LEISURE
Workout – Blaze supervisor Callum Holliday( left), group exercise supervisor Susie Kaylor and activities manager Richard Booth.
Work smarter. Train harder. Connect better.
WORDS: JULIE BURNISTON PICTURES: CHRIS BOOTH
David Lloyd Teesside has long been recognised as the leading health and fitness club in the area.
But increasingly, it is becoming something more – a shared space where business, wellbeing and community operate side by side.
At the centre of this evolution is the launch of The Business Club, a new monthly networking initiative led by member Scott Hastings, director of Accommodations UK.
With a strong commercial mindset and an extensive network spanning the UK and Europe, Scott brings both strategic vision and real-world experience to the initiative. For Scott, the concept is simple but powerful.
“ Business doesn’ t have to happen in a boardroom,” he says.“ Some of the most meaningful conversations happen in relaxed, high-quality environments where people feel comfortable.
“ That’ s what we’ re building here— genuine connections, not transactional networking.”
Hosted in the Clubroom, The Business Club brings together business owners, directors and senior professionals from across the region.
Each session features a high-calibre guest speaker, followed by curated networking over brunch.
Meeting – Mike Dixon( left) who freelances for Accommodations UK, clubroom manager Callum Salkeld and Scott Hastings, director of Accommodations UK.
The calibre of speaker was clear from the outset. Scott secured former ATP Tour professional turned executive coach Marius Barnard as the club’ s first guest speaker – a signal of the ambition behind the initiative.
Now working with CEOs, managing directors and senior leaders, Marius specialises in performance psychology, managing pressure and building self-belief – lessons drawn from elite sport that translate directly into leadership and business performance.
“ The standard of speaker matters,” Scott adds.“ If we’ re asking busy professionals to give their time, we need to deliver value. The aim is long-term relationships and shared growth.”
The Business Club is open to members and invited guests, with non-members also welcome to attend.
Visitors have the opportunity to experience the wider club environment too – whether that’ s joining one of the afternoon signature classes or working from the Clubroom for the remainder of the day.
For further information, email Teesside @ davidlloyd. co. uk
The initiative is being supported by fellow member Mike Dixon, a respected business networker in the region, and Ben Smuk, junior tennis professional and lead of the Tennis Stars programme. Both bring strong local connections and a shared belief in building meaningful communities within the club.
Mike, alongside his wife Jenny, already leads the thriving Garden Club at David Lloyd Teesside – a testament to how member-led communities continue to shape the club’ s identity.
Richard Booth, activities manager and commercial lead at the club, sees The Business Club as a natural extension of how members are already using the space.
“ We’ ve seen a shift,” he explains.“ Members are working from here. They’ re taking calls in the Clubroom, hosting meetings, then heading to the gym, pool or spa between commitments.
“ The Business Club formalises something that’ s already happening organically.” That blending of productivity and wellbeing is central to the club’ s evolution.
Susie Kaylor, GroupEx supervisor, has reshaped the group exercise timetable to support members balancing work and fitness.
“ We identified a quieter period between 12.30pm and 4pm,” she explains.
“ So we introduced 30-minute classes designed specifically for those working from the club who want a focused lunchtime boost without losing momentum in their day.”
The timetable also includes Buggies, a parent-and-baby fitness class, ensuring working parents can remain active while balancing family life.
Youth provision continues to grow too. Blaze Rebels, the family-friendly version of David Lloyd’ s signature Blaze class, welcomes children aged 10 and over – building confidence and independence in younger members.
For Callum Holliday, Blaze supervisor, shared experience defines the club’ s culture.
“ The Blaze tribe is the heartbeat of our community,” he says.
“ It brings families, professionals and friends together in a way that’ s supportive and motivating.”
Across the club, member-led initiatives continue to flourish – from the Garden Club to photography, art and craft clubs.
These communities are supported and facilitated by the club’ s activities team, but shaped by members themselves.
“ The common thread is connection,” Richard says.“ Whether it’ s through fitness, business or social clubs, people want to feel part of something.”
davidlloyd. co. uk / clubs / teesside
The voice of business in the Tees region | 121