Client: Encore Fitness
Featured Member: Ben Clench
Industry: Fitness, Rehabilitation, Community Wellness
Recognition: Finalist – Member Achievement Award, National Fitness Awards, 2019
Success: National platform for a transformational member story — at a critical moment in Encore’s growth journey
In 2019, Encore Fitness was a bold new brand with a big vision:
Build a fitness community that transformed lives — not just bodies.
To fuel rapid growth, Encore needed more than traditional marketing.
It needed a story. A real, human, powerful story that would show the heart of what Encore stood for.
That story was Ben Clench.
Ben’s journey wasn’t about vanity metrics or gym selfies.
It was about resilience, recovery, and redefining limits after unimaginable trauma.
Winning national recognition for Ben’s achievements—and Encore’s role in supporting him—was key to proving Encore wasn’t just another gym. It was something different.
🧠 In 2010, aged just 27, Ben suffered a severe brain injury when he and his girlfriend were hit by a car in the Dominican Republic.
🏥 He spent a month in a coma, waking up with no memory and little physical ability.
🏃♂️ Against the odds, he relearned how to walk, talk, and ultimately run—completing the Brighton Half Marathon while still fitted with a tracheotomy.
🎓 He earned a Master’s degree in Governance and Development.
📚 He published a book (Ben Again) endorsed by Julia Donaldson, CBE.
🎤 He became a TEDx speaker, inspiring audiences worldwide.
Throughout this journey, Encore Fitness wasn’t just Ben’s gym.
It was his community—giving him a space where he could train without judgment, connect with others, and rebuild confidence both physically and socially.
Ben became a core part of the Encore family, attending socials, team training sessions, and community events.
In the gym, Ben was no longer a survivor. He was simply Ben.
🏆 Encore Fitness was named a Finalist for the Member Achievement Award at the 2019 National Fitness Awards—often called the “Oscars of the Fitness Industry.”
This finalist recognition:
🏛️ Validated Encore’s community-driven approach at a national level.
📣 Gave the brand a compelling, emotionally resonant story to fuel rapid growth.
🏆 Inspired new members and positioned Encore as a place where fitness is for everyone.
🤝 Cemented Encore’s reputation not just as a gym—but as a second home for people transforming their lives.
✅ Turned a powerful member journey into national brand recognition.
✅ Proved Encore’s model of community-driven fitness transformation.
✅ Inspired emotional loyalty and rapid membership growth during early scaling.
✅ Established a story-driven marketing foundation that competitors couldn’t copy.
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