I’m proud that we’re finalists for three awards at Friday night’s Fitness Industry Awards.
After 27 years in business and 14 years of franchising, I know the success of Fitness Enhancement is not measured by head office. It is measured by the success of the people who own and run the local businesses within our team.
A franchisor can only be successful when its franchisees are successful: making a great living, loving the business they have built, caring about their clients and making a real difference in their communities.
That is what these three finalist nominations represent.
Franchise Group or Brand of the Year
Fitness Enhancement is a finalist for Franchise Group or Brand of the Year, after winning the award in 2023.
We are about double the size we were then, but the most important part of that growth is the success of the people within the group. Our job as franchisor is to do what we do best, including the systems, education, marketing, compliance, brand and support, so our franchisees can do what they do best: build strong local businesses and help their clients achieve their goals.
We see our franchisees as business partners. They bring the passion, relationships and local knowledge. We provide the backing, experience and structure to help turn that into a successful business.
Fitness Enhancement is the only mobile franchise among the finalists. Because we do not require a large gym fit-out, expensive equipment or long commercial leases, it costs around 5% of the price of the other finalist franchise systems to open a Fitness Enhancement franchise. It gives a PT the benefits of a quality franchise system at a far more accessible entry point.
The result is an opportunity for a passionate PT to own a business, build a team and create a career doing work they love, with a larger team behind them whenever they need it.
2026 Franchise Group/Brand of the Year Finalists
- 24fit
- Anytime Fitness Australia
- BFT (Body Fit Training)
- Club Pilates
- Fernwood Fitness
- Fitness Cartel Australia
- Fitness Enhancement Personal Training
- Genesis Health + Fitness
- Jetts Fitness
- KX Pilates
- Plus Fitness
- Snap Fitness Australia
- Stepz Fitness Australia
- Virgin Active
- World Gym Australia
Franchisee of the Year
Danielle Francis from Fitness Enhancement Springwood is a finalist for Franchisee of the Year.
Danielle actually worked with us long before Fitness Enhancement franchised. Like many great trainers, she loved the industry but eventually left because there was little opportunity for career advancement.
Years later, she saw that Fitness Enhancement had franchised and came back to the business she loved, this time with the opportunity to own her own business, make a great living and build something of real value.
Ten years later, Danielle leads a team of 20 staff across her mobile PT and disability support business. She is still doing more PT sessions than most multi-million-dollar gyms, while leading a business that helps so many people in her local community.
Her story is exactly why we franchised. The right PT, with the right support and a proven system behind them, can build a business that gives them far more opportunity than simply working session to session.
We are incredibly proud to have Danielle representing our team.
2026 Franchisee of the Year Finalists
- Adam Kennedy, World Gym Chullora
- Brenton Williamson, Genesis Health + Fitness Lawnton
- Brooke Wilgrove, Club Pilates Fortitude Valley
- Danielle Francis, Fitness Enhancement Personal Training Springwood
- Damien Patrick, Genesis Redlynch
- John Pirlo, Genesis Health + Fitness Pirlo Group
- Kathie Long, Fernwood Fitness Toowoomba
- Kim Rimmer, Fernwood Fitness Woonona
- Larni Mailer, Fernwood Fitness North Lakes and Morayfield
- Michael James and Cliff Forster, Fitness Cartel Health Clubs Mackay
- Paul Panagiotidis & Kylie Reeves, Plus Fitness Corrimal
Most Inclusive and/or Diverse Program
Fit Your Ability is also a finalist for Most Inclusive and/or Diverse Program.
Our NDIS registration has been a critical part of building this side of the business since 2019, creating further opportunities for our franchisees and team to support people living with disability through personal training and disability support.
But it is about more than registration. We have worked to build a brand that the disability community sees as welcoming, understanding and inclusive. That is why the Fit Your Ability name matters. It starts with seeing the person and their ability, not defining them by what may be harder for them.
This focus has helped us create meaningful work for our franchisees and trainers, while helping more people and families access services that may not be available through a typical gym.
2026 Most Inclusive and/or Diverse Program Finalists
- ActiveStrongerBetter
- Fit Your Ability
- Gippsland Regional Aquatic Centre – The Y
- Halligan’s Fitness
- Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre – Ukrainian Refugee Aquatic Program
- Rainbow Roos AU
- Small Goods Movement
- Snap Fitness Plainland
- Stay Steady: Gentle Exercise & Fall Prevention Program with Amy
Whatever happens on Friday night at the historic Sydney Town Hall, I’m proud of the franchisees, trainers, team members, clients and families who have built this business with us.
Stay tuned for the results!
Scott Hunt