Entrepreneur launches nutrition and healthy lifestyle coaching business

A South Yorkshire-based entrepreneur has vowed to help people across the region to tackle their lockdown weight gain with the launch of a nutrition and healthy lifestyle coaching company.

Inspired by figures published by Public Health England which suggest more than 40% of British adults gained an average of three kilos during the pandemic, Slim Up North was founded by performance nutrition graduate Paul Wilkinson earlier this year.

The healthy living coach, who also works in social care as part of the early help team, said he was also motivated to set up the business after witnessing the devastating impact of the pandemic on people living below the poverty line. 

He is offering nutritional advice and accessible plans for adopting a healthier lifestyle.  

Slim Up North has established itself with support from a UKSE kickstart grant, which enabled Wilkinson to quickly set up a professional home office to talk to clients and create a personal brand.

He said: “After finishing my postgraduate course at the beginning of lockdown and seeing the devastating effect it has had on people, I felt the need to help people in my own way. 

“Working in social care has allowed me to do that but I want to use my professional skills and education to take it further. 

“I want to help build confidence and self-esteem while reducing the risk of developing metabolic diseases such as heart disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes. 

“Without the help of UKSE I wouldn’t have been able to pull my business together in such a fast turnaround, for that I am very grateful.”

Steve Lyon, regional executive at UKSE, said: “Paul’s ambition and work ethos, in helping our more vulnerable communities establish healthy lifestyles is something to really get behind. Covid has affected many people in different ways and his drive to help people is admirable.” 

“It is fantastic to see the company blossoming with the help of the funding we provided. I wish him the best of luck moving the business to its next stage.”