Complete Health and Fitness (CHF) is an independently run gym in Braintree, Essex, and a "family business" in every sense of the word.

Established in 2001 by Robert 'Bob' and Georgina 'Gina' Redman, the business has evolved exponentially within it's 25 year life, now flourishing with the vital input of their daughter, Hollie Redman, to oversee it's operation. 

The business began in a derelict, old storage unit in Bocking, spanning of around 5000 square ft, which they were renting to store gym equipment - a the trade that first sparked the idea to create a fitness business - until the unit eventually filled up. 

Bob had already been in the business of repairing gym equipment for approximately 30 years, therefore his handy-work and resourcefulness - paired with Gina's excellent financial discipline - would nurture the business to come. 

The pair then decided to trial this repleted storage unit as a makeshift gym of sorts, allowing people to use their equipment, which lasted around three years.

At the time, Hollie had been in full-time education, but she began to contribute to the budding family business after she finished. 

Initially rented off the owner of an elderly home (who wishes to remain anonymous), the businessman challenged the Redmans, promising that if they could convert the derelict unit into a full-scale gym, he would repay half of what it costed them to do so. 

Sure enough, when the Redmans succeeded, the promise was fulfilled, an investment that coincides with the business' recurring theme of generosity and goodwill. 

But CHF didn't just stop at success. It went beyond, using it's success to promote causes larger than itself.

The gym, and the community it has cultivated, has historically participated in a number of fundraisers, excursions, and competitions, and it continues to do so. 

On 1 November of this year, members of CHF will be doing a 6 hour Group Spinathon, fundraising for Farleigh Hospice, in loving memory of Julie Bentley, a past member of the gym who had been under the care of Farleigh Hospice during her final months. 

This is the second time that they will be raising money in her memory. 

They have also partaken in fundraising for the Air Ambulance Service, because one of their doctor's parents are gym members, attesting to CHF's genuine care for their members. Their members are not just another source of income to the business, they are an integral part of the community.

Whilst the idea of supporting a cause is undeniably admirable, there are other opportunities that members can participate in, just because they can. 

The gym also engages in the Deadly Dozen competition, a structured, hybrid fitness race which takes place over twelve stations. 

Additionally, the gym offers a challenge, a travelling opportunity, and a journey into nature all in one; in the past, Hollie has typically taken 20 members in her minibus to climb the Welsh mountains. 

These extracurricular activities - and many more - are efforts made by CHF to incorporate fun, social ways to exercise, allowing other means of staying disciplined without having to follow the same, strict routine 24/7.

However, like any business, CHF has not been without it's challenges. 

Competition has been growing in the area. When CHF first started out, there had only been two gyms on it's doorstep. Now, there are eight.

This has placed pressure on the gym, as it's members occasionally migrate towards new, temporary deals that neighbouring gyms often offer. 

Luckily, CHF has a loyal network of around 20 die-hard members to support it as newer gyms begin to take precedence. Importantly, the business never panics, nor does it make impulsive, expensive decisions to try and attract newcomers when it loses a few members.

Moreover, no-one is immune to the cost-of-living crisis. Independent businesses - especially those with moral integrity, and an allegiance to reliability rather than money - have suffered in particular. 

Their electricity bill, for instance, has increased by 150%. The standing charge alone has increased by more than double the original amount, increasing from £6.14, to £15.51 a day.

And whilst the profit margin has decreased, catalysing more economic hardship, CHF refuses to take any more than strictly necessary from it's members. A minute, but incredible example in the grand scheme of things, is the fact that the price of their water has never exceeded 50p in all of it's 25 years of business. 

Yet, in characteristic Redman fashion, the couple refuses to borrow money, believing their independence to be invaluable; especially Gina, who sternly states that she "hate[s] owing money."

The principle is not just a matter of pride, rather a financial strategy she swears by.

"We don't borrow money" she explains, "because you don't know what's gonna happen."

In such an economically unpredictable age as today, their frugality and pragmatism remains a large part of their long-term success; for instance, only buying their equipment using last year's profits, rather than borrowing or hurting their pockets for the sake of appearances. 

Despite all of this, the Redmans explain that they have "obstacles", but not "struggles", largely because "the staff here are good" and "trustworthy."

Even through observation as an outsider to CHF's workforce, it is clear that the gym has created a close-knit, amiable working environment. A running joke amongst the workers is the want of the employees for Bob and Gina to "adopt them."

Complete Health and Fitness has faced it's hardships with the state of a modern, economically volatile world, and the emergence of new, affluent gyms to rival it.

Nonetheless, the fact remains that CHF has something rare, and timeless, something that no lessons in business or economics can teach you; a profound sense of kinship between the employers, the employees, and their members, keeping the community alive.

CHF was born out of generosity. And now, it continues to pay that generosity forward.