The award-winning fitness instructor keeping clients fighting fit

And the owner of Award Health and Fitness just taken St Helens’ Best for Fitness 2023 title, doing the double after securing last year’s title in the competition.

Each week, we will be searching for the best St Helens has to offer in different categories.

Hair by Alice Michelle took the first Best of 2023 title – Best for Hair in St Helens – and Blackburn’s is officially Best for Pies with Kreative Kirsty being crowned Best for Nails, The Brown Edge Pub is Best for Roast Dinner, The Townhouse was announced as Best for Cocktails and Shakey J’s is Best for Breakfast.

Voting for St Helens’ Best for Fish and Chips is currently taking place and we’re also looking for nominations in our latest search - Best for Tattoos.

Next up was fitness and Ashley-James Ward at Award Health and Fitness beat off some healthy competition from nine fitness and gym instructors and came out on top.

One of Ashley-James' group fitness classes

The 38-year-old opened his first gym in September 2018 on Lea Green Business Park but they quickly outgrew the premises and moved to College Street the following year and then onto The Barge Business Park on Merton Bank Road in September 2021.

Ashley-James runs the group exercise fitness studio offering a range of classes on a pay as you go basis.

There are boot camps and condition training as well as spin classes and boxing and strength sessions and Ashley-James and his team also offer personal training on a one-to-one basis.

Ashley-James said: “I decided to open my own fitness studio in 2018.

“After working in larger commercial gyms I realised that members were not getting a training experience they deserved as the emphasis was on member numbers rather than individual fitness goals.

“I wanted to change that and give people the training they wanted.

“I have been in the industry since I was 18 and while I was at university completing two degrees I became a group exercise instructor and six months later I moved to another gym to take on a managerial role.

“In 2011, I decided to become a self-employed group exercise instructor and personal trainer, enjoying the people side of the industry more than the management side, and then decided to open my own fitness studio in 2018.”

Award Health and Fitness’ USP is smaller class sizes ensuring everyone is coached correctly and pushed accordingly, given assistance when needed and a better training experience, which enables them to achieve their fitness goals faster.

Award Health and Fitness is at The Barge Business Park on Merton Bank Road

People travel from all over St Helens for Award Fitness classes as well as Warrington, Widnes, Wigan and Liverpool but what do they think of the workout sessions? Why did clients think Ashley-James should win our latest Best of 2023 title?

One nomination said: “Ashley-James is a very supportive, adaptive trainer who tailor makes sessions to fit clients’ needs.

“He pushes everyone to get the most out of each session as well as offering education around nutrition and physiology.”

Ashley-James, who has a degree in exercise sports science and another in exercise health, fitness and nutrition, said: “When I found out I’d made the shortlist for Best for Fitness 2023 I was overwhelmed and for the second year in a row my members took the time to vote for me.

“I feel very proud to have established a great business and training environment in St Helens that is making a difference to so many people.

“It’s a huge achievement for a small business to win this award and is testament to everyone who trains at Award Health and Fitness.

“We have such a great following and it’s very humbling that so many members have given us their support over the years.”

For more details go to facebook.com/AWARDHANDF

Ashley-James opened his first gym in 2018