By Will Duru, BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science, Award winning Personal Trainer with over 10 years of experience in strength training
I have trained clients across London for over a decade. From commercial gyms in Canary Wharf to local leisure centres in Hackney, from garage setups in Essex to premium fitness clubs in Chelsea. I have seen how British people actually train.
Most fitness apps do not understand this.
They assume you have access to enormous gyms with unlimited equipment. They ignore the reality of busy PureGyms with two squat racks shared between hundreds of members. They do not account for the council leisure centre with basic equipment or the garage gym in Birmingham with a barbell and some dumbbells.
That is exactly why I built the 12REPS app. Not as another generic fitness app, but as a tool designed by a British personal trainer who understands how people in this country actually train.
Let me explain why it works for UK lifters.
What British Lifters Actually Need
After ten years of training people across the UK, I know what works. Here is what you actually need from a strength training app.
Programmes designed by qualified coaches. Not algorithms. Not random exercise generators. Real programmes from trainers who understand progressive overload, periodisation and how to structure training for results.
Video demonstrations for every exercise. Clear, professional videos showing proper technique. Not stock footage, not animated stick figures. Real demonstrations you can follow during your workout.
Flexibility for different equipment setups. Whether you train at a fully equipped gym in Manchester, a basic leisure centre in Cardiff, or your spare bedroom in Edinburgh, your app should adapt to what you have available.
Over 1,500 exercises to build custom workouts. When you want to train your way, you need options. A comprehensive exercise library lets you create sessions that work for your situation.
Rehab guidance from qualified professionals. When injuries happen, you need expert guidance to work through them safely. Videos and protocols from certified trainers and physiotherapists.
Progress tracking that drives results. Not just logging what you did, but showing you what to do next. Systematic progression that builds strength over time.
This is exactly what the 12REPS app provides.
Why 12REPS Works for British Lifters
Designed by a British Personal Trainer
The programmes in 12REPS come from my decade of experience training clients in London. I understand British gym culture because I live it every day.
I know that your local gym might only have one squat rack. I know that you might train at 6am before work or 9pm after putting the kids to bed. I know that you want straightforward guidance without unnecessary hype.
The app reflects this understanding. The programmes are practical, the language is clear and the approach is no nonsense.
Personal training in the UK is not cheap. In London, you are looking at £60 to £100 per session, sometimes more. Even outside London, £40 to £60 per hour is standard.
Training three times per week with a PT costs £480 to £1,200 monthly in London. That is £5,760 to £14,400 per year.
The 12REPS app provides expert programming, video guidance and progress tracking for less than the cost of a single PT session. You get the methodology without the price tag.
Adapts to Any Gym Setup
Whether you train at:
A commercial chain gym like PureGym, The Gym Group or JD Gyms with decent equipment but busy peak hours
A premium fitness club like Virgin Active, David Lloyd or Third Space with extensive facilities
A local leisure centre with basic equipment and limited space
A home or garage gym with whatever you have managed to accumulate
A hotel gym when travelling for work
The app works. Tell it what equipment you have access to, and it provides appropriate programmes and exercises. No more frustration over exercises you cannot do.
Works Across the UK
I have clients training with 12REPS in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Bristol, Liverpool, Edinburgh and dozens of smaller towns. The app works wherever you are because it was designed with British gym reality in mind.
It works offline once downloaded, perfect for leisure centres with poor WiFi or basement gyms without signal. Train on the Tube on your way to work if you want to preview your session.
What You Get with 12REPS
Structured Programmes
Whether you want to build muscle, increase strength, lose fat or improve general fitness, there are programmes designed for your goal. Each programme includes:
Clear progression from week to week. You always know what you should be lifting and when to increase.
Appropriate volume and intensity. Not too much, not too little. Enough to drive progress without burning out.
Exercise selection that makes sense. Compound movements as the foundation, isolation work where appropriate, proper balance between muscle groups.
Video Exercise Library
Over 1,500 exercises with full video demonstrations. Every movement is shown clearly so you can see exactly how it should be performed.
The videos are not flashy productions with background music and special effects. They are clear, practical demonstrations focused on technique. Watch them before your set, reference them during your workout.
Custom Workout Builder
When you want to train your way, the custom workout builder lets you create sessions from the full exercise library. Build your own programmes, save your favourite workouts, track everything.
