our industry data and assess the key trends if we are to keep ahead of the curve.”

Sign up for FREE ezines & magazines
Flexible gym contracts which don’t require members to commit to a fixed term are actually better for retention than traditional 12-month tie-ins, according to a new report.
HAF,FIT,IND,RES
489488_14262.jpg

More News

1 - 15 of 68,414
27 Feb 2025
The first membership price increase in more than 25 years helped Planet Fitness achieve full-year revenue growth of more than 10 per cent in 2024. ... More
26 Feb 2025
Luxury wellness brand BodyHoliday is expanding into Europe with a five-star health and fitness retreat on Portugal’s East Algarve coastline. Set to open in 2027, ... More
26 Feb 2025
Miami-based reformer franchise, Jetset Pilates, has announced a strategic investment from Purchase Capital LLC to support its long-term scalability. Founded in 2010, and franchising since ... More
26 Feb 2025
Toronto boutique operator, Sweat and Tonic, has announced the launch of a new reformer Pilates brand, Reformd, which will be the world’s highest capacity Lagree ... More
26 Feb 2025
Improvements in life expectancy in Europe have slowed according to a study published in The Lancet Public Health Journal, with England showing the largest deceleration. ... More
26 Feb 2025
US operator, Life Time, has started the rollout of cold plunges to more than 70 of its clubs in response to customer demand. In a ... More
25 Feb 2025
Peloton has entered into a partnership with the University of Texas to offer the first immersive Peloton workout space on a college campus. The university’s ... More
24 Feb 2025
Corinthia Hotels and Dubai General Properties (DGP) have partnered to develop a new five-star hotel and residential complex in the heart of Dubai, marking Corinthia's ... More
24 Feb 2025
Technogym founder, Nerio Alessandri, has unveiled his trademarked 'Healthness' concept at the Technogym 25th Wellness Congress. The new word joins the company's lexicon which includes ... More
20 Feb 2025
BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group has completed the 1,200sq m Jinji Lake Pavilion in Suzhou, China. Situated on the Jinji waterfront, the pavilion offers a ... More
19 Feb 2025
Four Seasons has announced plans to expand its presence in the UAE with a new luxury resort in Ras Al Khaimah, set within the flagship ... More
19 Feb 2025
Glasgow Clyde College (GCC) is introducing an innovative UK degree-level qualification: the Advanced Leadership in the Spa and Beauty Industry course. This new programme, available ... More
18 Feb 2025
Accor has released a comprehensive white paper designed to deepen understanding of wellness design and its capacity to enhance guest experiences, boost loyalty and drive ... More
18 Feb 2025
After four launches last year, Third Space is keeping up the pace of expansion with a new signing on London’s Oxford Street, as well as ... More
18 Feb 2025
Young and affluent consumers are leading health club usage in Latin America, according to research from the Health and Fitness Association (HFA) and there are ... More
1 - 15 of 68,414