Quick Answer
David Lloyd personal trainers are employed, not self employed, in 2026. The chain has historically used an employed revenue share model rather than the rent a space, self employed contract that most budget gyms (PureGym, TheGymGroup) run.
Under the David Lloyd model, the trainer is on the company's payroll, takes a base salary or hours mix, and earns a share of the personal training revenue they generate. Industry guides put the revenue share at around 50 percent of the client fee for delivered sessions.
How the David Lloyd PT model works
- Employed staff. Trainers sit in the club payroll with PAYE tax, pension, sick pay, holiday, and standard employment rights.
- Floor hours. They cover gym floor inductions, free programmes for new members, class cover, and assessments.
- PT revenue share. On top of the base, they earn a percentage of the client fee for every personal training session they deliver, commonly around 50 percent.
- Single chain client base. The trainer builds their book within the David Lloyd member base, not as a sole trader bringing in external clients.
What members pay per session
Per session pricing varies by club tier and trainer level. Typical 2026 rates run from around £55 at smaller suburban clubs to £85 plus at Super Tier London sites. Block bookings (5 or 10 sessions) come with modest discounts at most clubs.
| Club tier | Single session | 10 session block |
|---|---|---|
| Super Tier | £80 to £95 | £700 to £850 |
| Tier 1 | £70 to £85 | £620 to £760 |
| Tier 2 to 3 | £60 to £75 | £540 to £680 |
| Tier 4 to 5 | £55 to £65 | £500 to £600 |
How the employed model differs from rent a space
- Self employed (PureGym, TheGymGroup, many independents). Trainer rents floor space, sets their own price, keeps 100 percent of the fee, pays their own tax, insurance, and CPD.
- Employed revenue share (David Lloyd, Virgin Active, Nuffield Health). Trainer is on payroll, gets stable income, but takes home a smaller cut of each session.
Most David Lloyd trainers report that the model trades the upside of self employed earnings for stability, a steady member pipeline, and benefits.
What this means for members
- Your trainer is accountable to the club's standards, not just to themselves.
- Holiday and sick cover is provided by other club trainers, so progress is not paused.
- Inductions and free programme reviews are part of their job, not paid extras.
- Session prices are set by the club. There is little scope to negotiate the rate.
FAQ
Are David Lloyd PTs self employed?
No. They are employed staff on payroll with a personal training revenue share on top.
How much do David Lloyd PTs earn?
Total earnings vary widely. Base plus a 50 percent revenue share on a busy book typically lands trainers in the £25,000 to £45,000 range, with senior trainers higher.
Can I see the same PT at any David Lloyd club?
Usually only at their home club. Cross club PT booking is rare.
Are inductions paid extras?
No. Member inductions and free programme reviews are part of the trainer's contracted hours.
More context
The employed revenue share model is increasingly the norm at premium UK chains. Virgin Active and Nuffield Health run similar structures, and the trade off for trainers is broadly the same. You give up half the session fee in return for inductions paid as part of contracted hours, a steady internal lead source, pension and holiday entitlement, and someone else running the club marketing.
The self employed model at PureGym and TheGymGroup has the opposite shape. Trainers pay rent for the space (or operate on a more generous revenue share where rent is replaced by floor hours), keep 100 percent of session fees, and shoulder their own marketing, CPD, and insurance. Earnings can be higher at the top end, but with much more volatility, especially in the first 12 to 18 months.
From a member's point of view, the practical difference is consistency. A David Lloyd trainer who delivers a poor session can be addressed through the club's quality framework. A self employed trainer at a budget chain is more loosely accountable, which is fine when the trainer is great and frustrating when they are not.
One last useful angle: if you are considering personal training, ask about the trainer's specialism on the first session, not the price. A David Lloyd club typically employs 8 to 15 PTs, and their specialisms range from postnatal recovery and rehab through to strength, endurance, and Pilates based work. The 50 percent revenue share applies the same whichever trainer you book, so you may as well pick the one whose specialism actually matches your goal. That choice matters more for your six month outcome than the few pounds of price difference between trainers at the same club.
Related reading
Final word
David Lloyd personal trainers are employed, not self employed. The trade off is a smaller cut per session in exchange for a salary, benefits, and a steady stream of members already inside the club. For members the upshot is consistent standards and reliable cover.
