Latest News
Posted MAY 10...
Ladyzone’s very own Paula Blackwood nominated for national fitness award!
Please vote for Paula now by emailing flame@fia.org.uk with the name 'Paula Blackwood' as the subject line!
Ladyzone’s area manager for Sheffield - Paula Blackwood - has been shortlisted as one of 6 finalists for the 2010, F.I.A (Fitness Industry Association) Future of Flame Award!
The FLAME (Fitness Leadership and Management Excellence) Awards recognise and celebrate excellence and best practice within the health and fitness industry. Paula is one of 6 finalists in the ‘future of FLAME’ category which recognises individuals who have shown remarkable dedication and commitment to the fitness industry
Paula decided, after 10 successful years of nursing, to adopt a career change and provide personal training and group exercise to people who were not able to use gyms. Subsequently, she built a business targeting adults who needed more help than just a gym membership. Paula then went on to join the Ladyzone team back in January 2009 as a part time fitness instructor and within a year she had progressed to being responsible for running two sites in Sheffield, whilst assisting the directors with franchise openings.
![[Video] Paula Blackwood nominated for national fitness award](/images/new_video.png)
You can view Paula’s video along with the other six finalist videos by clicking here! You can vote for Paula by emailing flame@fia.org.uk with the name 'Paula Blackwood' as the subject line. Hurry though because voting ends Friday 18th June! Good Luck Paula!
Posted APR 10...
Ladyfit - Ladyzone reacts to make joining the gym even easier!
We have listened to our members’ feedback and are proud to launch Ladyfit - Ladyzone’s exclusive fitness and leisure clothing range for the real woman.
Ladyfit removes the extra pressure of what to wear in the gym. The majority of our members have never used a gym before and for those who have, most are still unsure about the whole process. Taking the plunge to join a gym is difficult enough without the added pressure of what you should wear.
Continuing Ladyzone’s cost effective theme the Ladyfit clothing range is very competitively priced because we know more than anyone that joining a gym and making that change for life should not be expensive.
Comfort – A relaxed and looser fit.- Active – A contemporary and more fitted style.
- Outdoor – Outerwear for all seasons.
Plus a Ladyfit Accessories range.
For more information please visit http://www.ladyfitclothing.co.uk/
Posted MAR 10...
Ladyzone is Sheffield’s Most Loved Business
Ladyzone was recently unveiled as the ‘Most Loved’ business in Sheffield, according to a massive nationwide search run by ‘TheBestOf’ to find the best local shops and companies in towns and cities across the UK.
We received a whopping 52 recommendations including praise for our ‘friendly, ‘helpful and knowledgeable staff’ and ‘supportive and encouraging atmosphere’.
We would like to thank all our members who recommended us and look forward to seeing you in the gym again soon.
“Ladyzone is running a superb business, and should be rightly proud”, says Carol Binney from ‘TheBestOf Sheffield’.
Posted JAN 10...
Tommy Walsh “TV Fitness Star” opens Ladyzone Cheltenham
Ladyzone opened its ninth club at Cheltenham in January this year. To celebrate CELEBRITY house builder Tommy Walsh , who appeared in ITV’s Celebrity Fit Club in 2002, put down his tools and picked up the fitness message by cutting the ribbon at Ladyzone, on Gloucester Road.
Operations manager Tony Murtagh said: “He is a perfect gentleman. He came in and had time for everyone. He was talking about everything from how to do a patio to his memories of being in Celebrity Fit Club and how it gave him an insight into fitness.
Since opening Cheltenham has enjoyed a great start thanks to its fantastic location in an old Chapel next to the train station and thanks to all the Staff including Rebecca the Manager (pictured with Tommy above). Well done to you all!
Posted DEC 09...
LADYZONE launches ‘Slimzone’ the FREE weight management and slimming solution!
Slimming Clubs are a proven method in assisting people to lose weight. This has been made famous by companies such as Weight Watchers and Slimming World. However joining a gym and a slimming club is often too expensive.
To solve this problem we've added ‘Slimzone’ our exclusive slimming club to our membership free of charge.
