Business

Fitness equipment company creates 12 new jobs

Greg Bradley, managing director of BLK BOX Fitness, with Julie Skelly, business manager at Danske Bank
Greg Bradley, managing director of BLK BOX Fitness, with Julie Skelly, business manager at Danske Bank Greg Bradley, managing director of BLK BOX Fitness, with Julie Skelly, business manager at Danske Bank

A BELFAST-based company which makes fitness equipment has created 12 new jobs.

BLK BOX fitness, established by Greg Bradley in 2012, designs and makes strength and conditioning equipment for sports teams including Irish Rugby, Montpellier Rugby, Arsenal FC and the Swiss Rowing Federation and businesses including Google.

It has recently employed a further 12 staff, invested £1.4 million in new machinery and expanded its premises in the Titanic Quarter.

The company now employs 50 people.

Its latest investment was supported by Danske Bank.

Mr Bradley said management have strategically invested in the business to support future growth.

"The new machinery will help us to develop new products, shorten lead times and will help us increase our foothold in new markets," he said.

"It will also enable us to fulfil contracts with Sport Scotland, NSW Institute of Sport in Sydney and our ongoing work with PureGym. So far we have completed 100 sites around the UK for PureGym and hopefully we have another 400 to go over the next three to five years."

He said the company aims to employ more staff within the next 12 to 18 months.

Julie Skelly, business manager at Danske Bank, said it was pleased to support the company.

"Greg and his team have worked with some of the leading companies from the world of sport and business," she said.

"In one of the UK’s most competitive industries, BLK BOX Fitness has grown rapidly over the last seven years and that is testament to the high-quality product that the company has become known for.

"Increased working capital and asset finance funding, along with foreign exchange solutions, have been important factors in the company’s growth and we’re delighted to be able to support BLK BOX Fitness as it moves into new markets."