Gymophobics managing Director Richard Hubbard recently wrote to the Secretary of State for Health, The Rt. Hon. Andrew Lansley MP, to suggest that VAT be removed from Gym membership. His letter is printed below and we would welcome members views on this.

If you would like to comment, please email Richard at: richard@gymophobics.co.uk

Dear Health Secretary,

Unlike many who will oppose you on this, I am in full agreement with your proposal to take Government out of the Change4Life campaign and make it more of a social movement. I like the idea of ‘a new approach......supporting family and individual responses’. I agree with you that the food and drink industry along with interested parties such as obesity charities and the Fitness industry itself should be spearheading this movement.

In this regard I wrote to you recently requesting that you consider removing the tax (VAT) on Gym memberships. This will I feel show that the Government is prepared to support individual responses and I can think of no better way to make gym membership more accessible to all.

The recession has taken a terrible toll on the Fitness industry with membership having fallen dramatically and many gyms driven out of business. Though things are beginning to pick up, the removal of VAT would be a tremendous shot in the arm and allow us to lower our Fees, expand our businesses, recruit more staff and promote more vigorously for membership.

You will recognise that with more people exercising the horrendous cost to the NHS will be reduced and removing VAT will be self financing and show the Government’s commitment to promoting self help.

My company supports some 40,000 women currently and we have plans to double that number over the next four years. We employ some 200 people, many of whom are older (40 plus) part time ladies in some 35 Gyms around the UK. The removal of VAT will make a significant impact as I am sure that it will do for the Gym industry as a whole.

Yours faithfully,               

For Gymophobics (Licence) Ltd

Richard Hubbard MD