Female entrepreneurs celebrate first anniversary of gig economy app for the fitness industry
Rosanna Tucker and Beverlee Brinkworth, two trailblazing female entrepreneurs, are gearing up for the one-year anniversary of their groundbreaking gig economy app, CoverMe Fitness, with plans to enter the US and Australian fitness markets.
Designed exclusively for the fitness industry by fitness people, the app is revolutionising the way fitness professionals manage group exercise classes, with the ability to source the best freelance exercise instructors in less than 30 seconds.
In less than 12 months, the app has been adopted by 3,600 fitness clubs and venues including global brands like Virgin Active. A survey of instructors gave the CoverMe app a 4.9* star rating and 100% retention and recommend score.
Rosanna Tucker, CEO and former GB athlete with 23 years’ fitness industry experience, and Beverlee Brinkworth, COO and tri athlete with more than 30 years in the sector, have always been committed to challenging the status quo. Their initial venture, Studio Society in London, combines cutting-edge technology with expert coaching to create a unique immersive group exercise club.
After experiencing the challenges associated with recruiting and managing freelance group exercise cover and the lack of tools to grapple with the issues, Tucker and Brinkworth decided to develop a viable solution. The result was CoverMe Fitness, a seamless digital platform that simplifies group exercise management for both clubs and instructors. Funded by Angel investment, with Gym Group founder John Treharne, one of the fitness industry’s most successful entrepreneurs, as non-executive director, CoverMe is on the brink of a larger scale funding round from a well-known investor.
“Finding cover for group exercise instructors is one of the most common challenges faced by fitness venues and operators. We identified the need for a digital staffing platform and developed CoverMe Fitness to bridge the gap. Starting with the UK, our ambition is to be the largest marketplace for fitness professionals globally,” says Tucker.
On any given day, 15% of group exercise classes in the UK need a cover instructor. This equates to 2.5 million classes in the UK each year, which can cost an average health club operator £250,000 per annum.
CoverMe revolutionises studio management giving team members the ability to recruit, recognise, reward and manage group exercise staff in one easy-to-use app. It’s algorithm matches inspirational, qualified and insured freelance instructors with gyms and studios to minimise timetable disruption, factoring in skills, proximity and availability – all in real-time – so managers can source and book class cover in just three simple steps.
According to CoverMe research, operators spend between four-15 hours a week managing cover, with 89% of them forced to cancel or change their group exercise timetable every week due to an inability to find suitable cover. Research also shows that a third of gym members (33%) who experience regular disruption or cancellation of classes will cancel their membership.
Dubbed the “Uber of staff” by industry experts, CoverMe Fitness is a game-changer in the fitness gig economy. It’s the linchpin that connects group exercise instructors with on-demand opportunities at studios, clubs and facilities, allowing operators to manage their group exercise timetables with ease and with the confidence that their team has all the necessary certification and insurance.
Following its success the UK, CoverMe now plans to launch in Australia in the first quarter of 2024, followed by the US later in the year.
The app’s adaptability positions it to pivot into other verticals including healthcare, hospitality and beyond.