This flexibility means the app grows with you. Follow structured programmes when you want guidance, create custom sessions when you want freedom.
Progress Tracking
Every workout is logged automatically. The app shows your previous performance for each exercise so you can make informed decisions about progression.
Over time, you build a complete training history. See how much stronger you have become. Identify exercises where you are progressing well and areas that need more attention.
Rehab and Recovery
Injuries happen. When they do, the app includes rehab exercise videos from qualified professionals. Work through issues safely rather than guessing or making things worse.
This is something most apps completely ignore. They assume you are always healthy and able to train at full intensity. Real life is messier than that.
Who 12REPS Is For
The app works for a wide range of people, but it is particularly well suited for:
Beginners who want proper guidance. If you are new to strength training and want to learn correctly from the start, the structured programmes and video demonstrations provide everything you need.
Intermediate lifters who want better programming. If you have been training for a while but feel stuck or unsure whether your programme is optimal, expert designed programmes can help you break through plateaus.
Busy professionals who need efficiency. If you have limited time and want workouts that are effective without being excessive, the app provides focused programmes that respect your schedule.
Home gym users who need flexibility. If you train at home with limited equipment, the app adapts to what you have available rather than assuming you have access to a commercial gym.
Anyone who wants quality programming at an accessible price. If you cannot afford regular personal training but want the same level of expertise in your programming, the app delivers.
Real Results from Real People
The best evidence for any training approach is results. Here is what 12REPS users across the UK are achieving.
Beginners are learning proper technique from day one, building good habits that will serve them for years. They are not guessing in the gym or copying what they see on social media. They have clear guidance from a qualified trainer.
Intermediate lifters are breaking through plateaus they have been stuck at for months or years. Proper programming with systematic progression makes a difference that random training simply cannot match.
Busy professionals are maintaining their fitness despite demanding schedules. Efficient programmes that respect their time allow them to stay consistent even during stressful periods.
Home gym users are getting results with minimal equipment. Creative exercise selection and smart programming mean limited kit is not a barrier to progress.
Picture This
Six weeks from now, you walk into your local gym with complete confidence.
You know exactly what you are doing today. The app tells you which exercises, how many sets, how many reps, what weight to aim for.
You perform each movement with proper technique because you have watched the demonstrations and understand the form cues.
You finish your session knowing it was effective. Not random exercises thrown together, but a structured workout designed to build on your previous sessions and progress you toward your goals.
You check your history and see that you are lifting more than when you started. Real, measurable progress.
This is what training with proper programming feels like. This is what the 12REPS app provides.
Getting Started
Download the app and explore the features. See the programmes, browse the exercise library, understand how it works.
Start with a programme that matches your goal and experience level. Follow it consistently, trust the process, track your progress.
If you prefer to build your own workouts, use the custom builder. Select exercises from the library, set your own sets and reps, create something that works for your specific situation.
The app is designed to work however you want to use it. Structure when you need it, flexibility when you want it.
Download the 12REPS app now. And join the community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 12REPS available in the UK?
Yes, 12REPS is fully available throughout the United Kingdom on both iOS and Android devices.
Does the app work in metric?
Yes, the app uses kilograms and centimetres as standard. No awkward conversions required.
Can I use the app at any gym?
Absolutely. The app adapts to your available equipment. Whether you train at a commercial chain, a local leisure centre, a home gym or anywhere else, it provides appropriate programmes and exercises.
Does the app work offline?
Yes, once programmes and videos are downloaded, you can train without an internet connection. Perfect for gyms with poor WiFi.
Who designed the programmes?
All programmes are designed by Will Duru, a certified personal trainer with a BSc in Sport and Exercise Science and over 10 years of professional experience training clients in London.
Can I create my own workouts?
Yes, the custom workout builder lets you create sessions from the library of over 1,500 exercises. Follow structured programmes or build your own.
How much does it cost?
The app offers various subscription options at a fraction of personal training costs. Download to see current pricing and start your free trial.
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About the Author: Will Duru holds a BSc (Hons) in Sport and Exercise Science and is an award-winning personal trainer with over 10 years of experience. Based in London, he has helped hundreds of British clients build stronger, healthier bodies through structured, science-based training programmes. Will created the 12REPS app to make professional training guidance accessible to everyone across the UK.
