business with innovative boutique boxing gym

Belfast personal trainer and mental health advocate Jake McBride has turned his passion for fitness into a ‘knock-out’ business with the launch of his very own boutique boxing gym, Hooked Belfast, thanks to help from the Go For It programme in association with Belfast City Council.

This project is part funded by Invest Northern Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund under the Investment for Growth and Jobs Northern Ireland (2014-2020) programme.

Jake McBride launched Hooked Belfast at the beginning of January 2023; inspired by different gyms and their styles on a trip to London, he identified a gap in the market for an innovative boutique boxing gym in Northern Ireland. Having faced his own mental health struggles, Jake realised that when he was boxing, he felt happy and noticed a significant improvement in his mental health and overall wellbeing as a result.

Jake explains: “I wanted to share my knowledge and passion for boxing by providing a service, so others could also experience the positive mental and physical health benefits that have helped me massively.

“Since launching Hooked Belfast, I’ve enjoyed the freedom of being able to make my own decisions while creating a community of people who want to try something a little bit different from existing gyms across the city.”

Jake launched Hooked Belfast after taking part in the Go For It programme through Belfast City Council.

The Go For It programme is delivered free of charge by a team of experienced business mentors through Northern Ireland’s wide network of enterprise agencies. It provides expert advice and support to develop a business plan that helps entrepreneurs turn their ideas into commercial businesses.

After seeing a Go For It social media post, Jake got in touch with the programme online and from there, began the process through in-person meetings.

Jake continues: “The Go For It programme was amazing. I was matched with a business advisor and their attention to detail and overall professionalism was top notch. My business advisor was so knowledgeable and gave me so many tips on how to run a business.

“My business advisor also helped me to better understand business and its different aspects such as marketing and to develop a business plan.

The plan helped me to work through all the ideas I had in my head and put them on paper. This gave me the strategic direction and focus I needed to transform my concept into a viable business.”

Jake encourages anyone with a business idea to take that leap and turn their idea into a reality: “If you’ve got an idea and want to start a business, I think you should go for it! You’ll never know until you try, and if you’re passionate and have ambition, you’ll succeed at whatever you go for.” If you have a business idea you’d like to develop or if you are thinking about starting a business, contact the Go For It programme on: 0800 027 0639 or visit: www.goforitni.com

MEMORIAL BENCHES TO REMEMBER THOSE LOST TO COVID-19

Two specially-designed benches have been installed as part of a council initiative to remember those who lost their lives during the pandemic.

They were unveiled today, on the UK National Day of Reflection, which marks the third anniversary of the first Covid-19 lockdown.

Both seats, which were designed in-house by the council, are made of black powder-coated steel. They have laser-cut imagery embossed on the back plates along with the wording: remembering all those we lost throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. One bench will be sited in

Dundonald’s Moat Park and the other at Lagan Valley Island in Lisburn. Their installation follows discussions that first took place in July 2020 at Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council. The council considered a number of commemorative options, following proposals put forward by Alderman Paul Porter for an appropriate and lasting memorial.

A consultation exercise was carried out on the plan to develop a reflective space with planting and a bespoke bench - and then agreed by council Members. An online ‘book of memories’ has also been opened by the council which can be accessed via a QR code on the bench. This will give visitors the opportunity to record the names of loved ones who died during Covid, along with messages and tributes.

The benches were unveiled by the Mayor, Councillor Scott Carson, the Chair of LCCC’s Corporate Services Committee, Councillor Stuart Hughes and the initiative’s proposer, Alderman Paul Porter, as well as representatives from the Ulster and Lagan Valley hospitals and end- of-life charity, Marie Curie.

Online memorial book https://www. lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk/ covid-memorial-bench