Two decades in the fitness industry leads to hat-trick of awards

He’s been in the business for two decades – that’s twenty years dedicated to improving people’s health and fitness and even their lives.

It’s no surprise that his clients voted him St Helens’ Best for Fitness for the third year in a row.

Award Health & Fitnes sponsors Thatto Heath women's open age team

In April, we launched our Best of 2024 competition and we’ve given out eight awards.

• Best for Hair - At Gems
• Best for Pies - Burchall's
• Best for Nails - Nails by Mandy
• Best for Roast Dinner - The Moss Bank
• Best for Cocktails - Cinema Bar
• Best for Breakfast - Shakey J's
• Best for Fish and Chips - The Nelson Chippery
• Best Beer Garden - Turks Head

Voting for St Helens’ Best for Tattoos is currently taking place and we’re also looking for nominations in our latest search - Best Independent Shop of Business.

Vote for St Helens’ Best for Fitness 2024

Nominate your favourite for St Helens’ Best Independent Shop or Business 2024

Eight top fitness instructors in St Helens made the shortlist for Best for Fitness and Ashley James Ward took this year’s coveted crown making it a hat-trick of titles.

Ashley opened Award Health & Fitness in Lea Green in 2018 before moving to College Street in 2019 and Merton Bank Road in 2021.

He grew up in Upholland and has always worked in the fitness industry around St Helens.

Ashley, who is 39, said: “Award Health & Fitness is a group exercise studio offering personal training sessions and organised, planned classes such as bootcamp, box-fit, spin and strength and conditioning.

“I have been teaching and delivering fitness classes and programs since 2004 and qualified from Salford University with two degrees in sports science and nutrition.

“I decided to open my own studio as I felt people were not getting the right coaching and training that they needed or deserved in the more commercial gyms that I worked in.

“I have been teaching and delivering sessions for more than 20 years and most gyms overfill their classes, making it impossible to coach everyone correctly.

“That was the driving force behind me opening my own studio.

“This is my passion - to deliver hard but great classes and see people’s improvements.”

Charity fitness class

He added: “Our business is different from others as we are a group exercise studio where our clients turn up to an organised and well planned out class.

“There is no thinking about how they are going to train in their fitness session as it is done for them - they just have to turn up and give one hundred per cent to each session.

“Our USP is we keep our class numbers small ,so each person is coached correctly.

“Overfilling classes for maximum profit is not and has never been my priority.

“I want people to leave my sessions like they have been pushed and worked to their limits to achieve their goal, be that getting stronger or wanting to lose weight.

“Our classes are tough but can be adapted to people’s abilities.

“Once you get past that first session, you will love it.

“So many of my clients have trained with me for years and years.”

What do customers and clients think of Ashley and Award Health & Fitness? Why did they think he should win our latest award and make it three in a row?

One nomination said: “Not just your average personal trainer.

“He has 20 years’ experience and two degrees so he knows what he’s doing.

“He’s always pushing to learn more and keep up to date with all elements of fitness and nutrition.”

Beach boot camp

Ashley says his customers like to be pushed during his classes and many don’t get that in other gyms and fitness studios.

He said: “They all love to see the results they are striving for in their fitness journey.

“It is great as their instructor to see the improvements week on week.

“It is a great community spirit with everyone supporting and motivating each other.

“The best thing about my job is seeing people’s results.

“When you help someone achieve their goals, recover from illness or injury and make a difference to someone's life, that's what makes this job worthwhile.”

Ashley was pleased to hear he’d made the shortlist of this year’s Best for Fitness and even more thrilled to win.

He said: “I was happy to find out I'd made the shortlist and even more so when I won.

“There seemed to be some negativity around the award this year.

“If this was a popularity competition I certainly wouldn't win.

“I think it's a great way for members to vote for that one person that has helped them in some way, helped them achieve a goal, helped them with their mental health, helped them overcome illness or injury and even helped them meet new friends and improve their life in some way.

“As instructors, we’re all here for the same reason.

“We all work hard, we all love what we do and we all love making people’s lives better and healthier.

“I'd just like thank each and every person that took the time to vote for me, again this year

“Everyone turns up to sessions week in week out and always gives one hundred per cent.

“Keep up the hard work and keep pushing yourselves!”