Strengthening Partnerships: Supporting the Ministry of Defence (MOD)

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Supplying commercial gym equipment is at the core of what we do at Origin Fitness, and it has become synonymous with our brand. To provide a deeper insight into who we are and our work, we want to highlight our background and involvement with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) in the UK.

As one of the leading fitness equipment suppliers in the UK, Origin Fitness collaborates with a diverse range of public sector, educational, and commercial communities to deliver projects that maximise positive social, economic, and environmental impacts.

One of our largest sectors is the MOD, where, through the relationships we have built, we've become one of the specialist fitness equipment suppliers for this group since 2017. Today, we wanted to discuss how we support this group, what allows us to support them, and our work so far.

Our Projects

Since the initial contract award in 2017, we have worked with the MOD as a preferred supplier of fitness equipment as part of their Team Leidos fitness equipment framework. This contract was recently retained for a further four years in 2022. 

We supply various types of fitness equipment, including strength equipment, free weights, gym flooring, and cardio equipment, to military sites across the UK. This involves full site fit-outs and renovation works. We've been involved with numerous projects, including The Royal Lancers, Kings Troops, and 29 Commando Regiment.

Our Support

Supporting the MOD has required a comprehensive approach to servicing and providing technical support for the fitness equipment we supplied. Each site has a dedicated four-year service plan encompassing annual maintenance, prompt issue resolution, and a range of technical support covering the following:

Visit Scheduling
Reporting
Inventory Management
Fault Logging & Reporting
Timely Issue Resolution

We schedule visits annually at sites to minimise disruptions and always provide advance notice for coordination. We guarantee a 48-hour response time from receiving a fault notice. After each visit, we produce a detailed report on equipment status and necessary actions so fixes can occur quickly, keeping units functioning.

Detailed reporting allows our team to tag assets and add all inventory to a list for easier tracking of repairs and replacements. Our dedicated helpline also allows sites to report issues directly, and we provide a digital fault report form for ongoing access. Our system logs these reports to ensure transparency in fault resolution.

Our Support (Continued)

We provide technical support services and assistance at all our MOD sites. Throughout this process, our sales team is on hand to help with inquiries and select the right equipment. We make this process as smooth as we can so units can focus on staying fighting fit without having to worry about equipment. Support covers the following areas:

Pre and Post Sale Service
KPI Dashboard
Service Visits
Risk Assessments

To streamline fault reporting, we utilise systems that allow our engineers to generate detailed reports for our service team, enabling efficient communication and prompt resolution of equipment issues. We offer training during delivery and installation to ensure safe equipment use and preventative maintenance measures to minimise downtime.

Data-driven decision-making is also key, so we use dashboards to track KPIs, including delivery times, maintenance attendance, response rates, and customer satisfaction. This ensures each site stays up and running without issue. Conducting regular service visits with our skilled technicians ensures sites run safely.

We also perform risk assessments at various project stages to mitigate potential failures. Our focus on proactive maintenance and technical assistance promotes efficient equipment operation and supports unit well-being while adhering to our ISO 45001 health and safety management accreditation.

Gym Design Ability

With over 15 years of experience as a commercial gym equipment supplier, we offer comprehensive gym design services for MOD sites. Our team specialises in creating functional and visually appealing fitness spaces using advanced EC Design CAD software.

This allows us to produce detailed military gym layouts, 3D visualisations, and site walkthroughs. Each unit requires a tailored approach to its training and equipment needs, so we use a collaborative approach to discuss design proposals and make appropriate adjustments.

Our Dedicated Team

Each site is assigned a dedicated account manager to streamline communication and enhance the overall customer experience. Our team has 60 years of experience across many sectors, including public agencies, healthcare providers, and commercial fitness facilities.

Our service desk can also assist with queries, technical issues, and requests. We also have a digital reporting system that enables each site to submit product faults at any time. Our skilled teams are always available for site staff, acting as a central point for prompt responses and effective problem-solving.

JOSCAR Accreditation

Origin is fully registered on the JOSCAR accreditation register, which means we are an accredited supplier for the defence, aerospace, and security industries. Many organisations, including BAE Systems, Rolls Royce, and Babcock, support this accreditation.

We were assessed across several areas, including company capability, corporate social responsibility, financial history, ethical operations, and information security. Being approved means we were assessed in each of these areas and found to meet the quality standards required to be on this framework.

For buyers, this simplifies compliance by reducing the need for multiple checks on potential suppliers. It ensures that suppliers in this framework demonstrate a commitment to quality, security, and ethical practices while also saving time and costs compared to traditional qualification processes.

Our Work

We've touched on our support and accreditations, but we also wanted to look at a few projects we've worked on recently. Our team's experience allows them to expertly bring ideas from concept to conception, and these recent sites highlight some of our best work to date.

In these projects, we have to ensure that the facility we create provides a challenging, result-focused training centre that keeps units fit and healthy, both physically and mentally. When it comes to choosing equipment, the right mixture of strength, cardio, and overall fitness performance must be considered for soldiers going into active service.

29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery

The 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery is a unique unit within the British Army. It is the only Commando-trained artillery regiment specialising in providing fire support to 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines, meaning equipment was needed to cover their needs.

Known for their adaptability and ability to operate in challenging environments, they are experts in amphibious operations and mountain, desert, jungle, and arctic warfare. Their primary weapon is the 105mm Light Gun, which is highly mobile and can be transported by land, sea, or air.

This required a range of specialist fitness equipment, including custom rigs, cardio equipment, and gym flooring, enabling the troops to train properly and easily carry out their role. These soldiers must be strong and have the fitness levels to operate in various challenging environments.

The Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery

This is a unique and iconic unit within the British Army. It is the only mounted ceremonial battery in the world, known for its spectacular displays of horsemanship and precision artillery. The main role of this troop is firing Royal Salutes on state occasions, such as the King's Birthday Parade, Royal weddings, and state funerals.

All soldiers are trained to care for and drive teams of six horses, pulling First World War-era 13-pounder guns. While primarily a ceremonial unit, The Kings Troop maintains operational readiness and can be deployed on military operations if required.

A wide range of equipment, including cardio equipment, custom rigs, and gym flooring, was installed at this site to help prepare this unit for its daily duties. Specialist training equipment, like the Torque M1, was added, allowing this unit's soldiers to build functional strength.

Fort George Barracks

Fort George is a historic military base in Scotland primarily used by the British Army. It houses various units, including regular Army units (often infantry or support units) and the Army Reserve Units. While specific units may change over time, Fort George remains an important military installation and a popular tourist destination.

The site is still a working military base, so loud noises, bangs, and low-flying helicopters are regular occurrences. We helped install a wide range of equipment, including Performance Series Rigs with custom Oak Lifting Platform Inserts and High-Impact Gym Flooring.