Greg Bradley, founder of Northern Ireland-based gym equipment manufacturer Blk Box, has built a business now valued at over £26 million, supplying fitness facilities across the UK and beyond. Established in 2012, the company has grown from a garage start-up into a major player in the industry, employing 170 people and serving clients from local sports clubs to Premier League football teams.

Bradley’s journey began shortly after graduating from Ulster University, when a chance contact from Eoin Lacey, strength and conditioning coach for UFC fighter Conor McGregor, sparked an opportunity despite Bradley having no inventory at the time. He promised delivery while scrambling to find a fabricator for specialist equipment, marking his first major break and the start of Blk Box.

Originally operating from his parents’ garage in Newtownabbey, the company initially imported gym accessories from China. In 2014, Blk Box relocated to Belfast and began developing its own manufacturing capabilities, producing heavy steel products such as squat racks locally. Today, approximately 30% of its revenue derives from domestically manufactured items.

Blk Box’s notable growth was fueled by partnerships with sports organizations and fitness chains. It has equipped gyms for 90% of Premier League clubs, including Liverpool and Arsenal, and has installed facilities at prestigious institutions like Eton College and Loughborough University. The business expanded significantly after securing a contract with Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club in 2014, signaling its entry into the UK market outside Ireland.

A pivotal moment came in 2017 when Blk Box struck a deal with PureGym, a major budget gym chain. Starting with outfitting a single functional fitness area, the company quickly scaled up, fitting nearly 700 gyms for PureGym and supporting its expansion into the United States. Blk Box agreed to exclusivity with PureGym in the budget sector while continuing to supply higher-end clubs such as David Lloyd and Nuffield.

The company’s 140,000-square-foot facility in Monkstown, County Antrim, opened in 2021, and private equity investment followed in 2023 from Cordovan Capital Management. Economic challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic affected operations; surging shipping costs forced Blk Box to reduce its workforce by 20 after initially expanding during heightened home gym demand.

Bradley credits much of his success to practical experience gained through early entrepreneurial ventures, including selling clothing online, and to a keen understanding of client needs shaped by hands-on engagement with trainers and gym members. Despite strong growth, he acknowledges challenges, such as the durability of gym equipment limiting repeat business.

With a growing international presence and diverse customer base spanning grassroots sports to global chains, Blk Box continues to innovate while navigating the evolving fitness market. Bradley attributes his drive to personal motivations, including his family, and emphasizes the importance of leadership and decisiveness in business.