Salford fitness business expands to second site following NPIF II and Start Up Loans backing
Salford-based fitness business Ballistic Performance has expanded to a second location after securing £50k Start Up Loan funding through GC Business Finance (GCBF) backed by the British Business Bank and an additional £30k through NPIF II – GC Business Finance & River Capital Smaller Loans, which is managed by GC Business Finance on behalf of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II).
Founded in 2020 by Rob Whittaker and Adam Cheshire, Ballistic Performance is a private fitness and coaching centre in Salford, specialising in small-group, community-driven and goal-specific training. The business was originally launched with the help of £25k in Start Up Loan funding from GCBF, which enabled Adam and Rob to secure and develop their first site in Worsley.
Both founders began as one-to-one personal trainers but shared a vision of creating a group-based training environment that fostered a strong sense of community. This model proved especially effective as the fitness industry shifted after COVID-19, with more people looking for ways to stay active while also connecting with others.
Following the continued success of their first site, Adam and Rob have now opened a second gym in Salford Quays. To get this second gym up and running, the pair secured £50k in Start Up Loan funding and £30k from NPIF II – GC Business Finance & River Capital Smaller Loans.
Although the new premises required a more extensive refurbishment than their Worsley location, their experience from launching and operating the first gym enabled them to manage the transition more smoothly – particularly when it came to recruiting and training personal trainers, refining operations and streamlining the overall set-up.
Since launching, the business has demonstrated impressive growth. What started as a two-person operation has expanded into a team of nine employees across both sites. Financial performance has also accelerated significantly, with turnover increasing from £80,000 to £350,000.
With two successful locations now established, Adam and Rob are focused on continuing to build their brand, strengthen their community-driven approach and explore further opportunities for growth in the region.
Rob Whittaker, co-founder of Ballistic Performance, said: “The journey we’ve been on over the past few years has been incredible. We started out as two personal trainers with a shared vision of creating something bigger, so we’re really proud to be running a second location in Salford.
“Working with the GC Business Finance team throughout the journey of growing our business has made a huge difference. They really understood our vision and supported us throughout the process, which gave us the reassurance we needed to move forward and grow.”
Andy Nichols, senior loan manager at GC Business Finance said: “It’s great to see the support GCBF has provided Ballistic Performance since its launch. Having already grown since their first launch, we’ve been able to support the team with both NPIF II and Start Up Loan funding. It’s this flexible approach that allows us to best support the needs of growing SMEs as they look to scale, ensuring they have the capital needed to expand, drive growth and create new jobs. We’re excited to see what’s next for Adam and Rob as they continue to scale their operations, contributing to economic growth and creating new jobs in the region.”
Sue Banard, senior investment manager at the British Business Bank said: “NPIF II plays a vital role in supporting ambitious businesses, and Ballistic Performance highlights how targeted funding is helping high-quality ventures achieve sustainable, long-term growth. Its progression from Start Up Loan to NPIF II funding reflects the strength of the North West’s business support ecosystem, and we’re proud to have played a role in its continued growth journey.”
The £660m Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIFII) covers the entire North of England and provides loans from £25k to £2m and equity investment up to £5m to help a range of small and medium sized businesses to start up, scale up or stay ahead.
The purpose of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II is to drive sustainable economic growth by supporting innovation and creating local opportunity for new and growing businesses across the North of England. The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II will increase the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for the North’s smaller businesses, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment and help to break down barriers in access to finance.