From her family garage to an impressive and well-equipped 1,000 sq ft gym – and in just over five years.

No wonder Emma Haymes feels more than a little pride at how her business, specialising in small group personal training, has grown.

And you can see it for yourself at an open day today, Saturday, from 12 noon to 2pm.

The 28-year-old graduated from the University of Brighton with a BA (Hons) in Media Studies in 2016.

But she soon decided a career in the media was not for her.

Instead, the keen gym-goer was drawn to fitness and exercise.

Emma, pictured left, said: “I jokingly said to my Dad if it would be OK to use the garage and convert it into a little studio?

“I could then try and do 1-1 personal training.

“My Dad thought it would be something that would last three months – and so did I.

“But actually I was just testing the water.

“We got the garage painted up in white, got some mirrors in and also equipment including a treadmill.

“I qualified and people would come for 1-1 training.”

Trading under the name Emma Haymes Personal Training, Emma moved to a unit at The Oaks Garden Centre, Merley, at the end of 2019.

During lockdown she transferred to training outside and online but also decided to move away from 1-1 training to small groups.

After searching for a suitable property in Wimborne for over a year, Emma relocated her business, now named Square One, to Unit 8, Riverside Park in Station Road in December.

She said: “We got the keys in October and had a lot of work to do but I’m very pleased with the way things have turned out.

“Wimborne lacks in the fitness space so we’re really proud of what we’ve created.”

Emma now has more than 60 regular clients, both men and women, who attend on average two or three times a week for coach-led sessions, typically operating in groups of six.

Together with her “absolutely brilliant” coach Kate Usher, pictured left, she offers more than 30 hours of sessions a week, bookable by app, with clients paying anything from £110 to £250 a month.

“It’s as close as you can get to personal training but without the hourly charges that you would pay for 1-1,” Emma said.

The open day includes chances to win a month’s worth of training as well as six month’s membership.

Emma, whose boyfriend, James Smith, is a coach and nutritionist, said the food on offer would include woodfired pizza and cupcakes.

She said: “I was thinking that this isn’t very healthy but we are that kind of gym.

“We don’t believe in quick fixes.

“We are trying to do things in a sustainable way so that people can stick to exercise in the long-term.

“I really hope people can pop down and celebrate with us.”

• square1pt.com