Pure Gym founder’s success commended at EY’s entrepreneur awards
CHAIRMAN of Leeds budget chain Pure Gym, Peter Roberts, was amongst the 13 business leaders celebrating an EY Entrepreneur of the Year award triumph.
The judges described him as “the epitome of a successful entrepreneur” after launching Pure Gym in 2009, a no-contract gym that he has rolled out across the UK and was commended for adapting a European model with his gym chain to the UK.
He also took home the overall winner award for the North of England at a regional ceremony in June.
The serial entrepreneur dedicated his national EY award to his colleagues and called for VAT to be removed from gym membership to make it more affordable to the less well off.
Mr Roberts, who was praised for his tireless entrepreneurial spirit – Pure Gym is his eighth venture – said removing VAT from membership would make the nation healthier as well as fairer.
Healthcare innovator Richard Steeves, founder and CEO of Swindon-headquartered Synergy Health, was crowned EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2015 UK overall winner.
Mr Steeves will go on to represent the UK at EY’s World Entrepreneur Of The Year awards in Monaco next summer to compete with more than 60 other country winners for the global title.
Catherine Reid, director and Yorkshire Entrepreneur Of The Year programme leader at EY, said: “Peter’s vision, astute leadership and innovative mind-set have been the impetus for Pure Gym’s phenomenal growth in what is a highly competitive sector.
“It is fantastic that his achievements with this, his eighth business, have seen him recognised as one of the country’s top entrepreneurs. Under his stewardship, the sky is limit for Pure Gym as it continues its stellar growth, opening new gyms, and taking on more and more customers.”
Winners were selected by an independent judging panel which was chaired by John Spence, Chairman and CEO of Karma Royal Group. The 35 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2015 UK finalists have combined revenue of over £3.5bn and employ a workforce of over 300,000.
Stuart Watson, EY’s UK Entrepreneur Of The Year Programme Leader and Yorkshire Senior Partner, said: “It is vital that we recognise the country’s entrepreneurial talent, who play a vital role in building the businesses that drive economic expansion.
“We need to continue to nurture and develop the next generation of entrepreneurs, who create the jobs, wealth and growth that help our country thrive.
“All of the Northern entrepreneurs involved in this year’s programme have built outstanding businesses. They give me confidence in the prospects for our regional economy over the coming years.”
