HELPING people keep fit – including employees at local businesses – has proved a formula for success for a Shipley married couple who both made a career change to launch the operation a year ago.

Since opening the Shipley & Saltaire Wellness Centre, David and Nicola Procter have seen business soar and turnover rise by nearly 300 per cent.

They are now looking for more fitness coaches to meet the growing demand for classes – either those already working in the fitness industry, recently qualified people or those seeking a career change.

The Dockfield Road centre started out with just 11 customers attending three fitness classes a week. Business has mushroomed with more than 3,000 customers in the first year.

The centre now has around 90 people attending 12 weekly exercise classes or seeking nutritional advice.

The Procters have pioneered the new Swedish CobraFIT fitness programme in Yorkshire and also run locally franchised Balletbefit classes. The centre has grown also expanded to include a running club, beauty therapies and other social activities.

It is one of the only fitness centres in the UK to offer British Sign Language-supported classes for deaf customers - which resulted in a shortlisting for a community spirit prize in the 2014 Signature Awards, which recognise ground-breaking work helping deaf people.

David and Nicola were invited to attend the recent Easier Access event at the Mercure Bankfield Hotel in Bingley, looking at improving access to services for disabled people .

They are also participating in the EU We Love Eating project, in which Bradford is the only city representing the UK. They are helping to promote healthy eating , particularly for vulnerable groups, such as young people, pregnant women and older people.

The centre also now offers company wellness days to local businesses, including including Asda and Barclays Bank along with a wellness day at Shipley College.

David Procter launched the business after taking early retirement from teaching, while Nicola has moved from the banking sector.

David said: “It has been a phenomenal first year and so much has happened in such a short time. We felt very positive and excited about launching the new business, but the way things have taken off has been beyond our wildest dreams.

“But what has meant more than anything is how the business has enabled us to get involved in the community and that we’ve been able to share the healthy lifestyle ethos across such a broad spectrum of people.”