Our supervised ‘Slimzone’ sessions allow members to gather and support each other in their quest to achieve their target weight. With constant advice and tips on nutrition including recipes this group activity could hold the key to your weight loss goals.
Slimzone also includes access to our exclusive Weight Management Plan because a healthier, slimmer body is easier to achieve when exercise is combined with a balanced nutritional plan.
“After joining Ladyzone I became slimmer, fitter and more supple. Now that I’ve tried Ladyzone's amazing weight management plan I have lost a further 1/2 stone in just six weeks and I never felt like I was on a diet!”
Joan from Sheffield
The ‘Slimzone Weight Management Plan’ has been designed to kick start your weight loss, boost your metabolism and re-educate your taste buds. It is based on sound nutritional principles which can be integrated gradually over a 6 week period and maintained for life.
Packed with hints and tips plus a variety of easy to prepare recipes, this is not just another diet but an eating plan for life.
Posted JUN 09...
Ladyzone Helps Spearhead FIA MoreActive4Life
Ladyzone is a partner in the government’s national social marketing campaign “Change4Life”. Therefore with the help of the Fitness Industry Association (FIA), Ladyzone sites across the country will be spearheading the FIA’s local “MoreActive4Life” summer campaign.
Each Ladyzone will be offering free day passes for those who are inactive. It will run from June 27 until August 31. For more information ring your local Ladyzone site or visit http://www.moreactive4life.co.uk
Posted APR 09...
CSP “Move For Health” Campaign Recommends 30 Minutes Of Exercise 5 Times A Week!
The Chartered Society for Physiotherapists recently introduced their “Move for Health campaign” that aims to promote good health by encouraging everyone to be more active.
According to the Chartered Society for Physiotherapists:
“Despite overwhelming evidence that regular exercise combats obesity and reduces the risk of serious illness, two thirds of people surveyed by us say they are not getting enough exercise”.
“Move for Health encourages people to improve their health and wellbeing by being more active and taking regular exercise. Physiotherapists recommend exercising at moderate intensity for 30 minutes 5 times a week.”
“All of us can benefit from being more active and building a little more physical activity into our daily lives. Being active can help you prevent or manage over 20 medical conditions including coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, obesity, back pain, osteoarthritis and depression.”
For more information visit http://www.csp.org.uk/director/public/moveforhealth.cfm
Posted APR 09...
Ladyzone High Energy Pilot Helps Teenagers Change4Life
Ladyzone, the Sheffield based women’s only gym, challenged 13 teenage girls (aged 15 and 16) to Change4Life and act as role models for their Sheffield and Yorkshire peers.
Offering the Silverdale High School teenagers a range of high energy activities – such as boxing, taekwondo and street dance - the Ladyzone initiative is a Sheffield derivative of go, a Government funded activity programme developed by the Fitness Industry Association. To celebrate the innovative six-week programme, Ladyzone ran a Showcase Event for the participants, on 3rd April 2009 at its Ecclesall Road site in the presence of local MP Richard Caborn.
Ladyzone is one of the country’s leading exercise specialists. The ‘ladies only’ gym, which was started almost three years ago by two entrepreneurs (and childhood friends), today has a network of seven gyms stretching from Sheffield to Orpington. This fitness initiative is the start of a much wider community engagement programme designed to make the Government’s Change4Life campaign more relevant to the people of Sheffield. The Club also held a ‘gym challenge’ – a fitness and endurance test, which pitched members against trainers and, ultimately, themselves - in aid of the NSPCC.
“go addresses a major problem” commented Silverdale High School’s Sports Co-ordinator Liz Hughes. “We know that when pupils leave school at 16 a large number dropout from sports and activities - especially girls – and once they leave it can be difficult for them to find places which encourage them to continue being active and make them feel comfortable and part of.
