A new gym in Caerphilly is set to see members of the public training alongside budding elite athletes.

Power Athletics Caerphilly is opening its doors on Pantglas Industrial Estate in Bedwas with help from NatWest.

Owners Ryan Harris and Simon Church, both strength and conditioning coaches with Newport Gwent Dragons, are opening the gym to fill a gap they believe exists in their community.

Ryan, from Risca, said: “If people want to train at a higher level they tend to travel to big cities such as Cardiff. There’s been a gulf between that and our communities. We want to bridge that gap and give talented youngsters in the area the coaching they need.”

The pair have taken on a 7,000 sq ft unit and transformed it with state-of-the-art equipment, a 25m track and artificial turf. The gym is offering open-gym sessions and classes, and Ryan and Simon are hoping to attract members interested in general fitness as well as those training at an elite level for different sports.

“We want to develop a niche gym where people train under the same roof and share ideas, ethics and values,” said Ryan.

He and Simon will lead most of the coaching, while the gym will also be home to two self-employed personal trainers. Ryan and Simon, from Caerphilly, are also establishing an internship scheme which will see them train sports graduates.

“People come out of university very well qualified academically but without having had much professional experience,” said Ryan. “We have three interns who will be working with the professional sports people and others who come into the gym and getting hand-on experience that way.”

They also plan to work with local schools to promote careers in health and fitness.

“Giving youngsters in the area the opportunity to train in their own community in a good facility with great support will be hugely rewarding,” said Ryan.

He and Simon worked with NatWest relationship manager Cherie Brooks to secure borrowing towards the set-up costs of the gym and the purchase of equipment.

“Cherie has been great,” said Ryan. “From the first steps we have had the best advice from her, and her links and contacts in the business community have really helped us.”

Cherie said: “Ryan and Simon are passionate about nurturing sporting talent and NatWest is delighted to be able to help them to do that in their own community. Their gym, with its mixture of open access and elite training, is an interesting model and I look forward to continuing to work with them as they grow the business.”