Working as a Personal Trainer at PureGym

PureGym operates a self-employed personal trainer model. PTs are not employed by PureGym — they are independent businesses that pay a monthly licence fee to access the gym and train clients on the floor. This arrangement is referred to as the PT scheme or PT licence.

Many PureGym PT licence holders are also required to work a set number of hours per week as a Fitness Coach — typically around 12 hours. During these hours you work on the gym floor supporting members, running inductions, and covering reception or equipment areas. These hours are separate from your PT sessions with your own clients.

The Fitness Coach requirement varies by club and is sometimes factored into a reduced licence fee. It is worth clarifying this arrangement with the specific club before signing, as it represents a meaningful time commitment on top of running your PT business.

To join the scheme you must hold a Level 3 Personal Training qualification recognised by CIMSPA and valid public liability insurance. Applications are made directly to the club you want to work from. Each club has a limited number of PT licence slots, and approval is at the club manager's discretion.

PureGym does not publicly list its PT licence fees. The monthly cost is agreed directly between the PT and the club manager during the application process. Industry sources and forum reports consistently suggest fees in the region of £500–£800 per month for most clubs, with London and central city clubs at or above the top of that range.

These figures are estimates based on widely reported industry data — not confirmed figures from PureGym directly. Treat them as a planning benchmark rather than a guarantee. The actual fee at your specific club may differ.

For an accurate quote, contact the PureGym club you want to work from directly. If the Fitness Coach hour requirement applies at that club, clarify whether this offsets any part of the licence fee.

Earnings depend entirely on the number of clients you build, the rate you charge per session, and your monthly overheads — primarily the licence fee, plus insurance, any CPD, and business admin costs.

PureGym positions itself as a budget gym, which means many members are price-sensitive. This can make it harder to charge premium session rates compared to mid-market or premium gym environments. Session rates in budget gyms typically range from £40–£60 per hour, with experienced PTs in high-demand areas able to charge more.

The self-employed model means there is no salary or guaranteed income. In early months while building a client base, earnings will typically be low relative to the fixed monthly licence fee. A PT needs roughly 10–15 regular clients to cover overheads and begin earning meaningfully.

The primary method of getting clients at PureGym is floor presence — being consistently visible, approachable, and helpful on the gym floor. Members who see you regularly and build trust over time are more likely to enquire about PT.

PureGym provides limited institutional lead generation for its PTs. The gym's app and membership system may surface PT profiles to members at some clubs, but the volume and quality of leads from this varies and should not be relied on.

Most successful PTs supplement floor presence with a social media presence (Instagram in particular), a professional public booking page, a local Google My Business profile, and a word-of-mouth referral system. Building a reputation at a specific club typically takes several months before reaching a sustainable client load.

The Gym Group operates a nearly identical budget model with an estimated monthly fee of £250–£600 — generally lower than PureGym, and with a first month free for new PT Partners. It is worth comparing the footfall and fee at your local club from both chains before deciding.

JD Gyms offers a different arrangement: no monthly rent at all, in exchange for working regular Fitness Coach shifts. If the prospect of a fixed overhead concerns you, JD Gyms is worth considering directly.

David Lloyd offers both employed and self-employed PT positions in a premium environment, with a membership base that typically supports higher session rates.

Working independently without a fixed gym base — hiring studio space by the hour, training clients at home or outdoors, or operating fully online — removes the monthly overhead but requires building client acquisition from scratch without the benefit of gym footfall.