Lifestyle

FITFCK & Fitness First Announce Partnership, Bringing Fitness Dating Classes to London Gyms

Published

3 years ago

June 26, 2023

FITFCK, a dating brand for gym-enthusiasts, has announced a partnership with leading international gym firm, Fitness First. The partnership will bring in-real-life fitness dating classes to Fitness First’s extensive network of London gyms. Attendees can look forward to expert-led fitness classes and exhilarating workouts, designed to lead to dates.

This exciting collaboration builds upon the success of FITFCK’s previous in-person dating events and will further enhance the offerings available to Fitness First’s members. With many Fitness First gyms already involved, the two fitness brands are preparing to take IRL fitness dating experiences to the next level.

FITFCK, described as “The fitness brand to watch out for in 2023″ by Bodybuilding.com, has previously connected gym-goers through a series of extremely successful IRL fitness dating events across London – and more recently, Manchester. The first event, which took place in March at CrossFit Gym, Putney sold-out to hundreds within 12 minutes – showcasing a strong demand for combining fitness and dating in a social setting.

Pioneering the fitness dating scene, Jamie Wykes-Hobday, founder of the BBC featured company, is building an omni-channel brand for not just dating and relationships, but also backed by a seemingly very engaged fitness community.

As well as a strong track record for hosting in-person fitness dating events, FITFCK more recently diversified its product suite by releasing an IOS and android compatible FITFCK dating app. The app garnered significant attention and positive reviews from the media – as well as the app users themselves. The app currently boasts impressive user metrics – considerably higher than the reported rates from other growing, and established, dating industry players.

FITFCK’s in-person events and online dating app are already being promoted to the brand’s fast growing following of over 51,000 engaged Instagram users. And now, with support from Fitness First, the brand is set to reach an additional 70,000 London based gym goers through Fitness First’s gym floor advertising, as well as direct online promotion to their online database.

Despite the app being a huge success, it’s FITFCK’s approach to IRL fitness dating events that sets them apart from traditional dating platforms. Apps have certainly shaped a lot of dating experiences for people in the 2020’s – and that’s not just millennials and GenZers. But, the dating landscape is seeing a new trend emerge as people are becoming more and more interested in meeting new people and dating in real life, for example through meetups, speed dating and singles parties. The entire process seems to be becoming much more ‘intentional’. And after the Covid-19 pandemic, can you blame anyone?

As a result of these new trends, many dating apps are making efforts to incorporate real life events into their business models – think Bumble for example. The difficulty for mainstream giants is that their users encompass such a wide range of interests so it can be hard to connect a group of people who have anything in common. FITFCK’s partnership with Fitness First will absolutely break the mould for IRL dating success. Despite often being seen as a small ‘niche’, almost 15% of the UK population hold gym memberships. If just a quarter of these are single, that’s almost 3 million people the fitness brands can help.

Entrepreneur and FITFCK Founder, Jamie Wykes-Hobday, commented: “I am absolutely ecstatic to say that FITFCK will be collaborating with the incredible Fitness First to bring fitness dating classes to a number of gyms in London – and that’s just the starting point! Since the early conversations, we knew that FF would be a good collab for us. What stood out was their mission to connect people through fitness and workouts, combined with their appreciation for the strong fitness community… we just prefer to throw a few dates and number swaps into the mix ;)”.

“Getting gym goers together under one roof, with a workout and a DJ, is a fulfilling prospect for both of our brands. We’ve run hugely successful events throughout 2022-23 so we know exactly how powerful they can be – and how much our community loves them. Now, working with Fitness First, we’re able to massively increase the frequency of our events and connect a lot more people – we’re upping the weights and the reps, if you like.”

When asked about the ‘event attendance to subsequently organising a date’ success rate, Jamie answered: “We’ll have to find a better metric name to report on that! But in all seriousness, that’s the true beauty of what we’re trying to achieve here. Our goal is to bring together fitness lovers and gym enthusiasts who share a passion for their training and the industry. What’s the worst that can happen? If they don’t find a date at the event, they’ll walk away 100% satisfied after a first class workout and come along to the next event to try again – the only workouts we regret are the ones we don’t do, right?”

To further support the partnership and spread the word about the upcoming Fitness First dating classes, the FITFCK team will be attending The Tru Athlete Expo, in London on 11-13th August 2023. The expo is a must-attend fitness festival which will undoubtedly increase footfall through Fitness First’s London gyms when the events take place in the very near future.

FITFCK and Fitness First, although just rolling out this partnership across the fitness centre’s London gym venues at present, are confident this is just the beginning. The collaboration is set to extend nationally in the coming months with the opportunity for international partnership also. That certainly would be a PB for the brand, which continues to take huge growth steps.

FITFCK will also be creating their first LGBTQ events next month, in partnership with Pride Month. We’re excited to see what’s next for Jamie, his team and their FIT as FCK community.

