Personal trainer wins £149,000 after boss missed meeting

Wednesday, May 27, 2026

Bethan Littlewood, a former British watersports athlete, was awarded £149,017 after an employment tribunal ruled that her former employer, Nuffield Health, unfairly dismissed her and treated her detrimentally following a series of workplace disputes. The tribunal criticized the employer for unjustly denying her leave for important events and mishandling a required meeting, which ultimately led to her resignation and highlights potential issues in employee treatment and grievance handling.

A former British watersports athlete has been awarded £149,017 in compensation following a tribunal ruling against her former employer, Nuffield Health. Bethan Littlewood, 29, who previously won gold in canoe polo for Great Britain at the 2019 European Championships, brought claims of unfair dismissal, unauthorized wage deductions, unpaid holiday entitlement, and detriment related to protected disclosures.

The employment tribunal, held in Cardiff, found in favor of Ms. Littlewood after hearing evidence that her manager failed to attend a scheduled meeting for which she had driven overnight from Germany. Ms. Littlewood had competed in the canoe polo European Championships in Brandenburg an der Havel and was on sick leave when she requested annual leave for September 5 and 12, 2023. Her request was denied on the grounds of her sick leave status.

Shortly after, her manager, James Cheadle, informed her that she was required to attend a meeting on September 12. Despite being on a final written warning, Ms. Littlewood drove back overnight to ensure her attendance. Upon arrival at the Nuffield Health club in Bridgend, Wales, she was told by reception that Mr. Cheadle was not present, as he was attending training in Newbury at the same time.

Employment Judge Samantha Moore described the employer’s actions as "contemptuous and wholly unreasonable," highlighting that refusing leave requested months in advance, while knowing the significance of the competition to Ms. Littlewood, then requiring her attendance at a meeting only to not attend themselves, was unjustified.

Ms. Littlewood’s employment with Nuffield Health began in 2016, following the transfer of her role from Virgin Active where she had worked since 2015. The missed meeting marked the culmination of nearly a year of disputes between her and the employer. The incident was cited by Ms. Littlewood as the final factor leading to her resignation.

In a statement, a Nuffield Health spokesperson expressed disappointment at the tribunal’s outcome, affirming the company’s commitment to a fair and supportive workplace. The spokesperson noted that, as the matter is subject to appeal and ongoing legal processes, they would not provide further comment.