DROITWICH gym Unity Fitness has been awarded the accolade Best Fitness Business in England at a national final.

Nominations for the Englands Business Awards come from the public and businesses are assessed in numerous ways, including secret shoppers and online voting.

After winning the regional final in May, independent gym-owner Lisa Cannon, 44, went on to compete against finalists from seven other counties in her category at the gala event with more than 600 guests in Birmingham.

In 2014 the former nursery nurse quit her full time job and began a new career in fitness, after experiencing significant health and fitness changes when she began exercising regularly.

When the gym Lisa worked for closed permanently following the first lockdown, she decided to bite the bullet and start her own business. Unity Fitness is located on Rushock Trading Estate, Droitwich and was built over a weekend by Lisa, her family and friends – but two days after opening on November 2, 2020, was closed by the final lockdown.

It was seven-and-a-half months before group sessions (with various stipulations such as mask-wearing, cleaning, social distancing etc) could resume.

The business affiliated with CrossFit in August 2022 and despite the early obstacles has grown steadily ever since, with functional fitness training designed to suit anyone of any fitness level, from beginners to experienced, while meeting individual goals.

Lisa said: “Our aim is to help, educate and support our members to live a long, happy and healthy life, with both exercise and nutrition playing vital roles.

“Our membership spans eight decades – it’s never too late to start. Although we specialise in group training, all our sessions are adaptable to meet the individual requirements of each of our members.

“We are very glad our passion is appreciated and proud to have the recognition for our ethos and hard work.”