Business Startup

Ashley Leech suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after serving for nearly seven years in the Armed Forces, where he spent time stationed in Iraq as a Lance Corporal and Physical Training Instructor. Determined not to let the disorder affect him, Ashley decided to put his skills as a personal trainer to good use and set up his own business as a Personal Trainer and Sports Therapist.

Before setting up, Ashley took the time to gain qualifications in personal training and sports therapy and acquiring additional work experience as a Personal Trainer at JJB Fitness Club as he knew this would be of huge benefit to his business in the long term. But with no experience of running a business or how to go about setting one up, Ashley sought help from Business Link who put him in touch with Blue Orchid.

Blue Orchid is a specialist team of start up business advisors who help people develop and grow their business models. Ashley was assigned to Blue Orchid Advisor Kerry Hall, who helped develop his idea and worked with him to research and collate valuable information and make informed decisions, which effectively enabled him to pull together his business plan.

Ashley, 28, said: “I’ve always loved exercise and leaving the Army I decided I would go for it by putting my passion and skills to good use and set up my own personal training and sports therapy business.

“Kerry at Blue Orchid gave me invaluable support - with her help I managed to put together a successful business plan, taking into account all of the regulations of setting up a business that I wasn’t previously aware of. She also continues to help me with my bookkeeping now that I have started to trade.

“I am now operating as a Personal Trainer and Sports Therapist and have started to build up a strong and loyal client base. As I’m my own boss, I now have a better work/life balance and can work with my clients on a more flexible basis that also better suits their own schedule.”

 Ashley is currently in the progress of developing a website which will showcase his expertise and help him further expand his client list, helping people get into the best possible shape both mentally and physically.

He added: “Exercise not only benefits your body and your fitness levels, but it also helps boost your mental wellbeing. It has always been a big help in keeping my mind strong and clear, especially during the tough times when I suffered from Post Traumatic Stress. It’s improved my life dramatically and given me more focus on the future and time to concentrate on the things that I enjoy most in life.

“So going forward, I want to teach and instil in others just how beneficial exercise really can be to their overall quality of life. I will keep on using the help from Blue Orchid – they really have helped me achieve my dream and I would urge anyone else out there thinking of setting up their own business to seek their help.”