Insure4Sport has reported its strongest month on record, with new business up 25% year-on-year in January as the UK fitness market continues to expand.
The sports insurance specialist, which is part of digital MGA Ripe, said new policies were also 37% higher than in January 2020, making January 2026 its best month since the company launched in 2009.
UK fitness market expands
Insure4Sport’s numbers come against a backdrop of robust growth in the wider UK health and fitness market. The UK Health & Fitness Market Report 2025, compiled by ukactive with Sport England, 4GLOBAL and Deloitte, showed total sector income rose 8.8% to £5.7 billion in 2024, with membership up 6.1% to 11.5 million people and market penetration reaching 16.9% of the adult population.
That growth has created a larger pool of fitness professionals and small operators needing specialist cover for liability, professional indemnity, personal accident and equipment – the core protections typically bought by trainers, instructors, studios and clubs. In
Meanwhile, the company's internal data showed the strongest regional uplift in Greater London, which accounted for 17% of January volume, followed by the South East at 14% and the North West at 13%. The company also reported sharp increases in some secondary cities and towns, including Bristol (up 83%) and Twickenham (up 175%), alongside continued demand in major centres such as London and Belfast.
Over a six-year period, growth has been concentrated in disciplines aligned with flexible, community-based and studio-led models. Pilates has seen volume growth of 287%, cheerleading 221%, dance 47%, football 32%, personal training 21% and yoga 15%, according to the firm.
Those patterns echo broader market studies highlighting the expansion of boutique, class-based and specialist concepts, as well as hybrid models that blend in-person and digital coaching. That translates into a more fragmented risk pool made up of sole traders, microbusinesses and small studios, rather than just large chain gyms.
Shift to flexible, independent businesses
Alan Thomas, CEO at Ripe, said structural changes in working patterns and attitudes to wellbeing were reshaping demand for sports and fitness cover.
“Flexible working, a bigger focus on wellbeing and the rise of self-employment are all having a tangible impact on what people are doing with their time, suggesting that the growth seen during the pandemic has translated into a more permanent shift in how and where people engage with fitness," Thomas said.
The expansion of the instructor and trainer workforce is also reflected in labour market data, which showed steady growth in the number of fitness and wellness professionals in the UK as more people move into freelance and portfolio careers.
Compared with traditional gym corporate policies, independent instructors and small studios tend to purchase modular cover that can include public liability, professional indemnity, employers’ liability for subcontractors, personal accident and loss or damage to sports equipment.
Furthermore, the rise of multi-site working means insurers must pay closer attention to territorial limits, online coaching extensions, vicarious liability and contractual requirements imposed by venues and platforms.
Competitive landscape
Insure4Sport’s strong start to 2026 comes as the UK fitness and gym market overall is forecast to continue growing, with analysts expecting further increases in membership and revenue over the rest of the decade.
Niche MGAs and schemes targeting sports and fitness professionals are likely to compete more actively on price, limits and ease of purchase, particularly through digital distribution.
