Be the Boss' is a joint venture between the Royal British Legion and the Department for Business Innovation and Skills and O'Connell is one of many ex servicemen to receive a grant after successfully pitching his business idea to a panel of Legion members and experienced business professionals.

Part of the grant funding was needed for the cardio equipment in the gym and he has chosen to start with two pieces of SCIFIT kit - the AC5000 Treadmill and SXT7000 Elliptical. Recommended to try SCIFIT by another former Royal Marine, O'Connell has been delighted with the equipment.

"The treadmill is used the most and everyone who uses it comments on what a great piece of equipment it is," he said. "It's really simple to use and the intuitive console enables the operator to easily select their programme choice.

"The fact that you can exercise on a decline is a fantastic feature as it ensures I can offer fitness for all – even those who are very de-conditioned or recovering from injury." Following a significant number of new clients in the wake of a feature in a national daily newspaper, the club is now looking to expand to include more SCIFIT kit.