“This is why the go programme is so great for our 15 and 16 year olds - the group most likely to give up exercise on leaving school. It’s raised their awareness of the opportunities that are available to them within the local community and excited them to try (for many of them) something new. “But I think the secret of Ladyzone’s success is the fact that their fitness instructor, Paula Blackwood, came in before we kicked off the programme to lead a PE lesson and get to know the girls. She was great with them and I think that ‘investment’ was invaluable in terms of creating interest in participating on the programme and inspiring my girls to continue to be active after they leave school.” Jamie Cartwright, Managing Director said “Three years ago we set ourselves very simple goals: create an environment which would help women be healthy, feel good about themselves and look good. Make it interesting enough to excite them and simple enough to become a ‘habit’ – because that is the only way to effect long term changes in people’s behavior.
“Having proved successful with adult women, we thought we would see if our philosophy worked with young women and it does. It does because we are offering exciting alternatives to traditional PE and Sports - which sometimes doesn’t really excite teenager girls. We really hope that our 10 students become role models for their peers and that they start a wellbeing avalanche which impacts every corner of our community.”
Commenting for the FIA Andree Deane, CEO said “Ladyzone is the perfect example of an organisation which bridged the gap between a national public health strategy and making it relevant and delivering it locally. Their exciting choice of activities is just what we as stakeholders in the future of wellbeing of our youth, need to do if we are to excite and motivate today’s teenagers and encourage them to develop lifelong activity habits.
“Some might argue that Ladyzone is probably involved in one of the most valuable lessons the pupils will learn at school this year – in terms of the potential to develop a life-long skill .”
For more information about the FIA please contact Howard de Souza on 077 349 56132 or email howard@fia.org.uk
Posted DEC 08...
Jamie Cartwright Wins The Young Entrepreneur Award!
Jamie Cartwright, the driving force behind the Ladyzone fitness centres, took one of the night's top individual titles - the Sheffield Hallam University Young Business Person of the Year Award.
Posted NOV 08...
Ladyzone Have Been Shortlisted At The Sheffield Business Awards 2008!
We'll keep you posted on how we did!
Posted OCT 08...
MD, Jamie Cartwright Heads Local Business Start Ups Networking Event In Sheffield...
Hear how Jamie Cartwright was inspired to start LadyZone - an exciting new, ladies-only gym and made it into a huge success with two gyms already opened in Sheffield.
Posted MAR 08...
BBC1 Hit Tv Show “Street Doctors” Visited Ladyzone Last Month On Ecclesall Road!
BBC1 “Street Doctors” is a hit TV show with over 4 million viewers. Their purpose is to raise awareness of common illnesses among the general public and also to break down barriers to help people who are reluctant to deal with their health issues.
When BBC1 “Street Doctors” came to Sheffield last month they approached Ladyzone as they felt that there was a definite synergy between themselves and Ladyzone’s personal and caring approach that allows them to help people address their fitness and health issues.
And so on 20th Feb 2008 the BBC film crew came to Ladyzone in Sheffield on Ecclesall Road to film their latest series of “Street Doctors”.
Various members and even owner Anthony Carpenter made full use of the Street Doctors and were impressed by the help they received.
Anthony says, “Its another example that Ladyzone has been recognised nationally for helping to increase the nations health and fitness due to its unique approach.”
Jill Scott pictured above with Doctor Barbara says of her consultation with the Doctors “I was working out at Ladyzone when the Street Doctors arrived and I grabbed my chance to get a medical opinion. It was very useful as usually you only go to your GP when the pain is very bad. So not only did the doctor see me in-situ but I learned new terms and they gave me a fuller diagnosis. Thankyou Street Doctor and Ladyzone.”
Although there is no set date the show will be aired and it is likely to be in April 08.
Posted JAN 08...
Ladyzone Win The 1st Ever Local Monthly Business Award Run By 'The Best Of Sheffield - South'
LadyZone owned by Jamie Cartwright and Anthony Carpenter, has won the 1st ever local monthly business award run by The Best of Sheffield – South. LadyZone received over 42% of the votes to win the ‘Best Healthy and Beauty Business’ title, the first category in The Best of Sheffield’s monthly business awards. LadyZone is an exciting new, ladies-only gym using a 30 minute circuit based workout to achieve great results. Due to the success of their first gym on Ecclesall Road, they have recently opened a further gym in Hillsborough. With their two successful gyms in Sheffield, LadyZone intends to provide this facility in every town and city in Britain through franchising. LadyZone have already sold their first few franchise licences with Pudsey (Leeds) already open and the rest opening in the next few months.
