As featured in Goole Times
A teenager who started a fitness business after dropping out of college is in the running for a top award.
Bethany Marson, 17, has been nominated in the New Starter Business of the Year category of the Yorkshire Choice Awards.
The former Howden School student has been recognised for her Newport-based business, B.M Fitness, which she launched just a few months after quitting Selby College.
She said: “This time last year I never thought I’d be doing this. “Just before January I started creating leaflets and planning classes, and doing my first class was a bit scary.
“It was a bit nervy having so many people there in front of me, but I knew they were coming to me for support, so that really helped. It’s now so natural and normal for me to do.
“Everyone my age is at school or college, so I don’t think it’s very cool for me to be doing my own thing, but I just love doing it”.
Bethany was studying media at college before she decided to quit and follow her passion for fitness.
She is now running regular classes at Newport Village Hall – whilst ticking off her final qualifications as a gym instructor at Goole Leisure Centre.
She said: “My course finishes in May and I’m now thinking about what I can do next – I’ve got a few options so it’s exciting.”
Bethany, who lives in Newport with her mum Helen, 50, and brother George, 21, is hoping to collect the top award at a ceremony set to be held in Leeds in March.
She will be competing against more than 60 other nominees for the accolade.
Bethany added: “I actually first found out from an email which was just in my junk folder – I couldn’t believe it when I saw it, I didn’t think it was real at first.
“But I was buzzing – I had to ring everyone to let them know. “It feels really good to be nominated.
If you asked me if this would have happened last year, I would have said no way.
“So just to be nominated is great, but it would be absolutely amazing if I won.”