Swan Grace Pilates opened in November last year and was met with “overwhelming” support from the local community.  

 

Business owner, Sobia White, had enjoyed a successful career working at a senior level in sales. A fitness lover, Sobia completed a Level 2 fitness qualification in 2019, allowing her to teach spin classes alongside her job on a weekly basis.  

 

Sobia fell in love with reformer pilates after attending classes herself in her spare time. Blown away by the physical and mental benefits from the exercise classes, she enrolled in a reformer pilates course to learn how to share her passion with others.   

 

Reformer pilates is a form of low-impact exercise that focuses on improving strength, flexibility, posture and balance through precise movements that engage the core and promote alignment. It uses a specialised machine called a reformer, which features a sliding carriage, springs and straps to provide resistance and support for controlled, full-body movements.  

 

Swan Grace Pilates, designed to be a safe space, is open to all levels of experience. Classes and exercises can be layered depending on ability, meaning clients can work at their own pace and enjoy their own progression.  

 

Sobia approached Business Gateway in the early stages of her business journey, looking for help and support on how to go about opening her own studio while balancing her corporate job.  

 

Sobia accessed one to one support from Barbara Mennie, a Business Gateway adviser, who was able to provide advice on marketing, HR and funding opportunities, signposting her to a start-up grant from Inverclyde Council.  

 

Through Business Gateway, Sobia also accessed a range of webinars, focusing on subjects including developing a social media strategy and how to write a business plan.  

 

Since launching, Sobia’s classes have proven very popular with the local community, with classes booking up weeks in advance. Sobia has successfully built a client pool of over 350 people, with clients ranging from 18 to over 60. 

 

Thanks to Swan Grace Pilates’ success, Sobia has decided to leave her corporate role and focus full time on the business, which will allow her to offer more classes in the months ahead.  

 

Sobia White, owner, Swan Grace Pilates, said: “I set out to build a studio that would attract a really varied demographic of clients, and I’m so pleased with the response. It’s a real privilege to bring something new to Cathcart Street. 

 

“The support I’ve received from Barbara at Business Gateway has been amazing. She’s been with me all the way through my start-up journey, offering encouragement throughout the process. Her support has really kept me right in terms of legalities, grant support, and writing my business plan.” 

 

Barbara Mennie, Business Gateway adviser, said: “Supporting Swan Grace Pilates from concept to reality has been very rewarding. Seeing Sobia receive such a positive reception is a testament to her passion and commitment to delivering exceptional experiences for her clients.” 

 

To find out how Business Gateway can help your business, visit https://bgateway.com.