2026

BFA26: Category Descriptions Male Personal Trainer A celebration of the trainer who delivers exceptional coaching, inspires lasting change, and uplifts every client they work with. This award honours a male PT who leads with expertise, integrity, and impact — transforming lives, building confidence, and setting the standard for excellence in the fitness industry. Female Personal Trainer A celebration of the trainer who delivers exceptional coaching, inspires lasting change, and uplifts every client she works with. This award honours a female PT who leads with expertise, integrity, and impact — transforming lives, building confidence, and setting the benchmark for excellence in the fitness industry. Male Fitness Trainer A celebration of the trainer who delivers exceptional coaching, inspires lasting change, and elevates every client he works with. This award honours a male fitness professional who leads with expertise, integrity, and impact — transforming lives, building confidence, and setting the benchmark for excellence across the fitness industry. Female Fitness Trainer A celebration of the trainer who delivers exceptional coaching, inspires lasting change, and empowers every client she works with. This award honours a female fitness professional who leads with expertise, integrity, and impact — transforming lives, building confidence, and setting the benchmark for excellence across the fitness industry. Gym of the Year This award recognises a facility that exemplifies the highest standards of excellence within the fitness industry. It honours a gym that consistently delivers outstanding member experience, exceptional coaching, and a safe, inclusive environment for all. The recipient demonstrates strong leadership, innovative programming, and a clear commitment to community wellbeing. This category celebrates the gym that not only achieves exceptional results but also sets a benchmark for professionalism, integrity, and industry advancement. Local Authority Gym This award recognises a local authority facility that demonstrates outstanding commitment to community health, accessibility, and public wellbeing. It honours a gym that delivers high‑quality services, exceptional coaching, and inclusive opportunities for residents of all ages and abilities. The recipient shows strong leadership, effective use of public resources, and a clear dedication to reducing health inequalities. This category celebrates the facility that sets the benchmark for excellence within the public sector — supporting active communities, fostering participation, and driving meaningful, long‑term impact. Fitness Presenter This award recognises an individual who demonstrates exceptional skill, professionalism, and presence in delivering fitness to audiences of all sizes. It honours a presenter who communicates with clarity, confidence, and energy — engaging participants, elevating standards, and representing the industry with excellence. The recipient showcases outstanding technical knowledge, dynamic delivery, and the ability to inspire through both in‑person and digital platforms. This category celebrates the presenter who sets the benchmark for leadership, impact, and innovation within the fitness community. Athleisure Company This award recognises a brand that exemplifies excellence in design, performance, and innovation within the athleisure sector. It honours a company that delivers high‑quality products combining comfort, functionality, and style, while demonstrating strong brand identity and consumer trust. The recipient shows a commitment to sustainability, inclusivity, and forward‑thinking design, setting a benchmark for industry standards. This category celebrates the brand that elevates everyday performance wear and inspires confidence both inside and outside the gym. Mental Health Advocate This award recognises an individual who demonstrates exceptional commitment to promoting mental health awareness, support, and positive change within the community. It honours someone who uses their platform, voice, and actions to challenge stigma, encourage open conversation, and champion the wellbeing of others. The recipient shows leadership, compassion, and integrity, working tirelessly to create safe spaces, inspire hope, and drive meaningful impact. This category celebrates the advocate whose dedication helps shape a healthier, more understanding, and more resilient society. Healthy Eating Company This award recognises a company that demonstrates exceptional commitment to improving public health through accessible, nutritious, and high‑quality food choices. It honours an organisation that leads with integrity, innovation, and evidence‑based practice — supporting healthier lifestyles through its products, education, and community impact. The recipient shows dedication to transparency, sustainability, and inclusivity, ensuring healthy eating is achievable for all. This category celebrates the company that sets the benchmark for excellence in nutrition, wellbeing, and positive societal change. Supplement Provider This award recognises a company that demonstrates exceptional standards in product quality, safety, and innovation within the nutritional supplement industry. It honours a provider that delivers evidence‑based formulations, transparent labelling, and trusted support for health, performance, and wellbeing. The recipient shows a commitment to scientific integrity, consumer education, and responsible manufacturing practices. This category celebrates the organisation that sets the benchmark for excellence, reliability, and positive impact in the world of supplementation. Sports Therapist This award recognises a practitioner who demonstrates exceptional expertise in injury prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation within the fitness and sporting community. It honours a therapist who delivers evidence‑based care, supports optimal performance, and provides a consistently high standard of professional practice. The recipient shows strong clinical knowledge, outstanding client outcomes, and a commitment to promoting long‑term health and functional