Dorset-headquartered The Training Room (TTR) is charged for growth after linking up with LDC.

The business, which provides vocational training and accreditation for gym instructors and personal trainers, runs 16 training academies around the UK.

The funding round, worth £20 million, comes on the back of solid growth which has positioned the business at a turnover of £9 million and EBITDA of £3 million.

LDC has now made 15 new investments in 2013, worth in excess of £250 million, and committed an additional £28 million to finance portfolio company acquisitions.

LDC investment director Alastair Weinel says that the private equity firm decided to back TTR due to the company’s ‘high-quality and entrepreneurial’ CEO Jonathan Davies.

Prior to setting up TTR after establishing his own gym in Bournemouth, Davies served as project manager at Lockheed Martin and EasyJet before progressing to the role of operations business manager. 

‘The company provides a high-end service to some of the UK’s leading gym providers, and has a network of strategically located course centres right across the UK,’ Weinel adds.

‘Going forward, we will work closely with the team to help them execute the next phase of the business’ growth and development.’

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Davies and TTR will be investing in new training areas and disciplines as well as going after international market growth.

Davies says, ‘LDC’s investment and support brings additional strategic input and financial backing to our business.

‘Our services continue to be well received by the fitness market and we are keen to capitalise on the numbers opportunities that exist for profitable growth with LDC’s support.’

The addition of TTR to LDC’s portfolio is the first of its kind for the firm, with other travel and leisure transactions involving restaurant groups and holiday sites.