Business Minister visits social enterprise Smart Gym CIC
Firstport client Smart Gym CIC welcomed a visit from Tom Arthur, Minister for Business and Fair Work, as part of his summer tour of Scottish businesses.
During the visit, Mr Arthur toured Smart Gym‘s facilities, met members of the team and spoke with gym members about the difference access to affordable fitness and wellbeing services has made in their lives. The visit highlighted the important role social enterprises play in tackling social issues, strengthening local communities and supporting public policy priorities.
Smart Gym was founded almost a decade ago by social entrepreneur Dean Hardie. After he and his wife experienced postnatal depression following the birth of their first child, Dean discovered the positive impact that fitness and wellbeing could have on mental health. Recognising that many families faced significant barriers to accessing these services, he established Smart Gym to provide an affordable, family-friendly alternative.
Today, Smart Gym supports around 1,500 members, operating on a cross-subsidy model that keeps services affordable for parents and low-income families. By removing barriers such as childcare responsibilities and the high cost of gym memberships, the organisation helps people improve their physical and mental health while encouraging positive lifelong habits among children.
Through this preventative approach, Smart Gym contributes to improved community wellbeing while helping reduce pressure on health and social care services. Many Smart Gym members access its services through community referrals and social prescribing, with GPs, nurses and other professionals directing people to non-clinical support that can improve health and wellbeing.
Alongside its core fitness and wellbeing services, Smart Gym also operates Glasgow PT Academy, which provides accredited, in-person training for aspiring personal trainers. Graduates can go on to build their careers in partnership with Smart Gym, creating further employment and enterprise opportunities within the local community.
Throughout its growth, Smart Gym has been supported by social enterprise agency Firstport, with its CEO, Gael Drummond, also in attendance during the visit. From early-stage funding through the Scottish Government-backed Social Entrepreneurs Fund to more recent investment readiness support through LaunchMe, Firstport has helped Dean develop and scale the business. This support contributed to Smart Gym securing £75,000 through the business competition Scottish EDGE, helping accelerate its growth and increase its impact.
Dean Hardie, Founder of Smart Gym, said:
“Smart Gym was created because we experienced first-hand how transformative fitness and wellbeing can be for mental health, but we also saw how many families were excluded by cost, childcare responsibilities and other barriers.
“Over the last decade, we’ve worked to create a business that makes health and wellbeing more accessible while delivering real social impact. Today, more than 1,500 people are part of our community, and we are proud to support families, improve wellbeing and create opportunities through employment and training.
“I’m delighted that Mr Arthur has been able to see the difference our work is making. It has been a valuable opportunity to share our story, discuss the challenges facing social enterprises and demonstrate how businesses like ours can help tackle some of Scotland’s biggest social and economic challenges while building stronger, healthier communities.”
Following the visit, Mr Arthur said:
“It was a pleasure to visit Smart Gym to see the positive difference it is making to the lives of individuals and families. I would like to congratulate Dean and his team on everything they have achieved, and I look forward to seeing Smart Gym continue to grow its impact in the years ahead.
“Smart Gym demonstrates the valuable contribution social enterprises make to Scotland’s economy and communities. Its focus on improving health and wellbeing, supporting families and creating employment and training opportunities is helping to build a fairer and healthier Glasgow.”
Gael Drummond, Chief Executive of Firstport, said:
“Smart Gym is a great example of how social enterprises combine commercial success with meaningful social impact. Across Scotland, social enterprises are developing innovative solutions to challenges that neither traditional business models nor public services can address alone. They create jobs, improve health and wellbeing, strengthen communities and deliver preventative interventions that can reduce pressure on public services.
“Over the past decade, we have had the privilege of supporting Dean’s journey from an early-stage social entrepreneur to the leader of a thriving organisation with a significant impact on the lives of families in Glasgow. His willingness to innovate, adapt and respond to community needs has been central to Smart Gym’s success and long-term sustainability.”
To learn more about Smart Gym CIC, visit their website.