Monthly Maidstone Spotlight – RCOVR and Poize Pilates
The idea for a wellness centre came about through discussions between myself and the owner of the gym in the same building, as something that would work well alongside his group personal training offering. While we explored a potential partnership, the set-up costs proved prohibitive, so I began looking at alternative options.
At the time, Sophie was still working as a Financial Consultant in London, and I explored a number of potential collaborations, from an osteopath to working alongside a plumber who helped bring the space to life over a three-month period, drawing on his trade connections. However, this wasn’t something he could commit to long term, and the project continued independently until Sophie joined the business.
We launched RCOVR, a recovery and wellness space designed to help clients reset and recharge. RCOVR now offers a range of services including ice baths, steam spas, infrared saunas and osteopathy.
This marked the beginning of what has since evolved into a wider wellness hub. We now host a number of complementary businesses within the space, including a nutrition and gut health specialist, a maternity and newborn photographer, and a sound bath therapist.
Our most recent addition is Poize Pilates, founded by Sophie and me, inspired by her passion for Reformer Pilates and supported by strong industry connections, which made building our instructor team a natural next step.
You received a grant from MBC for Poize Pilates – how did that help?
There was underutilised mezzanine space within the building, and I felt that Reformer Pilates would be a natural addition to the wellness hub.
I first heard about the grant through a local food van owner, who suggested we would be a strong candidate, we simply needed to put forward a compelling case. From there, I developed a detailed application outlining our vision for the studio and how it would enhance the wider space.
We were delighted to be successful. The grant supported Sophie’s Pilates instructor training, costing around £2.5k, as well as contributing towards the reformer beds, which totalled approximately £12.5k.
Quite simply, it wouldn’t be a Reformer Pilates studio without the reformer beds, so the grant made a significant difference. It allowed us to invest in beds that not only meet a high standard of performance, but also complement the overall design and feel of the studio, something that has been widely complimented since opening.
Since then, the studio has grown quickly, and we now have a team of nine Pilates instructors.
Do you have a background in health and wellness?
We’ve always been a very active, sporty family, including our brother, Sam, and spent much of our childhood playing a variety of different sports together in the garden.
Sophie captained hockey teams at Kent, East of England and Loughborough University level, represented Kent in cross-country, played football for Charlton Athletic, and competed in swimming and biathlon. I like to think Sam and I played a small part in that, as she was always trying to keep up with her older brothers.
My own background was similarly sport-focused, playing district cricket and football, alongside a strong interest in running and swimming. I later spent five years in China teaching sport, PE and English.
Like many who are active from a young age, we also experienced many injuries, which sparked an early interest in physiotherapy, although I ultimately chose to pursue construction management. Sophie also considered physiotherapy before going on to study psychology, so health, movement and performance have always been areas of shared interest for us both.
Supporting your local area is important to you – tell us about that.
As part of the grant application, Alex Czabaniuk from MBC’s economic development team was particularly keen for us to prioritise local businesses and services wherever possible, something that naturally aligned with how we like to operate.
We’ve always made a conscious effort to work with local trades and suppliers, from our electricians based in Maidstone and plumbers in Staplehurst, to having our windows fitted by a neighbouring business. Even down to our phones, which we source through Phones4Business in Yalding, supporting the local network has been a key part of the project.
Our instructor team is also largely local. Katy, Julia, Mel, Millie, Hannah, Piper, Sandie and Charlie all live within Kent, many in or around Maidstone, which further strengthens that community connection.
More broadly, we’re proud to be creating a space that brings health and wellness amenities closer to home, particularly for those who prefer not to travel into the town centre.
We also recently hosted Maidstone United’s First Team as they prepare for a Cup Final and the last game of the season to try push themselves in the Playoff positions.
What is your role in the business day-to-day?
I run RCOVR and Poize Pilates alongside Sophie, who is now also one of our Pilates instructors. My role is varied, from managing tenants and overseeing building works, to watering the plants and working through plans with Sophie.
I’ve recently introduced a robot vacuum into Poize, as our turnaround time between classes is so tight (finishing at 8.30pm and then opening at 6am). It’s quickly become the real boss, constantly reminding me when it needs refilling or a filter clean.
Sophie leads much of the marketing and social media, including creating content and managing our booking system, as well as responding to client enquiries. She also takes great pride in maintaining the studio, particularly when it comes to deep cleaning the reformer beds, and ensuring everything always looks its best.
As with any business, there’s also a significant amount that happens behind the scenes, from PAT testing and fire safety checks to the day-to-day administration that keeps everything running smoothly.
What’s been your biggest challenge?
Definitely time — particularly now with a 5-month-old, a 17-month-old, a partner who doesn’t drive, and a dog. Balancing everything can be a challenge.
Sophie also has a two-year-old and a husband who travels frequently for work, which naturally limits her time and flexibility.
The reality is that a lot of the work happens behind the scenes. For example, as the mezzanine was originally designed for pallet storage, it doesn’t absorb sound particularly well, so I’ve spent evenings insulating it myself. On one occasion, Sophie and I were here from 8am through to 11:30pm overboarding ceiling tiles, it can be pretty full-on at times.
What’s your advice to other new businesses or people looking to start up?
It’s so important to fully understand what you’re committing to when taking on a space as a tenant.
Do your due diligence, ask the right questions, and take time to think through the practicalities, including the worst-case scenarios. It’s important to be considered rather than impulsive.
What are your plans for the future?
Our immediate focus is on continuing to expand the hub. I’m currently exploring the idea of introducing a café, as I think there’s a real opportunity to offer clean, healthy food, something that’s not widely available in the area. We’re also in discussions with a potential tenant about opening a beauty salon, which would complement the existing offering well.
Beyond that, I’ve been speaking with a contact about the possibility of developing a business focused on creating specialist pods for ice baths. It’s something I’d be keen to explore further once things settle slightly at RCOVR and we have a larger team in place.
Franchising is another avenue we’re considering. One of our members recently approached me about it, and it’s definitely something I’d like to pursue in the future. The RCOVR brand has gained strong traction, and I believe it has real potential to translate into other locations. For example, a client who is relocating to Bath mentioned setting something up there, which sparked the idea of a RCOVR concept inspired by the Roman baths.
There are plenty of ideas in the pipeline, it’s just a case of prioritising and seeing where the momentum takes us.
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