Ray Algar, MD of Oxygen Consulting on stage during a business presentation
Oxygen Consulting story

Oxygen Consulting story

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Independent Strategic Advisory for the Sports, Health, and Wellbeing Economy

For over 20 years, Oxygen Consulting has been a trusted independent strategic adviser providing strategic analysis and insight. It supports organisations in the sports, health, and wellbeing economy in anticipating industry shifts, developing sustainable strategies, and unlocking long-term growth opportunities.

Ray Algar: Industry Thought-Leader & Independent Strategic Adviser

Oxygen Consulting was founded by Ray Algar, a strategic adviser with over 30 years of experience in the sports, health, and well-being economy. The company draws upon decades of industry expertise to help shape the future of emerging sports such as padel. As a recognised industry leader, Ray has advised global brands such as adidas, Sky, and Unilever, while sharing insights at major industry events across 14 countries. His expertise in industry transformation and sustainable business models has played a pivotal role in shaping significant sector shifts, including the rise of low-cost gyms in the 2010s, the impact of social media on sport and fitness engagement and the growing role of sport as a driver of social good. Building on this expertise, Ray is now leading Oxygen Consulting’s strategic focus on padel in the UK, ensuring the sport develops in a sustainable, inclusive, and responsible way.

Strategic analysis and insight

Oxygen Consulting has a long track record of producing forward-thinking, thought-provoking reports that help organisations navigate complex market shifts. Our research attracts a global readership and offers strategic insights that shape the direction of the industry. As consumer attitudes toward sport and exercise evolve, we investigate how changing behaviours, motivations, and participation trends influence industry growth — helping organisations anticipate change and create new opportunities.

2026 UK Padel Report — Now Published and Available

The second edition of the UK Padel Report is now available from Oxygen Consulting. Building on the UK’s first comprehensive strategic analysis of padel’s growth and accessibility, the 2026 report examines the sport’s next challenge: converting growing demand into regular, affordable and sustainable participation.

This independent 69-page digital report explores pricing, access, venue models, player behaviour and the commercial conditions needed for padel to develop responsibly across the UK. It has been written for investors, operators, landlords, developers, councils and policymakers seeking an evidence-led view of the sport’s next phase.

Readers can preview the opening eight pages and access the full report immediately.

Collaborating with Espalier Ventures to Shape the Future of UK Padel

The rapid growth of UK padel presents a unique opportunity to build an inclusive and sustainable infrastructure. However, ensuring long-term success requires thoughtful investment and a responsible expansion strategy. To meet this challenge, Oxygen Consulting is partnering with Espalier Ventures to launch a new UK padel operating company — led by Ray Algar. This initiative will develop high-quality, accessible padel venues across the UK, ensuring that the sport:

  1. Grows responsibly, avoiding market saturation
  2. Delivers measurable social impact
  3. Achieves long-term financial sustainability.

 

Partnering With You for Long-Term Impact

We collaborate with investors, operators, landowners, and policymakers to shape the future of UK padel and the broader sports and wellbeing economy. Whether you seek:

  1. Strategic advisory to navigate the evolving UK padel market
  2. Investment opportunities in sustainable, community-focused padel projects
  3. Partnerships to repurpose land or buildings for padel expansion.

We are actively engaging with various public and private sector organisations to create a thriving and inclusive padel ecosystem. If you share this vision, we would be delighted to start a conversation. Contact us for a confidential discussion.

Ray Algar (MBA, MA)
Strategic adviser and analyst

Oxygen Consulting story

Oxygen Consulting story

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Knowledge Store...

Purchase Oxygen Consulting's influential reports from the Knowledge Store.
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Advisory Roles

Along with short-term consultancy assignments, I am also available for longer-term non-executive advisory positions supporting CEOs and senior management with crafting and executing a compelling strategy.
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Consultancy

Read about my consulting, speaking and workshop engagements.
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Oxygen Quarterly

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Smiling young girl standing against beautiful terracotta brown mud wall

Gymtopia logo
Gymtopia is a digital storytelling platform created by Ray Algar. It captures the global health and fitness industry’s philanthropic initiatives.

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Latest news & insights

Cover image for the 2026 UK Padel Report by Ray Algar, showing an illustrated padel venue with players and spectators.
UK Padel’s Next Opportunity: Turning Demand into Regular Participation June 24, 2026 Read more...
Graphic showing a cluster of padel racquets on the left and a trailing line of smaller racquet icons labelled “LONG TAIL”
A Long Tail Takes Shape: Mapping the Future of UK Padel January 8, 2026 Read more...
Architectural hand sketch of an indoor padel centre inside a warehouse, showing multiple blue courts alongside a lounge and café seating area
Padel feasibility study for an indoor padel centre January 4, 2026 Read more...
Padel’s Growth in the UK: At What Price? September 12, 2025 Read more...

Ray that’s an insightful piece of work. Thanks again for your work on the deal.

Gavin Bell, Investment Manager, Maven Capital Partners

Your UK fitness report provides a useful update on the market.

