Step into the cool, professional surroundings of Studio PT and it is difficult not to be impressed by the array of new, specialist equipment in a purpose-built gym.

In fact it would be difficult to find more state-of-the-art equipment at a club charging thousands of pounds a year for membership.

But the people running what they describe as Oxford’s largest private gym are no Duncan Bannatynes but hard-working enthusiasts who have ploughed time, energy and every available penny into making their dream a reality.

James Shields, a former soldier who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, has teamed-up with rugby player and personal trainer Sam Bennett to deliver a personal service to clients who range from keep-fit enthusiasts to serious athletes.

And they have transformed a former storage unit owned by business psychology consultancy OPP in Elsfield Road, North Oxford, into 1,200 sq ft of space dedicated to their chosen profession.

Mr Shields said: “We offer purely one-to-one training here. There is no membership but it offers exclusivity for clients and it is by appointment only.”

Work on the gym started last September and it was open for business by November thanks to the efforts of Mr Bennett’s builder father John with the help of the two business owners as unpaid labour.

As a result, most of the £35,000 start-up costs have been on equipment and specislist flooring. Mr Shields paid for that partly through a grant of £7,500 from the Royal British Legion thanks to his military connection, while his grandmother, Joan Missenden, also contributed a further £7,500 loan.

Both Mr Shields, 28, and 23-year-old Mr Bennett are fully-qualified personal trainers and gained several years experience working at the Esporta gym in North Oxford before branching out on their own, so they are already well-known to local clientelle.

And it has helped Mr Bennett overcome a knee injury which curtailed his rugby career which was blossoming when he became England Colleges captain.

Now he is playing again with Henley Hawks and is looking to continue to develop in the game, while also running Studio PT.

He said: “The main focus for me will be getting involved with local sports teams and helping deliver the correct training because I suffered my injuryfrom trying to do too much in the gym It is more important that safety comes first — and I can help people not to do what I did.”

The gym is now building up clients through word of mouth. Sessions cost £35-£45 an hour and the space is also being let to other trainers for £10 an hour a cheaper rate than they would find in a commercial gym. Up to four trainers can work at Studio PT at any one time and, given the quality of the facilities, it is likely to become very popular.

Mr Shields added: “Most trainers we know do house calls with their own equipment but that is limited. We can offer a different experience.”

Contact: Studio PT, 01865 513740 Web: www.studiopt.co.uk