National recognition for Wishaw gym team
A Wishaw gym came through the trials and tribulations of the pandemic and was nominated for a top award.
Smokin’ Guns Fitness, based at Edna Industrial Estate in Craigneuk, was shortlisted in the Scottish Gym of the Year category at the National Fitness Awards which took place in Leicester last week.
Unfortunately the team missed out on the top award but owner Andrew McGee insisted the nomination was a great reward for the staff.
He said: “There is a lot of prestige behind these awards so it was a big thing for the staff.
“We went up against local authority gyms and centres with a lot of money behind them.
“Gyms have been popping up all over the place in the last five years and we are just an independent operator, but we know we have helped hundreds of people in the local community improve their physical and mental health in the past eight years.
“It’s great to see we’re now being acknowledged on a national level.”
An amateur boxer in his younger days, Andrew opened the gym in 2013 when he was just 22.
Since then the client base has steadily grown thanks to the range of classes, boot camps and new equipment available.
During the pandemic, Smokin’ Guns was closed for several months but that didn’t stop staff from reaching their clients.
Andrew added: “The building was shut for over a year so it was tough.
“We managed to retain all of our staff and opened an outdoor gym just to get people active again.
“We have a wide range of people who use the gym including guys who have been training for 30 or 40 years most days.
“The pandemic was really difficult for them.
“The outdoor space was a way for them to get out and see their mates which was great for their physical and mental health.
“This nomination was a reward for everyone’s efforts during that time.”