John Treharne, CEO, The Gym Group

Thank you for the opportunity to contribute (Fitness Sector Social Good Report). Without a doubt, it will be an impactful and well-received report.

Ioannis Ioannou, Assistant Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship, London Business School

Congratulations Ray, a great piece of work  – mandatory reading for anyone with an interest in the fitness industry.

Steven Ward, CEO, ukactive

Your report (Health Club Industry Mid-market Report) has had a huge impact on how Precor thinks about the market and from operators as well.  I think it’s a landmark piece.

Brian Kane Senior Manager, Commercial Management & Consumer Insights, Precor

Thank you for making your low-cost gym reports available to me. It has had a marked effect on my thinking and my future.  I have taken the plunge and ended my corporate career to open a low-cost gym chain in South Africa. 

Waldemar Smit, Managing Director myGym (Pty) Ltd, South Africa

Oxygen Consulting has established itself as an authority on the UK low-cost gym sector and its reports are essential reading for anybody interested in the space.  Ray Algar’s personal relationship with the leading players gives him an insight that few others possess.

John Harper, Investment Director, LDC (part of the Lloyds Banking Group), UK

This is a great report Ray, well done.

Phillip Mills, CEO, Les Mills International, New Zealand

Ray had sufficient foresight to recognise the impact of social media on reputation before many others and an open mind that allows him to see how leisure sector organisations can extract insight and actions from consumer-generated media.

Jonathan Moody, Social Media Strategist, Socialware, Spain

I just finalized my first round on the report. I would say a great, down to earth, description of today’s health and fitness industry.

Peter Byman, Founding Partner, Fitness Group Nordic

Great work Ray, an excellent, comprehensive report on the mid-market sector of the fitness industry.

Chuck Runyon, CEO, Anytime Fitness

Ray’s passion and unbridled optimism are contagious. Combine that with his ability to think analytically and apply complex research in the health and fitness field, and you’ve got a powerful and thought-provoking consultant.

Kevin Foley, Web Content Manager, IHRSA, United States

Ray is hard working, bright and a no nonsense power source of professionally compiled insights into the European leisure industry

Sean Maguire, Managing Director, Legend Club Management Software

Ray uses his considerable intellect and diligent research to promote strategy that is evidence based. His knowledge and experience make him one of the most trusted and respected figures within the sector. If he writes a piece in a journal, web-site or blog, I will read it in full, knowing the care that went into producing it.

Grant Wright, Regional Director, Holmes Place, UK

This is outstanding and a very comprehensive report (UK boutique fitness sector report). Well done to you and your team.

Kevin Yates, Investor and Director, 1Rebel

Ray has provided meaningful and comprehenisve strategic advice on a number of projects in the fitness industry. He has a very detailed knowledge of the sector, carries out extensive research and recently gave a valuable presentation to the Leisure Property Forum, which was extremely well received.

Chris Gotla, Partner, Fitspace Health Clubs

Ray’s ability to access the most complex issues and offer options for a resolution has been so important.

Peter Crowley, Managing Director, Wave Leisure Trust

I wanted to let you know that the work you have done recently on your “Health Club Industry Active Ageing Report” really resonates with me. It’s a wonderful report. Rarely do I feel such a strong affinity to a published report.

Kristen Green, Board Member – Fitness Australia

Ray is one of the great strategists and researchers in the fitness and health club industry today. I follow all of his work and you should too. His research is fresh and unmatched and this new mid-market report is a wonderful piece of work.

Bryan O’Rourke, President, Fitness Industry Technology Council

I first met Ray when we were co-presenting at the IHRSA track at the Rimini Wellness Conference in Italy May 2007. Ray has an enormous insight in the fitness industry and can take both an analytical and practical approach to all issues, which gives him high credibility as a service consultant and as a commentator of the industry.

Rasmus Ingerslev, Founder Wexer and Chairman Barry’s Bootcamp Nordic

I have followed Ray’s industry research for many years. In fact, I was inspired to create Liikku after I read his UK low-cost gym sector report. It opened my eyes to the possibility that Finland could be ready for a simpler and more affordable year-round fitness experience. It is a tremendous asset for Liikku to be able to tap into Ray’s experience and insights.

Johanna Riihijärvi, CEO, Liikku

Concise, relevant but remarkably comprehensive. Great stuff.

John Oxley, Managing Director, Active Nation

Looking through your new report now (Fitness Sector Social Good Report). Really well done and quite extensive. Love it!

Thomas Kolster, author of Goodvertising, Denmark

All the delegates I was talking to thought that you were among the top speakers. I think you really caught their interest and opened their eyes with your presentations. That was further confirmed in the big interest in your book.

Stefan Tingwell, Club Sweden (Healthy Business Conference, Gothenburg)

Ray really has his finger on the pulse of the fitness industry and I often call upon him for expert comment and analysis in Workout magazine.

Mary Ferguson, Editor, Workout Magazine, UK

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