LINCOLNSHIRE VOICES – BAILEY GREETHAM-CLARK

Bailey never got on well in school and found himself often in trouble as he never enjoyed it.  “I ended up taking a year out,” remembers Bailey. “In that year I developed social anxiety and struggled a lot to the point where I never left the house. It was awful and I knew that I couldn’t go on like that. Something snapped and I just decided to go out for a run one day in a pair of jeans and plimsolls”.  

This was a turning point for Bailey. He started to slowly increase his runs and joined a gym, began to see weight loss, and started eating well. “I got to a point where I felt more confident with myself and then discovered boxing alongside getting myself back into school”, he said. “Competing in amateur boxing while studying for my GCSE’s kept me focused and on track." 

Smashing his predictions, he achieved impressive grades winning an educational award along the way and making the front page of The Times - but was then unclear on what to do next.  Well-meaning friends and family advised of a vocation but after a short time on an apprenticeship with Anglian Water at the Grimsby Institute, Bailey quit.   

It was during lockdown that Bailey realised that it wasn’t for him, and drawing on his own recent experiences, spent his only savings on becoming a Personal Trainer, knowing he wanted to help others with physical and mental wellbeing. While doing this, he also began working in marketing and sales for a fashion store, and this is where he learned first-hand his essential business skills, giving him the confidence to step out on his own.  

Now the CEO of a multi award winning health and wellbeing company, Be Great Fitness, he is dedicated to disrupting the fitness industry and ensuring everyone has access to some form of exercise, and the future looks bright. Bailey said: “The last 18 months have been crazy. We were successful in attracting funding from Sport England, Children in Need and Active Humber, ran multiple projects, and expanded across North East Lincolnshire.” 

Bailey and his team also scooped several awards along the way including the Healthy Living Award, and Young Business-Person of the Year. With plans now to scale up nationally, Bailey’s advice to anyone wanting to branch out on their own is: “Find your passion - and keep on moving. That's it!” 

Bailey and his team also work at a grass roots level throughout schools. “The children inspire me daily,” says Bailey. "The pure amount of potential if guided correctly gives me the utmost hope for our next generation.” 

Bailey also reached out and joined the Greater Lincolnshire LEP Give an Hour programme. This scheme has a big impact and makes a difference to the future career choices of young people making post-school choices. It might feel like an hour is too short, but we know from experience that an hour can create new perspectives and inspire new ideas. You could speak to a school class about your sector, play a role in a business competition, carry out a mock interview or support a CV workshop.   

He has since become our youngest ever Enterprise Adviser! An Enterprise Adviser works with a school or college month by month and is matched and introduced to that school or college by one of our Enterprise Coordinators and supported at every stage of the process. Bailey is now working closely with the senior leadership team at Ormiston Maritime Academy in Grimsby supporting the development of a whole school strategy for careers, enterprise, and employer engagement - helping to focus on programmes and activities that are most effective in motivating and supporting independent choice and outcomes for young people.   

Bailey has made a fantastic start with his inspiring story. To help inspire other young people like Bailey, click here to find out more about becoming an Enterprise Adviser or to Give an Hour.  

Bailey Greetham-Clark 

CEO, Be Great Fitness