The énergie franchise group aims to become one of the UK’s largest health and fitness operators in the next five years.

The company expects conversions of independent and small group operators to the énergie brand to largely fuel the growth.

> Further expansions will be driven by the group’s women-only fitness model and the development of new franchise products, says CEO Jan Spattichia.

The network currently has 20 énergie fitness clubs and two énergie Fitness for Women sites.

R3, which owns two clubs in Stevenage and Dunstable, and the former Nautilus club in Pontefract, are the latest independent operators to join the group.

One of R3’s directors, Declan Ryan, said he believed moving to the énergie network would improve the efficiency of the business.

“Being a small operator can be a lonely experience. We now have access to a central team of industry experts and are able to bounce ideas off other franchises.

"In addition to retaining ownership of our business, we now also experience the financial and operational benefits employed by the larger operators.”