5 mins with MHQ Co-Founder Mark, Business Person the Year
Learn more about Movement HQ Co-Founder Mark Glanville – WINNER of the Northern Beaches Business Person of the Year award 2023.
Mark’s background
After a successful hospitality career that saw Mark work in some of London’s finest kitchens, he followed his true passion in 2001 when he started his professional fitness journey.
Since then Mark has delivered countless personalised and group fitness programs to clients across Sydney and London, and followed his dream by starting up Movement HQ in 2020.
Over the past 21 years Mark has seen it all, working with clients, coaches and fitness facilitators of all ages, disciplines and physical capabilities.
He’s seen numerous fitness fads appear and disappear, gyms open and shut, and trainers come and go. He’s worked with chief executives, start-up founders, professionals and students – putting in the hard-yard, starting a typical work day at 5am and finishing well into the evening.
He’s balanced training his own clients and himself whilst running his business, nurturing his young family, managing his staff, and developing effective class programs that meet his clients’ goals.
Vision for the business
Since the very beginning when Mark kicked off his fitness career, he’s remained true to his core purpose – to build a welcoming community offering safe, effective and motivating exercise programs to help clients achieve their very best, moving their bodies and minds in ways they never thought possible, and returning to full function after injury.
“I’ve seen a lot of gyms out there that just put their clients through the motions – and some are large, soul-less with cookie-cutter style exercise routines. I’ve tried to foster a community that feels more like family.
Our programs are designed to ensure the body is moving to the best of its ability in its most natural form, allowing us to be nimble, flexible and free. And to have fun whilst challenging the body and mind.
Our business culture sees our coaches actively training and empowering our members to connect with their bodies and be more proactive about their health. The stronger and more involved our members become, the more confidence in their abilities grows – not only at the gym but also extending into their personal and professional lives.
We’re here to add years to our members’ life – and life to their years.
In doing all of that the strength of our organisation is grounded in the strength of our connections. Connection with our members, our network and with each other. This has fostered a strong community which will continue to flourish for the rest of our lives.”
The main mantra that Mark lives by is:
“Everyone is welcome, no-one will be left behind”.
Biggest lessons learnt
“Be supportive to your clients needs. Be creative – and be the trainer your clients need you to be, not the one you think looks good to the masses, or to people who don’t understand said clients needs.
Be a coach AND a leader to every peer. It’s so rewarding to share my skills and experiences with other trainers and watch them grow both professionally and personally.”
Biggest business challenge
“Opening a business right in the middle of a pandemic and trying to grow something in the midst of lockdowns and uncertain times.
‘We’ were able to overcome that with amazingly hard team work and my team believing in my idea and putting their heart and soul into everything they/we do – along with the support from our fantastic members.”
What members can expect going forwards
“We just simply aim to be better everyday, offering constantly evolving programs and an understanding of what our members and the community want and need from us.
Ideally I would love to be able to open more facilities throughout Sydney in the coming years.”
And the award …
“I was actually completely stunned when I was announced the WINNER, I guess I didn’t value myself and what I have built enough, so it’s incredibly rewarding to have been given this award and it will certainly be a moment I will never forget.
I am so grateful to my wife for supporting me and my amazing staff and members! Without all of them Movement HQ (my dream) wouldn’t be possible.”
If you train at MHQ you will know and love Daphne who sums it up well by saying:
“Mark Glanville is one great human, a top bloke who has trained me since 2009.
I am so delighted he won the Local Business Award Northern Beaches for Business Person of the year.
His boutique gym offers the most qualified, experienced and nurturing of trainers. From strength training, Pilates and yoga to mobility and lots of fun and games, learning calisthenics on the blue mat. There are so many great classes to pick from, that I struggle to pick just one in a day.
You’d be surprised at what we can all achieve in the right environment. Movement HQ is my happy place.”
New to MHQ? Reach out and have a chat with Mark about how you can make your body and mind your priority – safely and effectively – and become part of an awesome new community whilst doing it.