Forge Female Fitness
Forging a Successful Business
In the heart of Ballymoney is Forge Female Fitness, a multi-award winning and highly successful female-only gym that has become a beacon of strength, supportand sisterhood.
Grace Smith founded the business in 2016, after losing an incredible 156lbs in just 12 months. Inspired to help other women transform their lives Grace qualified as a personal trainer and built Forge from the ground up, creating the now-iconic purple branding symbolising the vibrant sisterhood and connection to the female community; and developing the business name from her maiden surname –reflecting a place where women could be strengthened, supported and shaped into their best selves, as a Blacksmith would.”
Forge has grown into Northern Ireland’s No.1, Ladies Only Training Studio, with a dynamic, award-winning coaching team with decades of combined experience.Services include 1:1 Personal Training, Small Group Classes, Pre & Post Natal Support, Menopause Coaching and Online Programmes.
In 2024, Forge Female Fitness was officially named ‘Gym of the Year’ - recognitionfor a space that’s transforming how we approach women’s health in Northern Ireland. It’s also won countless awards, including Entrepreneur of the Year and Health & Wellbeing Business of the Year.
“You don’t need perfect conditions to start, just the courage to begin. When you start showing up and connecting with people, like with Enterprise Causeway’s Coffee & Connect events, doors will open that you didn’t even know existed.”
Forge is preparing to expand into additional locations across Northern Ireland, alongside the growth of its Ballymoney studio. A flagship Menopause Academy and a new women’s wellness event are in development, as well as a dedicated Coaching Academy to train the next generation of expert female health coaches.
“The ultimate goal is to become the leading female wellness brand in the UK and Ireland, rewriting the future of women’s health, one amazing woman at a time.”