‘It doesn’t make sense – they are supposed to be helping small businesses’

Tucked away off the cobbled court yard at Ashton Court, Rayan Wilson’s unique business attracts elite athletes from around the world while helping empower local communities.

But the entrepreneur who battled against the odds to transform a derelict former café into a top class training facility – pouring his life savings in to the enterprise – stands to lose it all after Bristol City Council told him it would not renew his lease.

Rayan says he was led to believe that he could secure a longer-term tenancy and invested more than £50,000 in getting the Back2Action premises up to a high standard, only to be given just four months to leave.

Amid crippling budget cuts, Bristol City Council is trying to maximise the financial potential of its parks and green spaces and wants to use the space to generate more income.

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A council spokesperson claims the business owner was contacted in February and argues that renovations were actually paid for through “stepped rent”, not at the tenant’s cost.

Rayan says the way he has been treated by the council is “a kick in the teeth” after he invested so much in developing the unique, custom-fitted building from which he, and his team of seven, work with top sports professionals, run youth empowerment programmes and more.

“I understand business, but if they had told me this at the time, we would not be in this position,” he explains, sitting down with a coffee in the expansive café area next to Back2Action.

“If it was just me, I would just go, but I have employees and it’s them I’m fighting for.”

Rayan played football professionally for Birmingham City FC, before his sickle cell disease (a rare blood disorder) put an end to his career.

The entrepreneur, who grew up in Easton, picked himself up and went to UWE Bristol to study sports therapy, completing a masters at Middlesex University, before launching Back2Action in 2011.

The council is seeking to maximise revenues from parks amid crippling budget cuts

“I was working in St George out of a small unit, just making ends meet really. This was my big break,” says Rayan, gesturing towards the compact professional training space.

“I have put my whole life into this, I invested more than £50,000 of my own money under the guidance and reassurance [from council officers] I would be here for a long time.

“It had been a café in the past, but was derelict for two years so we had to fight through the cobwebs when I first arrived.”

Rayan has transformed the building, installed new shower facilities and had the gym rig custom built to fit inside. He has clients from Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Real Madrid and more who come to train, and they in turn get involved in mentoring and helping children on the Back2Action programmes.

He was named as one of the top 100 most inspiring, successful and influential black and minority people (BME) on the Bristol BME Powerlist 2018 for his inspirational journey and work in the community.

The custom-built rig cannot easily be moved to new premises (L-R) Chris Douglas, business manager at Back2Action, Zainab Khan and Rayan Wilson

After pushing to renew his lease for months, the entrepreneur says the first he knew something wasn’t right was when someone came to measure the windows of his building. He says he was given notice in mid-August and the council intend to start work on a new venture in December or January.

Rayan says he is prepared to pay more rent but has had no option to negotiate.

“If they give me time, it gives me chance to have a proper look and keep putting money aside so I can have a smooth transition, but instead they are kicking me in the teeth. It does not make any sense – they are supposed to be trying to help small businesses.”

The council have offered him two alternative locations, but he says each is completely unsuitable.

“Contractually I know they are right, but morally they led me on to believing something that was not true,” he adds.

Zainab Khan, founder of UWE’s Equity programme, met Rayan through the mentoring work he does with students on the programme.

She says Back2Action is like a big family and does a huge amount for the wider community. She is one of many backing Rayan’s plight and calling on the council to reconsider.

A Bristol City Council spokesperson said: “In February 2018 we contacted the owners of the Back2Action to inform them that the council may not renew their lease, as other options for the site were being explored.

“We then contacted the business owners in July 2018 to confirm that the council would not be renewing the lease. The lease is not being renewed because we are planning to use the space ourselves to generate more income that supports the estate. This is part of the ongoing strategy by Bristol City Council to identify and develop new commercial income generating opportunities.

“Essential works took place to convert the building from a café to a gym. These works were paid for by the council, through “stepped rent”, and not at the cost of the tenant. Council officers have been in contact with the Back 2 Action Gym business owners to help the commercial tenants find new premises and have let them know about other premises within parks that are available.”

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