Anytime Fitness says it's targeting 400 UK clubs within the next three years, as it continues with its aggressive expansion plans.

Newly-appointed chief executive, Stuart Broster, told Health Club Management that he has been drafted into the company to help drive growth. “Our aim is to be the biggest health club operator in the UK and there is an opportunity to do that. We have 124 clubs and we will be knocking on the door of 150 by the end of the year.

“The focus is growing the business, because that creates success for everybody. Within three years we want 400 clubs, potentially sooner.”

Broster, who has previously worked for LA Fitness and LivingWell Health Clubs, has spent the past nine years working in the hospitality industry but was keen to return to the fitness sector when approached about the role to lead Anytime Fitness in the UK.

Broster is keen to focus on customer service. He said: “This is not as high profile as it used to be and it is not where it needs to be but that can be said about many industries.

“It’s about finding a member and keeping a member. Customers are customers and their needs are similar.

“We'll continue to use technology as an enabler and to help streamline the company. We need to use technology to make us quicker and faster but we also need to interact with the user.”

He added: “We have to do things in the right way, and be inquisitive and hungry.”