As we close the chapter on another fantastic year, 2025 has been one defined by progress, people and purposeful partnerships at motive8 and made event more special as we proudly celebrated 25 years in the fitness and leisure industry. This milestone reflects not only how far we’ve come, but our continued commitment to evolving, innovating and delivering meaningful impact.
From standout residential gym design projects and team growth to sustainability milestones and community initiatives, this year has been a true reflection of our commitment to shaping exceptional fitness and leisure experiences across the UK.
Here’s a look back at some of the moments that have made 2025 such a memorable year for motive8.
Project highlights
Working closely with our teams nationwide, we’ve been proud to collaborate on a wide range of innovative and forward-thinking gym design and gym management projects. A few in particular really stood out:
The Sessile London – taking the crown for our most luxurious wellness space delivered in 2025, The Sessile is a premium BTR residential gym spanning 250sqm of beautifully designed workout space. Featuring first-class facilities and a refined gym design, this project exemplifies modern residential wellness. motive8 supported the full gym design process and delivered comprehensive virtual gym inductions, ensuring residents felt confident and engaged from day one.

Silkstream, Residential Development – another exciting highlight was Silkstream, where motive8 was appointed to support residents before, during and after launch. Our involvement included a comprehensive three-phase approach:
- leisure risk assessment alongside a bespoke virtual gym induction
- full organisation and delivery of the gym launch event
- ongoing management of on-site group fitness classes
This holistic approach ensured a seamless resident experience and a strong sense of community from the outset.

Growth and team
2025 has been a year of significant growth for the motive8 team. We welcomed several key hires, including a new Head of Business Development, Gym & Spa Operations Manager, and a Gym & Spa Area Manager to support our expanding Manchester portfolio.
Our team truly lives and breathes movement. This was clear as a team of employees took on the London South Tough Mudder challenge and organised the very first motive8 Winter Football Tournament, a hugely successful event with five teams competing in great spirits.


To enhance the employee experience further, we also launched a brand-new onboarding video, ensuring every new starter receives a warm, consistent and engaging welcome to motive8.

And of course, it wasn’t all work. To celebrate our successes and step away from the everyday, the team enjoyed a lively Summer Social at Fairgame in Canary Wharf, filled with laughter, friendly competition and plenty of memorable moments.

Charity initiatives
Supporting our communities remains a core value at motive8. Throughout the year, we were proud to deliver and support a number of charitable initiatives, including:
- donating Easter eggs to the Pediatric Department at St Peter’s Hospital and to Leeds Women’s Aid
- hosting the motive8 25th Anniversary Run/Walk, with 8km routes from Gym & Spa locations in London and Manchester
Contracts and partnerships
2025 saw some fantastic business wins and milestones across the company:
- 53 new gym installations
- 119 employees across the business
- 35 new maintenance contracts secured
A particularly notable moment was the launch of the UK’s first HYROX-affiliated residential gym at Deansgate Square, a major milestone for both motive8 and the growing HYROX community.

This achievement was made possible through months of collaboration, innovation and hard work by our Manchester-based team, setting a new benchmark for residential fitness.
Fitness services
Our fitness services have gone from strength to strength in 2025. Circuit training, yoga and Pilates emerged as the most popular classes across our sites, highlighting the continued demand for balanced, inclusive programming.
Our gym inductions and virtual induction services also saw strong engagement, supporting residents and members in feeling confident, informed and motivated when using their facilities.
Sustainability initiatives
Sustainability remains a key focus for motive8. Our equipment refurbishment division experienced record growth this year, with an increased volume of gym equipment being refurbished and rehomed.
In partnership with JOGON, we also helped divert 85 pairs of trainers from landfill, a small number with a meaningful impact as part of our wider sustainability commitment.

Sustainability remains a key focus for motive8. Our equipment refurbishment division experienced record growth this year, with an increased volume of gym equipment being refurbished and rehomed.
In partnership with JOGON, we also helped divert 85 pairs of trainers from landfill, a small number with a meaningful impact as part of our wider sustainability commitment.
Looking ahead to 2026
As we look to the year ahead, recovery and wellness trends show no sign of slowing. Demand for infrared saunas, cold therapy, recovery rooms and recovery-focused classes continues to rise and will remain a major focus in 2026.
We’ll also be embracing the next wave of innovation, including AI integration, the continued evolution of residential fitness and wellness, and the growing appetite for high-end, design-led leisure amenities across residential, BTR and mixed-use developments.
We’ll also be launching our newly reconfigured maintenance department, to deliver an even more streamlined and responsive gym and spa maintenance service, supported by some industry leading technology.
Whether you’re planning a new development, upgrading existing facilities or looking for expert gym and spa management, motive8 is here to help you create spaces that truly perform.
Get in touch with our team today to discuss how we can support your next project:
Call: 020 8481 9700
Email: info@m8group.co.uk



