Owner Nikko Shillabeer opened Rush242 around 4 years ago with the goal of creating the kind of gym environment he felt was missing for many people—somewhere welcoming, coaching-led, and focused on helping everyday adults build confidence, strength, and consistency without feeling intimidated.
Since then, Rush242 has grown into a strong community in Manchester built around great coaching, accountability, and member experience. Nikko recently led the gym through one of its biggest transitions yet: moving into a brand-new studio space while navigating the challenges that come with growing a business and keeping a community together through change.
What stands out most about Rush242 is its focus on people. Nikko believes most people don’t need extremes or quick fixes—they need structure, patience, consistency, and a place where they feel supported.
Outside of coaching, Nikko competed in karate at the Pan American level and represented The Bahamas nationally in soccer before moving to the UK at 18. That background has shaped much of the discipline and resilience he now brings to coaching and gym ownership.
We sat down with Nikko to ask a few questions about Rush242 Fitness, building community, the realities of gym ownership, and what he’s learned over the last 4 years.
How long have you been a gym owner?
I’ve been a gym owner for around 4 years now. What started as a passion project alongside coaching has grown into Rush242 Fitness, a coaching-led small group training space in Manchester focused on helping beginners and returning adults build confidence, strength and consistency.
Why did you decide to open a gym?
I wanted to create the kind of place I felt was missing for a lot of people. Most gyms either felt intimidating, impersonal, or purely performance-focused. I realized there were loads of people who wanted guidance, structure, and accountability, but also wanted to feel like they belonged somewhere.
Rush242 Fitness was built around coaching first. Not just workouts, but genuinely helping people improve their lives through movement, confidence, and community.
What was your job prior to being a gym owner?
I worked in hospitality before becoming a full-time coach and gym owner. A lot of that experience actually helped massively with running a gym because you learn quickly about people, communication, service and creating an environment people want to come back to.
How has your life changed since you became a gym owner?
It’s changed completely. The obvious side is the long hours, responsibility and pressure that comes with running a business. But the rewarding side is seeing something you built genuinely impact people’s lives.
There’s definitely less separation between work and life now because you care deeply about the people, the team and the community you’re building. But I’ve also grown massively as a person through the challenges of business ownership.
What do you love about being a gym owner?
Watching people change beyond just fitness. Someone walking through the door with zero confidence, intimidated by gyms, struggling mentally or physically, then months later they’re stronger, happier, more confident and part of the community. That never gets old.
I also love the culture we’ve created at Rush242 Fitness. It genuinely feels like a place people want to be.
What’s your biggest pet peeve as a gym owner?
The fitness industry selling extremes and quick fixes.
A lot of people come to us after feeling like they’ve failed because they’ve been sold unrealistic expectations. Most people don’t need punishment; they need coaching, structure, patience, and consistency.
What’s your most memorable moment as a gym owner/coach?
Honestly, moving into our new studio recently stands out massively.
It was one of the hardest periods we’ve had as a business. Financial pressure, planning challenges, losing members during the move, uncertainty… all while trying to keep the community together.
Then seeing the members walk into the new space for the first time and immediately feel proud of what we’d built together was a huge moment. It reminded me why we do this.
What’s something people would be surprised to know about you?
Probably that I’m naturally quite introverted outside of coaching. Most people assume gym owners are always switched on socially, but coaching is something I step into because I care deeply about helping people.
I actually came from a very sporty background growing up in The Bahamas before moving to the UK at 18. I competed in karate at the Pan American level and played soccer at the national level, representing The Bahamas. Sport has always been a huge part of my life and shaped a lot of the discipline, resilience, and mindset I now bring into coaching and running a business.
What’s your favorite part of being a Kilo gym?
The simplicity and the focus on member experience.
Kilo has helped us create a smoother experience for members while also helping us operate more professionally behind the scenes. As a small business owner, having systems that actually support growth instead of creating more admin makes a huge difference.
What advice would you give someone opening a gym for the first time? Or somebody going through a slump?
Don’t build a gym around what impresses other gym owners. Build it around what actually helps people.
A lot of gyms focus too much on equipment, aesthetics or trying to look elite online. None of that matters if people don’t feel coached, supported and valued.
And if you’re going through a slump, understand that every gym owner goes through it. The hard periods are part of it. Focus on the basics again: coaching quality, member experience, communication and consistency. Small improvements repeated daily are what pull you out of difficult seasons.
