A final year student from Lancaster University Management School will be balancing her studies with business, after launching her own health and fitness venture.

Business Management (Industry) student, Chloe Pritchard, celebrated the launch of her new business, Magnatise last week, which aims to support people to exercise to feel good, physically and mentally, rather than focusing on aesthetic goals.

21-year-old Chloe, from Bury, explains: “Magnatise aims to remove the stigma that comes with health and fitness where people feel they must dedicate their lives to the gym and to dieting. We are trying to remove this pressure and focus on movement purely for your physical and mental health - whilst having fun during our online workouts and being part of a supportive community.

“I have always wanted to start my own business which has been the goal since I was a teenager. Before this past year, I didn’t have enough work experience to know where to start, but after completing my placement year during the pandemic, I gained a strong insight into how a small business operates, and how to be flexible and responsive in a changing external environment. This just sparked something in me, and gave me the drive to start something myself.”

After completing her 12-month placement at Wigan-based business, In Professional Development, Chloe says she began to shape her own business based around her personal experiences, and that of those close to her:

“The whole health and fitness industry - especially the gym scene - can feel extremely intimidating. There is significant pressure, particularly when it comes to the time dedicated to training and dieting. We all have busy lives, with studying, work, and/or children in some cases; so, setting the time aside to focus on exercise can be challenging - especially when you are led to believe that spending hours in a gym is what we’re supposed to do.”

Magnatise provides members with online workouts to de-stress after a long day, or to kick a day off with a clear head and strong mindset. Members are encouraged to ask friends or family to join in, to make workouts as accessible as possible.

“Health should enhance our enjoyment of life, not add pressure and restriction - it’s all about balance,” Chloe continues. “I am looking forward to starting my final year next month, and know that starting a business whilst heading into my final year will pose some challenges, but I also see great benefits. I know that some of my skills and knowledge still need sharpening, but my modules this coming year include Social Media Marketing, Business Start Up, Digital Marketing, Business Forecasting will certainly help- and I feel working and studying at the same time will only reinforce each other.

“I will be able to apply what I am learning directly to my business, and will always be thinking of this as a real-world example during my classes. I am very excited to continue my learning journey and do not feel it will stop after my final year - whether I do a Masters or another form of professional development practice.”

You can find out more about Chloe and Magnatise at www.magnatise.co.uk

To find out more about studying Business and Management at Lancaster visit: Business Management | Lancaster University

Lancaster University students and recent alumni have access to free start-up support via Work in Progress, including professional advice, mentoring and funding, as well as entrepreneurial learning opportunities and resources. International students can also apply for Start-up Visa endorsement when they graduate. For more information about the Start-up Validation Programme, please visit https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-in-progress/start-up-validation-programme/