[New] Training club strengthened by Chamber help

A training club in Warwick putting the region on the powerlifting map is adding to its strengths after seeing its membership rocket by 40 per cent.

Barbell Training Complex, on Miller's Road, was set up by Pete Grove as a personal trainer in 2017, before extending its premises and adding a gym in 2020.

He got into fitness almost a decade ago when he weighed 18 stone, smoked, and had a chest infection.

Pete quit smoking, joined his local gym, and by the end of the year he had lost seven stone – leading to a job offer from his gym as a weight-loss coach, and setting up his own business after moving onto weight training.

Barbell has seen membership increase from 185 people at the start of the financial year to 265 – and is on track to hit 300 members.

It boasts top Team GB and Team Ireland athletes among its members and has become nationally recognised, being the only facility in Warwickshire to host powerlifting competitions.

On the back of its growing success, it has launched its first classes to build its growing powerlifting community.

Pete has been helped by Project Warwickshire, a free support programme set up by Warwickshire County Council, as part of the CW Business: Start, Grow and Scale programme delivered by the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce.

Working with Chamber business supervisor Russell Grant, Pete was given one-to-one support and training in finance, social media, website management and running a business.

Pete said: “I’m dyslexic so the financial side of the business has always been a bit more difficult, so Russell was a great help with that.

“We host the Varsity powerlifting competition between the University of Warwick and Coventry University, British Powerlifting Union (BPU) and Amateur British Powerlifting Union (ABPU) competitions and our own too. We’re the only gym in Warwickshire doing this.”