Tom Leith, founder of Holisium in Glasgow, has built a highly successful fitness business by committing to one principle above all else: continuous education. With around 200 clients each paying approximately £200 per month, Tom has created a premium coaching environment that blends personal training, group sessions and physiotherapy. His journey is a clear example of how mastering your craft can drive long term growth.

The Challenge

At the beginning of his career, Tom made a decision that set him apart from most trainers in the industry. Rather than focusing on quick wins or marketing trends, he chose to invest heavily in his own development.

He explains:

“Every money I was making, I was putting it away for courses… I was spending crazy money on courses all the time.”

While others around him questioned his choices, Tom travelled across the UK and internationally to learn from some of the best coaches in the world. This commitment allowed him to develop a deeper understanding of the body, performance and rehabilitation.

However, this focus came with trade offs. Tom openly admits that he neglected key areas of business in the early days, particularly marketing and building professional networks.

“One thing that I probably did wrong at the start of my career was not building up a referral network.”

He relied heavily on word of mouth and results, which kept him busy, but limited the scalability of the business in its early stages.

The Strategy

Tom’s growth has been driven by a combination of elite level education, structured systems and a strong team culture.

From the outset, he reinvested his earnings into learning and mentorship. This allowed him to work with more complex clients and deliver a higher level of service than the average trainer. As a result, he was able to charge significantly more than others in his market.

“I was charging double what the average personal trainer was… because what I was able to do was double what they were able to do.”

Alongside his personal development, Tom focused on building a team that shared his values. He created an environment where learning is continuous and expected. His coaches regularly take part in in house training sessions where they develop new skills and deepen their knowledge.

“If you are not working with the team to constantly give them new skills… outsource it.”

This focus on development ensures that every coach in the business can deliver a high standard of service, which strengthens the overall client experience.

Tom also implemented a structured client journey. Every new member begins with one to one sessions, where they go through a full assessment and receive personalised guidance. Only after this do they move into small group or large group training. This approach allows the team to understand each client properly before progressing them, which improves both safety and results.

In terms of growth, Tom partnered with specialists to support the marketing side of the business.

He explains:

“We send the content… and then leads start coming in… and then it’s our job to get them in for a consultation.”

This allowed Tom to focus on delivery, while ensuring a steady flow of new clients into the business.

Tom also made a significant investment in expanding the facility by adding a physiotherapy clinic and wellness spa. The project cost over £300,000 and created a more complete service offering for clients. While the vision was strong, the process was challenging both financially and emotionally.

“That was a tough, tough, tough time… it almost broke me.”

Despite the challenges, the addition has enhanced the overall experience for both clients and staff.

The Results

Today, Holism Gym operates as a premium facility with a strong reputation in its local area. The business supports around 200 active clients who each pay approximately £200 per month. Tom has built a team of ten professionals, including physiotherapists and coaches, all of whom contribute to delivering a high level of service.

The gym continues to attract new clients through a combination of organic content and paid marketing, while maintaining strong retention through its structured approach and results driven coaching.

“Focus on your knowledge, focus on your skill set… the attention comes as a byproduct.”

What’s Next?

Tom is now expanding his impact beyond the gym itself. He is travelling internationally to teach and share his methods, while continuing to develop his team and refine the systems within the business.

Although he spends less time on the gym floor than before, the business continues to run effectively due to the strength of the team and the structure he has built.

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