FOUR-midable Forge Female Fitness in running for host of awards

Forge Female Fitness has been shortlisted for Health & Wellbeing StartUp of the Year (Northern Ireland) at the UK StartUp Awards 2025.

In addition, Forge is a finalist for Best New Business/StartUp at the Belfast Telegraph Business Awards AND the Meetinghouse Street gym is also once again in the running for Gym of the Year at the Local Women Sport Awards 2025, a title the studio picked up last year.

Completing the quartet of nominations, Forge’s Head Coach Joanne Hall has been nominated for Coach of the Year at the Local Women Sport Awards.

Grace Smith, the driving force behind local businesses Forge Female Fitness and Workforce Wellness, said that the latest nominations mark the 12th national award coming the way of her two business – either winning the titles outright or being shirtlisted as a finalist.

Grace said it was a “huge milestone that reflects the momentum, mission, and impact of both brands.”

Workforce Wellness, has also secured national recognition, being shortlisted for Best Corporate Healthcare Programme at the Private Healthcare Excellence Awards 2025 for its groundbreaking work with construction leader GRAHAM.

Through a strategic, embedded approach, Workforce Wellness delivered coaching and cultural change that impacted hundreds of employees across multiple locations, using a new platform and coaching programme.

Grace said: “We’re incredibly proud to be recognised across both the fitness and workplace sectors. These nominations are a reflection of the real-world change we’re driving every day – from helping women feel stronger in their bodies to reshaping how organisations think about health.”