Duncan Bannatyne founded Bannatyne Health Clubs, the fitness business that bears his name.
Bannatyne built his business career across several sectors before concentrating on health clubs and leisure. The chain developed into one of the most recognisable branded gym and spa groups in the United Kingdom, offering memberships and associated wellness facilities.
He became a Dragon on the BBC series and was known for a direct, commercially focused style. His experience in leisure gave him particular familiarity with recurring memberships, operating costs and the challenge of expanding service businesses.
The name can cause a straightforward mix-up: Bannatyne Health Clubs is not a company he merely backed on the programme. It is the business he founded and used his surname to brand, unlike many separate ventures pitched to the Dragons.