Tribunal orders Nuffield Health to pay £149,000 to personal trainer over unpaid holiday and unfair dismissal

An employment tribunal ruled that Nuffield Health must pay former personal trainer Beth Littlewood approximately £149,000 after upholding her claims of unauthorised wage deductions, holiday pay miscalculation and unfair dismissal. Littlewood, who joined the company in 2015 at its Bridgend gym, first raised pay-related grievances internally.

From June 2022 portions of her wages were withheld, and a subsequent internal grievance was rejected.

Pattern of disputes The tribunal found that Littlewood faced repeated rota changes without notice, inconsistent holiday approvals, lack of recognition for sales performance and blocked promotion opportunities. In January 2023 the company began disciplinary proceedings alleging she had logged hours at the wrong pay rate; the panel rejected that claim as trivial and poorly communicated.

After the disciplinary process Littlewood was signed off sick. Throughout summer 2023 she attempted to arrange a return-to-work discussion, but managers did not respond.

The Germany meeting In September 2023 Littlewood travelled to Brandenburg, Germany, for the European Canoe Polo Championships. She had requested annual leave on 7 June and reminded managers on 8 August that approval was still outstanding. On 7 September, while she was competing, manager James Cheadle instructed her to attend an in-person meeting in Bridgend on 12 September, stating she had neither approved leave nor a valid sick note.

Littlewood drove overnight from Germany, covering roughly 800 miles, only to be told on arrival that Cheadle was away on training.

“To refuse leave requested months earlier, knowing what competing meant to the claimant, and require her to attend a meeting, then not bother to turn up was contemptuous and wholly unreasonable.”

" The panel concluded that holiday pay had not been calculated on a true average of gross pay as required by government guidelines. A remedy hearing in February 2026 ordered the £149,000 payment. Littlewood, who represented herself, said the ruling could assist other personal trainers because Nuffield Health operates more than 100 clubs across the United Kingdom.

Nuffield Health stated it remains "committed to providing a fair and supportive working environment for all colleagues" but is "disappointed with the decision" and will not comment further while an appeal is pending. Littlewood, a former canoe polo champion for Great Britain who retired from international competition in 2024, continues to play in Spain and Italy, coaches the Danish women's team and runs her own personal training business.