Hampshire & IOW Air Ambulance
Creating a high-performance fitness space for the team behind lifesaving operations
The Brief: Every second counts when it comes to emergency medical services. For the crews at Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIOWAA), maintaining peak physical fitness is an essential part of being ready to respond when lives are on the line.
As part of the charity's move from its former airbase at Thruxton to its new headquarters at Southampton Airport, an opportunity arose to create a dedicated gym facility that would support both the operational crew and the wider team. The brief was to develop a fitness space that would meet the demanding physical requirements of emergency response personnel while also providing office-based staff with an inviting and accessible environment to support their own health and well-being.
Working closely with the HIOWAA team, motive8 was appointed to design and deliver a facility that maximised performance, functionality and value within a compact footprint.
The Challenge: Like many charities, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance needed to ensure every pound invested delivered maximum value. With a relatively small 30sqm space available, the challenge was to create a gym that felt comprehensive and versatile without exceeding budget constraints.
The facility needed to cater for a diverse range of users and training styles, from operational crew members requiring strength and conditioning equipment to office staff looking for a welcoming environment to improve their fitness and well-being. Every square metre needed to work hard, ensuring the space offered variety, practicality and a premium user experience despite its modest size.
Our Solution: By taking the time to understand the needs of different users across the organisation, we developed a highly functional gym that balances performance, flexibility and value.
We carefully selected a combination of refurbished premium equipment and custom gym equipment solutions to maximise both the available space and project budget. The facility includes:
-Refurbished performance cardio delivering premium cardiovascular training while keeping costs under control
-A custom designed Fitness Rig incorporating a Half Rack, Dual Adjustable Pulley (DAP) system and integrated storage solutions
-A wide range of functional training accessories, allowing users to perform varied workouts without requiring additional floor space
-Bespoke branding throughout the facility, creating a strong sense of identity and ensuring the gym felt like an integral part of the organisation
-A stand out piece, an integrated finger board providing a unique training feature for rock climbing enthusiasts within the team
Every element was selected with flexibility, durability and longevity in mind, ensuring the space can continue to support the well-being and fitness goals of the entire HIOWAA team long-term.
The Impact: The completed facility is a great example of how thoughtful design can deliver exceptional results regardless of footprint.
Despite occupying just 30sqm, the gym provides a comprehensive training environment that supports strength, conditioning, cardiovascular fitness and functional movement. It offers emergency response crews a dedicated space to maintain operational readiness while encouraging staff across the wider organisation to prioritise their own health and well-being.
Most importantly, the project delivers lasting value to a charity who make a difference every day. Seeing the positive reaction at the launch event and hearing first-hand how well the facility had been received reinforced what an important addition the gym will be to the organisation.
The result is a fitness space that punches well above its weight, proving that when it comes to gym design, it's not the size of the room that matters most, but how effectively every square metre is used.
“It has been a pleasure working with Rob and the team at motive8. From the initial consultancy and gym design through to the purchasing and installation process, their support has been exceptional. The new Gymnasium at our airbase is a fantastic facility that is already being used by our crew on a daily basis and will play an important role in supporting their health, well-being and fitness. motive8's expertise, professionalism and commitment to delivering high-quality fitness spaces were evident throughout the project. We are incredibly grateful for their generous support and proud of what we have achieved together. We would highly recommend motive8 to any organisation looking to create an inspiring and functional fitness environment.”
Sarah Hulin, Development Manager, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance
"Working with Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance was a hugely rewarding project. The challenge was to create a facility that could support the demanding fitness requirements of emergency response crews while remaining welcoming and accessible for all staff. By combining refurbished premium equipment with bespoke training solutions, we've created a gym that maximises every square metre and delivers exceptional value. Knowing the space will help support the people who help save lives across our region makes this a project we're incredibly proud to have delivered."
Robert Baker-Stevens, Head of Business Development, motive8
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