ABOUT BLACK RACCOON

Operators who understand fitness

Black Raccoon is a franchise growth partner working alongside founders and leadership teams in fitness and leisure.

OPERATIONAL INTEGRATION

Why we exist

We connect recruitment strategy, candidate progression and pipeline management with practical support for franchisee launch, local growth and network performance, so the whole franchise journey works together.

Collaborative professional team discussing fitness franchise strategy in an open-plan gym operations office

OPERATIONAL LEADERSHIP

Meet the team

Partner & Chief Operations Director

Russell Valler

Russell Valler brings over 15 years of fitness industry experience to Black Raccoon, combining gym ownership with practical expertise in sales, operations, membership retention and business growth.

Originally a television producer and director, Russell retrained as a personal trainer before opening his first gym in 2012. He went on to own and operate seven gyms over a decade, gaining firsthand experience of building teams, launching clubs and managing the everyday challenges of running a fitness business.

As founder of 360 Degree Health Club Solutions, Russell supported more than 100 clubs, overseeing over 50 pre-sale campaigns and helping operators improve performance as their businesses matured. He also founded TIMA, a specialist fitness contact centre supporting more than 50 clubs with membership sales and retention calls.

At Black Raccoon, Russell helps business owners turn their ambitions into practical action. His focus spans operational systems, sales processes, team development and customer experience, bringing the perspective of someone who has both advised businesses and run his own. His wider experience in food and beverage, co-working and property management adds a broader commercial understanding to his work with fitness, leisure and franchise businesses.

Founder, Black Raccoon Consulting

Ryan Charlesworth

Ryan Charlesworth brings over 25 years of experience in fitness and leisure, combining club ownership with expertise in sales, marketing, operations and business growth.

Starting his career as a gym instructor, Ryan went on to work with Holmes Place, Fitness First and Marriott. He spent 11 years as Director of Golf, Leisure and Spa at Marriott Hotels, working on international projects and winning numerous awards. In 2014, he opened his own club, The Body Centre, gaining firsthand experience of the challenges and responsibilities of business ownership.

Ryan founded Black Raccoon Consulting in 2017 to help fitness and leisure businesses improve performance and build stronger commercial foundations. His experience includes delivering more than 30 pre-sale campaigns across hotel, franchise and independent facilities, alongside supporting operators within networks including Anytime Fitness, Snap Fitness, Jetts and Fitness Space.

At Black Raccoon, Ryan works directly with owners and leadership teams on business strategy, sales, marketing, member retention and operational improvement. From launching new clubs to turning around struggling businesses, his approach combines clear priorities with practical support, helping clients strengthen their teams, improve their systems and turn growth plans into measurable results.

Boutique fitness studio management team collaborating in an open gym office environment

OUR ROOTS

Our roots in leisure

Leisure is where we started and where we focus. As Leisure and Franchise Growth Partners, we bring an operator's view of gyms, studios and leisure businesses to every engagement.