A brand new body set up to represent the group fitness market has laid out an ambitious growth target as it bids to make exercise classes the nation’s workout of choice.

FitGroupUK, a body of stakeholders involved in the group exercise industry, will stage its inaugural Summit this summer with a view to realising the full potential of the group fitness sector. With an estimated five million people currently taking part in group fitness, FitGroupUK wants to double this figure in the next five years.

Ross Perriam, CEO of the Exercise, Movement and Dance Partnership (EMDP) – which has been instrumental in getting FitGroupUK off the ground – told Health Club Management the body will “cast the net wide” to align a broad range of bodies behind the bold ambition. This includes reaching out beyond the fitness industry to major retailers such as Tesco, Asda, Sports Direct and TV shopping channels, as well as anyone else who has an interest in growing the group fitness sector.

“There is a far bigger market out there that is ready to engage with the group exercise sector,” said Perriam, who acknowledged that the body had aimed exceptionally high with its target in order to achieve the maximum level of growth possible.

“Instead of competing with each other for the five million existing participants, we should work together to understand how to unlock access to the 47 million adults not currently taking part in group fitness.”

FitGroupUK’s inaugural Summit will identify a number of significant topics affecting the sector and aims to unite all parties behind a shared goal through networking and workshops. The body is urging training providers, group fitness brands, industry bodies, public and private operators, retailers, local authorities, politicians and public health representatives to play their part at a time when Sport England is broadening its remit to achieve the physical activity goals set out in the government’s recent Sports Strategy.

Findings from the invitation-only FitGroupUK Summit will be concentrated into key focus areas and shared via an online platform in July 2016, when the group fitness community will be invited to vote on the importance of the focus areas over a six-week period. The results of the votes will define the priorities for the FitGroupUK Executive Panel – which will be announced post-Summit – to address.