Champions of the best local businesses in town, The Best of Sheffield launched the monthly awards scheme earlier this month. The awards are a great opportunity for local businesses to increase their company profile and exposure in and around the area.
“Each month there will be a specific category for which we can nominate a relevant local business”, said Carol Binney who runs The Best of Sheffield – South.
“To qualify for nomination each business has to have an average of at least a 2 bubble ratings from their rate and review page on our site, underlining again that we only promote the best local businesses in Sheffield!”
“Jamie Cartwright and Anthony Carpenter are most certainly one of the best. They have over 9 positive reviews about their business on the site, and many people voted for them to win the ‘Best Healthy and Beauty Business." Jamie Cartwright from LadyZone was also recently unveiled as one of four finalists at the Startups Awards 2007 in the ‘Young Entrepreneur of the Year’
For more info:
Posted AUG 07...
BUDDING NEW BUSINESS MAKES AWARDS SHORTLIST
Blossoming new business Ladyzone has been unveiled as one of four finalists at the Startups Awards 2007 in the ‘Young Entrepreneur of the Year’ category, handing it the chance to win the £5,000 top prize.
The short listing judges were impressed by Ladyzone’s concept and potential, placing the business among a handful of lucky finalists plucked from hundreds of entries.
Jamie Cartwright and his business partner Anthony Carpenter have revolutionised the whole idea of going to a club to exercise, and have established a pioneering new fitness centre called LadyZone “your 30 minute relaxed workout”. This women only centre is dedicated to keeping its members healthy, happy and engaged in their fitness regime. Jamie Cartwright started Ladyzone because he realised that people, especially women, tend to be very intimidated with conventional gyms and sports clubs. The rich and famous find an alternative to conventional gyms by employing personal trainers however the majority of people cannot afford them. Ladyzone provide the solution to this problem with a clever circuit based system that allows personal interaction between staff and members whilst still keeping membership costs on average 40% cheaper than major operators (only £22 a month).
Having established itself with two successful gyms in Sheffield Ladyzone intends to provide this facility in every town and city in Britain through franchising. Ladyzone have already sold their first few franchise licences that should be open in the next few months. Ladyzone’s ultimate aim is to contribute to creating a healthier nation.
The Startups Awards, organised by Crimson Business’ Startups.co.uk, comprises of 16 categories, each showcasing the best new businesses in the UK. The overall winner will walk away with a £5,000 cheque.
Endorsed by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and underlining its commitment to identifying and rewarding the UK’s best new businesses, the fourth annual Startups Awards is organised in conjunction with NatWest.
The winners will be unveiled at a prestigious awards ceremony and three-course luncheon to be held at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington on Wednesday 31 October.
Jamie Cartwright, Managing Director of Ladyzone comments: “We are thrilled to be a finalist in the ‘Young Entrepreneur of the Year’ category and very much looking forward to the event in October. It’s great that all our dedication and hard work has been recognised and we’re delighted to be in with a chance of not only winning the category but also the much-coveted ‘NatWest Startups Business of the Year’ prize.”
Startups.co.uk is the UK’s largest independent online resource for budding entrepreneurs and the Startups Awards is one of the leading events on the small business calendar.
This year’s judging panel consists of some of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs, including Martin Webb, entrepreneur & presenter of Channel 4’s Risking It All, Tim Campbell, winner of BBC’s The Apprentice, 2005 and Jonathon Moules, entrepreneurship Correspondent, Financial Times.
The judges look at a wide range of criteria; in particular, business success either by increase in sales and unit volume, market research and identification of customer focus, organisational and team building effectiveness, strategic planning, overcoming obstacles and barriers to success, visionary leadership and social and community responsibility.
Additional sponsors include BarterCard, brighter business, BT, NetRegs, Yellow Pages, amen, brother, BPS, eoffice and Business Link
For further information about Startups Awards 2007 visit www.startupsawards.co.uk or telephone 020 8334 1680
