Rupert Henagulph started his personal training business, Alchemy Fitness, out of his parents’ garage.

His father put up some wood panelling in the 500 sq ft space to make things look a little less scruffy.

“The main goal was to just provide a product to Bermuda that I thought was lacking,” Mr Henagulph said. “There was a demand for good quality personal training.”

The business grew and grew until the garage was too small. He was terrified the day he signed a lease for a space in Hamilton.

“I realised there was no going back,” Mr Henagulph said.

He was right.

Fifteen years later, the garage is gone. Instead, the business occupies two spacious locations in Hamilton and includes ten employees and subcontractors.

Alchemy Fitness just won its second Best of Bermuda award from the Bermudian magazine.

“I feel really lucky that I picked an industry that has survived and is doing well,” Mr Henagulph said. “If anything, it is actually as busy as ever, because so many people are being told to lift weights for longevity.”

He tells interns that you have to be organised, on time and consistent, and you have to be willing to take risks.

One of those risks was opening a second gym at 129 Front Street, Hamilton two years ago.

“We call it an open gym because people use the equipment on their own,” he said. “We use our studio at 22 Reid Street for personal training sessions and group classes.”

In the past year, they have expanded the open facility from about 1,400 sq ft to 3,000 sq ft.

Bermuda can be a tough place to run a business because the population is so small, and the competition from other fitness businesses has only intensified.

“That was a little scary at first,” he said. “Now I use it as motivation. Every day, I get up with the attitude that I’m just going to do my best to keep this business running.”

It is important to him that they keep progressing.

“We have to provide really good service for clients and hire good staff to make sure the quality of the product is high.”

Ewa Henagulph, Mr Henagulph’s wife, runs the office and teaches fitness classes.

She said one of their biggest challenges has been finding certified, experienced staff. They have managed that, but it was a tough process.

“Applying for work permits can be complicated and expensive,” Mr Henagulph said.

Mrs Henagulph said running a fitness business is not as easy or glamorous as it can seem from the outside.

“There are a lot of details that are not really seen,” she said. “It is really good to have young people interested in the industry come in and see what goes on behind the scenes.”

• For more information, seewww.alchemy.bm