Robin Cope: bringing military fitness to Civvie Street

While out jogging, ex-army major Robin Cope hit on the idea of taking fitness classes out of the gym and its associations with lycra, and into the open air. Now his company is on course for an annual profit of £1m.

Like any other British Army officer, Robin Cope, 53, could have gone into the City after retiring. But then Cope, the son of a US Air Force general, has never quite fit in with the stereotypical image of a major in the Royal Anglians.

Now openly gay, the founder of £5m-a-year British Military Fitness (BMF) says that, in his army days, "I was so afraid of anyone getting an inkling, that I made sure that I ran further than everyone else and that my platoon was better than everyone else's." Over a decade later, he's brought that same precision and hard work to Civvie Street, where he runs one of the UK's most successful fitness companies.

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Jody Clarke

Jody studied at the University of Limerick and was a senior writer for MoneyWeek. Jody is experienced in interviewing, for example digging into the lives of an ex-M15 agent and quirky business owners who have made millions. Jody’s other areas of expertise include advice on funds, stocks and house prices.