BUSINESSES made sure they had a “healthy” networking event.

Bosses met a Bolton health club pioneer at a lunch hosted by Thebestof Bolton marketing group.

Sixty members of the network met at Bolton College’s Signature Restaurant and heard a talk by Ken Heathcote, founder of the Bolton Health Studio.

Mr Heathcote, father of top chef Paul Heathcote, was the son of a miner and first worked as a bricklayer in the 1950s.

After national service, he returned to the building trade but set up gyms in his spare time, often in school halls or cellars.

In 1968, he set up Bolton Health Studio with building partner Bill Stevenson in a disused clothing factory. In 1971 they moved into Bolton town centre and the business’s annual turnover grew quickly from £2,000 to more than £600,000 in just a few years.

Mr Heathcote also co-founded the Fitness Industry Association and the National Amateur Bodybuilding Association Training Course.

It was renamed Focus Training and Assessment and attracted thousands of students. Focus Training received numerous awards for its health industry vocational work.

He was a Mr Britain and Mr Universe judge. When he reached his 70s, Mr Heathcote took up mountaineering and wrote the book, The Gym Business.

Now, aged 77, he runs masterclasses in business culture change.

David Ramsden, who runs ThebestofBolton with wife Gaynor, said: “We invited members to get together, network, renew acquaintances and do business. The lunch was a great success with the curry made by college students.

“Ken Heathcote is a pioneer of modern health clubs. In the 1960s, other business thought he was crazy to try combining a traditional gym with squash, aerobics, a restaurant and a social venue. However, this later became the norm. It was a true success story.”

ThebestofBolton is a sponsor in this year’s Bolton & Bury Business Awards, run by The Bolton News and Bury Times.

Last month the group ran the 14 Days of Love campaign, which encourages customers to recommend and vote for favourite businesses, with top-performers going through to a national final. The Bolton group was recently recognised as Best Connectors by the national Bestof franchise.

l To enter this year’s Bolton & Bury Business Awards visit thebolton news.co.uk/business_awards/ If you want to include more information, testimonials or brochures please send them with your entry forms. The closing date is April 26. If you have any queries then please call Lynn Ashwell, deputy editor, The Bolton News, on 01204 537277.