Spalding man who now has own clothing line: ‘I gambled our house deposit on setting up my business and it’s the best thing I could have done’

A self-confessed ‘risk-taker’ who spent his house deposit on setting up a business describes the gamble as ‘the best thing I could have ever done’.

Kieran James admits partner Gemma Eason was initially ‘mortified’ at the suggestion the cash would go anywhere other than helping the couple buy a home together.

But two-and-a-half years later the personal trainer has seen his new venture take off, winning awards and launching a clothing range along the way.

“When I first started it was a risk to set up the business. I took money out of the house deposit,” said Spalding-based Kieran, who previously worked in education.

“At the time we really needed a house and I told my partner I’m going to be a PT. She was mortified.

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“But I said to her, imagine one day I can use the money I make from being a PT to pay our mortgage, people are walking around proudly wearing my shirts and they want to be part of my community.

“Imagine winning trophies and business awards. Now we’re two-and-a-half years on and those things have all happened.”

As a personal trainer based at Pinchbeck’s Snap Fitness, Kieran is used to pushing clients out of their comfort zones.

But it was Kieran and Gemma who had to do just that to begin this venture.

“I’ve been very much a risk taker my whole life, but risk is what makes it exciting,” added the 27-year-old.

“If you don’t take risks, life won’t be exciting – a risk keeps you on edge and takes you past where you wanted to be.

“It’s so vital to jump into those moments. It’s the best thing I could have ever done.”

Those risks have paid off, but Kieran also credits the support of his partner as a huge factor in his successes.

“Gemma’s been the backbone, he said.

“There have been real drawback moments and she’s the one who’s given me the nudge, picked me up and told me to keep going.

“She deserves the credit. It wouldn’t be the same if she wasn’t with me.”

Desperate to prove his gamble was the right move, Kieran threw himself into his work and was rewarded last November when he was named Personal Trainer of the Year at the Best of the Best awards.

Then there is also the Kieran James clothing brand he, and others proudly wear in and outside the gym.

“There are even people who aren’t my clients wearing it, it’s great to see,” he said.

“I just wanted to do something else as well as being a PT.”

For the former Gleed Boys pupil, helping his clients better themselves is a daily pleasure.

“I love doing it, it’s such a thrill to help people and see people succeed,” said Kieran, who likes to encourage clients by charting their transformations on his social media channels.

“A lot of my social media is showcasing my clients’ progress step by step, their journey. It’s beautiful to look back at my feed and see where clients are now.

“Personal training isn’t just about telling someone to exercise, its about that rapport you gain. It’s about experiencing their journey, the ups and downs.

“Training is their outreach, they’ve had a bad day at work and using that can help them. When they go home its all done, its all calm. It’s rewarding mentally and physically.

“You get to push people past a threshold they never thought they’d get past and all you’re doing is saying ‘one more’. That’s something I’m famous for being heard saying.

“There’s always room for one more, unless its a chocolate bar.”

Kieran – who charts his clients’ progress at KieranJames_PT on both Facebook and Instagram – has also launched a podcast which sees him interview local athletes about their journeys.

This can be found by searching KieranJamesPT on both YouTube and Spotify.