Personal training company PT Academy is transitioning into facility management with the opening of its first boutique gym in Birmingham.

The 6,000sq ft FitBox-branded club mixes a large gym floor, a boxing ring and group exercise and personal training areas and is located south of the city centre on Moseley Road.

Equipment includes kit provided by Ruthless Strength and the club's interior pays homage to its "local roots", with a design themed according to the popular BBC series Peaky Blinders.

“At a time of gym closures nationwide, recognising the increased need for fitness professionals, myself and the FitBox team have worked tirelessly during lockdown to prepare this amazing facility in the heart of Birmingham," said FitBox CEO and founder of PT Academy Adam Kiani.

"It’s safe to say that 2020 has been a tough one for the fitness industry. While at-home and online workouts boomed, fitness clubs and gyms went into a complete shutdown.

"Smaller gyms were heavily impacted, and many have struggled to reopen, even when lockdown measures are eased.

"Even the big players have been seriously affected.

"We've decided to tackle this head-on with the decision to open our very first gym."

Looking to attract a diverse membership base – including female customers – FitBox offers a ‘Fitness Femme’ membership at a reduced cost to the standard membership.

"Females in the UK are twice as likely to quit the gym within the first year as men," Kiani added.

FitBox opened its doors on 29 August and plans further sites.