Five to watch: Jamie Ward and Neil Harmsworth, PayasUGym

Jamie Ward and Neil Harmsworth, 34 and 33
Company: PayasUGym
Web: www.payasugym.com

PayasUGym’s market is potentially enormous – in 12 months its website ran more than 14 million searches for visitors looking for gyms and health clubs. The site – which sells discounted pay-as-you-go daily passes for gyms – now works with more than 1500 gyms and health clubs across the UK, which represents almost 20% of the total market. This number is growing by roughly 100 gyms a month as more establishments catch on to the concept of attracting users who want the flexibility of pay-as-you-go or are trying a gym for the first time; and with no direct competitor the company has a fantastic opportunity to take over the rest of the market. Started in 2011 and already employing 18, the business was named a Startups 100 company in 2012. It received backing of £2m funding from angel investors and Jamie Ward and Neil Harmsworth are currently in talks with a major leisure brand. With 100,000 registered users already, we’re keeping their business firmly in mind for next year.