movement. This category celebrates the therapist who sets the benchmark for excellence, integrity, and impact in sports therapy. Active School This award recognises a school that demonstrates exceptional commitment to promoting physical activity, wellbeing, and healthy lifestyles among its pupils. It honours an environment where movement is embedded into daily culture, participation is encouraged at all levels, and every child is supported to be active, confident, and engaged. The recipient shows strong leadership, innovative initiatives, and measurable impact across sport, fitness, and whole‑school wellbeing. This category celebrates the school that sets the benchmark for creating an active, inclusive, and health‑focused learning community. Active Workplace This award recognises an organisation that demonstrates exceptional commitment to promoting physical activity, wellbeing, and a healthy working culture. It honours a workplace that provides meaningful opportunities for staff to be active, supports positive lifestyle habits, and fosters an environment where wellbeing is prioritised at every level. The recipient shows strong leadership, innovative initiatives, and measurable impact on employee health, engagement, and morale. This category celebrates the organisation that sets the benchmark for creating an active, supportive, and health‑focused workplace community. Nutritionist This award recognises a practitioner who demonstrates exceptional expertise in evidence‑based nutrition and its application to health, performance, and overall wellbeing. It honours a nutrition professional who delivers high‑quality guidance, supports sustainable lifestyle change, and empowers individuals through clear, ethical, and personalised advice. The recipient shows strong scientific understanding, measurable client impact, and a commitment to promoting healthy, informed choices within the wider community. This category celebrates the nutritionist who sets the benchmark for excellence, integrity, and professional practice. Team Member This award recognises an individual who demonstrates exceptional dedication, professionalism, and contribution within their organisation. It honours a team member who consistently goes above and beyond in their role, supports colleagues, and embodies the values and standards of their workplace. The recipient shows reliability, initiative, and a positive impact on both team performance and organisational culture. This category celebrates the individual whose commitment, attitude, and excellence set a benchmark for what outstanding teamwork truly represents Fitness Manager This award recognises a leader who demonstrates exceptional management, strategic oversight, and commitment to excellence within a fitness facility or organisation. It honours a manager who delivers high operational standards, supports staff development, and ensures an outstanding experience for members and clients. The recipient shows strong leadership, effective communication, and the ability to drive performance, innovation, and positive culture. This category celebrates the individual who sets the benchmark for professionalism, integrity, and impactful leadership in fitness management. Transformation Champion This award recognises an individual who has demonstrated exceptional commitment, resilience, and personal growth through their health and fitness journey. It honours someone who has achieved a significant physical, mental, or lifestyle transformation, inspiring others through their determination, consistency, and positive mindset. The recipient shows courage in overcoming challenges, dedication to long‑term change, and a willingness to motivate and uplift those around them. This category celebrates the individual whose transformation embodies strength, perseverance, and the life‑changing impact of embracing a healthier future. Fitness Event This award recognises an event that delivers exceptional impact, organisation, and participant experience within the fitness industry. It honours a gathering that showcases innovation, inclusivity, and high‑quality programming, while bringing communities together through movement, motivation, and shared purpose. The recipient demonstrates outstanding execution, strong engagement, and a clear commitment to promoting health, wellbeing, and positive lifestyle change. This category celebrates the event that sets the benchmark for excellence, inspiration, and industry leadership. Training Provider This award recognises an organisation that delivers exceptional education, qualifications, and professional development within the health and fitness industry. It honours a provider that upholds the highest standards of teaching, ensures robust learner support, and consistently produces confident, competent graduates. The recipient demonstrates strong industry alignment, innovative learning methods, and a commitment to raising standards across the sector. This category celebrates the training provider that sets the benchmark for quality, integrity, and long‑term impact on the future workforce. Fitness Influencer This award recognises an individual who uses their platform to inspire, educate, and positively influence the health and fitness community. It honours a creator who demonstrates authenticity, consistency, and a commitment to promoting evidence‑based information, healthy habits, and inclusive messaging. The recipient shows strong engagement, meaningful impact, and the ability to motivate audiences through high‑quality content across social and digital channels. This category celebrates the influencer who sets the benchmark for integrity, creativity, and leadership within the online fitness space. Fitness Brand This award recognises a brand that demonstrates exceptional influence, innovation, and impact within the fitness industry. It honours a company that delivers high‑quality products, services, or experiences while maintaining a strong identity, loyal community, and consistent commitment to excellence. The recipient shows leadership in shaping trends, promoting healthy lifestyles, and driving positive change across the