2 minute read 10 Dec 2020
Photographic portrait of Ben Francis

Gymshark’s founder is EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2020 UK winner

By EY UK

Multidisciplinary professional services organisation

2 minute read 10 Dec 2020
Related topics Entrepreneurship

This year’s winner, Ben Francis, has grown Gymshark, the online athleisure wear brand, from a start-up in his parents’ garage to a global brand with millions of customers in more than 170 countries. 

Founded in 2012 by Ben, Gymshark turned over £170 million-a-year just seven years later. With over two million customers and over 500 employees at its Solihull headquarters, the firm has leveraged the power of social media and influencers to innovate, improve and scale-up.

Reflecting on the award, Ben says he was: “Proud and humbled to be the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2020 UK winner at what is an incredibly exciting time for Gymshark.” 

The independent judging panel acknowledged the impressive trajectory of his business, which has grown from a small start-up to a well-recognised global brand. Ben’s entrepreneurial ventures began when he was a young teenager selling car licence plates and later launching two fitness tracking apps. The idea for Gymshark followed, and soon he found himself making athleisure wear using a sewing machine he had bought with £1,000 of savings.

“I remember looking around, and I couldn’t find any clothing that I wanted to wear,” he says. “So I said: “let’s make it ourselves”.”

Gymshark is a beacon in innovative design, creative content and consumer-first thinking. It is considered to be one of the fastest growing global brands in the UK with their business model now being replicated at a smaller scale in Hong Kong and the United States. 

Always at the cutting edge whilst being meticulous in its approach, Gymshark is renowned for its acumen in the world of social media. As well as working with prominent fitness industry influencers, Ben has worked hard to ensure Gymshark’s social media accounts are as interesting and visual as possible. He was also a pioneer in engaging consumers through social media and influencers, a strategy which resonates with millennials around the world. Gymshark has over 10 million followers across nine platforms with a global fan base of millennial customers, connecting with them online and via a worldwide tour of pop-up events that have included; LA, NYC, London, Toronto, Melbourne and Sydney.  

In August this year, Gymshark became the first direct-to-consumer brand in the UK to achieve ‘unicorn’ status with no external capital funding.

Ben will represent the UK at EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year next year.

Watch EY UK Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2020 UK Virtual Awards Ceremony On-Demand

For the inspiring stories, visions and ambitions of Class of 2020
 
 

Summary

Ben Francis is EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2020 UK Winner. Under Ben’s direction and leadership, Gymshark is the first direct-to-consumer brand in the UK to achieve ‘unicorn’ status with no external capital funding.

About this article

By EY UK

Multidisciplinary professional services organisation

Related topics Entrepreneurship