By John Baron
A personal training company with a difference is going from strength to strength after being nominated in six categories of a prestigious national awards scheme.
Stanningley-based BFIT Personal Training has been running in different places since 2017 and its growth and success has been recognised with nominations at 2026 UK Small Business Awards, which will be held in December in Birmingham.
Nominations for BFIT include Best Family Business, Best Gym and Best Fitness Coach. The business specialises in small group personal training.
The business is the brain-child and passion of sport, fitness and exercise expert Bethany Cotton, 29, and the operation has evolved and recently expanded into a unique daughter-father partnership following the appointment of Beth’s 56-year-old dad, Ian, as full-time coach.
Beth, who has been a personal trainer for over a decade, was known as ‘the girl in the park’ running exercise sessions in Farsley during lockdown. She then moved to premises in Rodley, then on to a small studio in her back garden and is now based in larger premises at ABS Business Park, off Viaduct Street, Stanningley Bottom.
Beth started saving her money to build the business when she was 15 years old. She is now is busy extending BFIT’s session timetable in the small – but perfectly formed – gym, which caters up to six people in small group sessions.
“As far as I’m aware there is nowhere else in West Leeds that offers small group work in a special setting like this,” Beth said.
“Offering small groups allows us to really get to know you, map out a clear path to your objectives and we’ll support you through every step. We’re not about shouting instructions to everyone across the room, instead we’ll have in-depth conversations that involve true coaching personalised to you.”
You don’t have to be a confident gym user or experienced. Beth and the team will listen to you, assess your needs and design a programme that will suit but challenge you.
It’s that personal touch, Beth says, that creates a special family atmosphere and is the secret behind BFIT’s success.
Does that family atmosphere stretch to working with dad? Beth says they both have a background in sport and fitness, which helps.
“My dad used to coach me when I was younger, now the roles are reversed! It’s an interesting dynamic.”
Ian says his role is as a ‘critical friend’. “Beth is the boss and the driving force,” he added. “It hasn’t changed our relationship and I think we make a good team.”
Personal trainer Kelly told WLD that she originally started at BFIT as a client. She describes BFIT as a ‘one-of-a-kind’ as the only bespoke and dedicated small group personal training studio in West Leeds. “It is a reflection of both family values and community spirit,” she added.
Ian added BFIT’s expansion to offer more sessions marks an exciting new chapter and highlights how a small, family-run enterprise is contributing to the health and vibrancy of West Leeds residents.
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