To learn more about FITFCK and Fitness First Gym’s upcoming fitness dating events visit www.instagram.com/fitfck

– ENDS –

About FITFCK

FITFCK is a fitness dating brand designed to connect like minded gym lovers through IRL fitness dating events and our soon to be released fitness dating app. Born out of heartbreak, after founder Jamie Wykes-Hobday was dumped weeks before competing in a bodybuilding show, FITFCK (Pron: “fit-eff-see-kay”) has quickly becoming the place for UK based fitness lovers who are looking to share their lifestyle choices with someone whether it be dating, relationships or casual.

Lifestyle

The Breakroom Reset: Small Changes That Improve the Workday

Published

1 day ago

February 11, 2026

Michelle Langton

The office breakroom is a space that’s often neglected and can sometimes feel more like an afterthought than a key feature of the workplace. This is unfortunate, especially since employees typically visit the breakroom to rest and recuperate before finishing their shift. Considering its intended function, the breakroom should be viewed as one of the most important spaces in the entire office.

Having a welcoming and rejuvenating breakroom can promote social interaction, enhance workplace culture, and reduce stress. Employees who feel restored after visiting the breakroom are more likely to feel happy at work and be more productive the rest of the day. If your workplace breakroom leaves a lot to be desired, here are some small changes you can make to totally reset it.

Small Breakroom Changes That Improve the Workday

Unless your breakroom is in shambles and needs major reconstruction, you don’t have to spend a fortune on it to make it more inviting. In many cases, small and simple changes can make a big impact on the overall vibe of any space.

Whether you’re working with a limited budget or limited space, there are still plenty of things you can do to reset your boring breakroom. Here are some small breakroom changes that can improve the workday and give you maximum bang for your buck.

Convenient Hydration Options

Employees need to stay hydrated to keep their health and energy levels high. Unfortunately, many employees are chronically dehydrated because they don’t have access to tasty beverages at work. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to install a soda machine in the breakroom. Giving workers unlimited access to sugary drinks could backfire in the long run by contributing to illnesses and increased sick days.

Instead of offering sugary beverages (that can actually contribute to dehydration in the long run), make it easier for your employees to stay hydrated with pure water. Providing a filtered office drinking water system is one of the best ways to encourage optimal hydration. Most employees will appreciate the clean, tasty alternative to standard office tap water.

Comfy Seating

When was the last time you took a look at the seating arrangements in your breakroom? If it’s been a while, take a walk over there and give it a good look. Is there sufficient space for multiple employees to sit at the same time? Are the seats comfortable and rearrangeable so employees can interact with others or achieve greater privacy as desired? If not, you might benefit from a breakroom seating reset.

Seating arrangements in breakrooms should be both comfortable and flexible. You might want to bring in some modular furniture because it’s easy to move and rearrange as needed. For maximum versatility, seating arrangements should include a mix of traditional breakroom chairs and tables, lounge chairs, and even bean bags. Making the space as open as possible will also help it look more roomy and inviting.

Nutritious Snack Options

Most employers don’t provide full meals for their employees. It’s perfectly reasonable to expect workers to make their own lunch or dinner arrangements. However, if you want to support your employees’ energy levels, keep healthy snacks in your breakroom. Nutritious snacks can enhance employee performance throughout the day, so workers find it easier to get more done.

Instead of investing in chips, candy bars, and other sugary sweets, opt for snack options that won’t cause sugar spikes and inevitable crashes. Some great options include trail mixes, protein bars, fresh fruit, popcorn, and veggie trays. Instant oatmeal cups can also be a convenient source of energy for those who don’t have time to grab breakfast before heading to work. You might want to send out an employee survey to see what types of healthy snacks your workers prefer.

Optimal Lighting

Did you know that poor lighting can negatively impact your employees’ psychological and emotional well-being? Improving workplace lighting (including in the breakroom) can make a huge difference in worker morale and energy levels. Warm white light may be a great choice for the breakroom because it creates a soothing, calm atmosphere. Cool white light might be a better fit for conference rooms and cubicle areas because it enhances focus and energy.

Of course, natural light is arguably the best option for the office whenever it’s available. If your breakroom has windows, try to keep the shades open during working hours. That way, employees can experience the mood- and health-boosting benefits of natural light exposure.

Entertainment Options

Some office managers and CEOs mistakenly think that a breakroom should be boring to serve its purpose well. However, the terms “boring” and “relaxing” are not synonymous. Employees may find a boring breakroom to be surprisingly non-restorative. On the flip side, a room equipped for entertainment can be very relaxing and rejuvenating.

To make your breakroom a more enjoyable place to spend time, you might want to install a corner television. That way, workers can watch their favorite sitcom while they relax. You might also keep a few card or board games stocked in a cupboard for employees who prefer to interact in fun ways during their lunch breaks.

Reset Your Breakroom Today

Your employee breakroom can reveal a lot about your overall workplace environment. If it’s not lit well, or if it’s boring and unwelcoming, workers are more likely to feel underappreciated and discontented. The good news is that you don’t have to sink a lot of money or effort into resetting your breakroom and getting a fresh start. Use these simple tips to revamp your breakroom and make it a place where workers can go to feel truly cared for and relaxed.