sector. This category celebrates the brand that sets the benchmark for creativity, credibility, and long‑term contribution to the world of fitness. LGBTQ+ Advocate This award recognises an individual who demonstrates outstanding dedication to advancing equality, visibility, and inclusion for LGBTQ+ people within the fitness industry. It honours someone who uses their platform, coaching, leadership, or community presence to challenge discrimination, promote safe and welcoming training environments, and ensure that fitness spaces are accessible to all identities. The recipient shows courage, authenticity, and a meaningful commitment to creating positive cultural change across gyms, studios, events, and online communities. This category celebrates the advocate whose impact uplifts LGBTQ+ individuals, strengthens representation, and drives the fitness industry toward greater inclusivity and respect. Inclusive Impact Award This award recognises an individual, organisation, or initiative that has made an outstanding contribution to creating a more inclusive, accessible, and welcoming fitness community. It honours those who actively break down barriers, champion diversity, and ensure that people of all backgrounds, identities, and abilities feel represented and supported in fitness spaces. The recipient demonstrates meaningful action, innovative approaches, and measurable impact in promoting equality across gyms, studios, events, and online platforms. This category celebrates the trailblazer whose commitment to inclusion is transforming the fitness industry for the better and inspiring lasting cultural change. The Paul McHugh Award for Community & Charity Commitment This award honours an individual or organisation that embodies the spirit of generosity, service, and community impact exemplified by Paul McHugh. It recognises those who dedicate their time, energy, and heart to supporting others through charitable action, grassroots initiatives, and meaningful community engagement. The recipient demonstrates unwavering commitment to making a difference, using fitness as a force for good and creating positive change that reaches far beyond the gym floor. This category celebrates the people and projects whose compassion, leadership, and selfless contribution uplift communities, inspire hope, and carry forward the legacy of giving that this award represents. HIIT‑Based Workout This award recognises a high‑intensity interval training programme that delivers exceptional results, innovation, and participant experience. It honours a workout that blends intelligent programming, effective coaching, and motivating energy to push boundaries and elevate performance for all fitness levels. The recipient demonstrates outstanding session design, measurable impact on member outcomes, and a commitment to safe, inclusive, and engaging training. This category celebrates the HIIT workout that sets the standard for intensity, creativity, and community‑driven fitness. Dance‑Based Workout This award recognises a dance‑inspired fitness programme that delivers exceptional energy, creativity, and participant experience. It honours a workout that blends choreography, music, and movement to create an uplifting, accessible, and results‑driven session for all abilities. The recipient demonstrates outstanding programming, engaging instruction, and the ability to build confidence, community, and joy through dance. This category celebrates the workout that sets the benchmark for rhythm‑based fitness, inspiring people to move, express themselves, and fall in love with being active. Combat‑Based Workout This award recognises a combat‑inspired fitness programme that delivers exceptional intensity, technique, and participant engagement. It honours a workout that blends martial‑arts‑based movement, striking combinations, and athletic conditioning to create a dynamic, empowering training experience for all abilities. The recipient demonstrates outstanding session design, safe and effective coaching, and the ability to build confidence, discipline, and community through combat‑style fitness. This category celebrates the workout that sets the benchmark for power, precision, and high‑energy training within the combat fitness space. Aqua‑Based Workout This award recognises a water‑based fitness programme that delivers exceptional innovation, accessibility, and participant experience. It honours a workout that uses the unique benefits of the aquatic environment to improve strength, mobility, cardiovascular fitness, and overall wellbeing for all ages and abilities. The recipient demonstrates outstanding session design, safe and effective coaching, and the ability to create an engaging, supportive atmosphere in the water. This category celebrates the aqua workout that sets the benchmark for creativity, inclusivity, and results within aquatic fitness. Holistic‑Based Workout This award recognises a fitness programme that takes a whole‑person approach to health, blending physical movement with mental, emotional, and restorative practices. It honours a workout that integrates elements such as mobility, breathwork, mindfulness, functional strength, and low‑impact conditioning to support overall wellbeing. The recipient demonstrates thoughtful programme design, skilled instruction, and the ability to create a nurturing, inclusive environment where participants feel balanced, empowered, and connected. This category celebrates the holistic workout that sets the benchmark for harmony, wellness, and sustainable fitness. Newcomer of the Year This award recognises an individual or business that has made an outstanding early impact within the fitness industry. It honours a newcomer who has entered the sector with passion, professionalism, and a commitment to excellence, quickly establishing themselves as a rising force. The recipient demonstrates fresh energy, strong potential, and a willingness to innovate, contribute, and inspire others. This category celebrates the newcomer whose early achievements signal a bright future and whose presence is already making a meaningful difference in the fitness community.