UTC South Durham student Ralf Fatoohi has launched an online fitness shop to help people keep fit whilst socially distancing and staying at home. The website toohfit.com offers a variety of fitness equipment useful for working out at home, including fitness electronics, yoga, weights, and running equipment and supports.

Keeping fit and finding ways to exercise at home have become widely debated topics over the past few weeks, with medical experts advising the general public to exercise regularly to help support physical and mental wellbeing during the nation-wide lockdown.

The website is a long-term ambition of Ralf’s, who is in Year 11 at UTC. However, after the government announced social distancing measures, Ralf found the time to design and build the online shop. Ralf developed the website using many of the skills he had learned whilst studying at UTC.

Ralf explained how the UTC had helped him develop his skills: “Before joining UTC, I felt very inexperienced in the E-Commerce field. However, when I joined the UTC I immediately felt very business-driven. UTC’s industry partners in the field have led me to success, and the very supportive yet challenging atmosphere at the UTC has given me the confidence I needed to help me follow my dreams of owning my own business.”

UTC Principal Tom Dower said Ralf “is an exceptional young man who embodies the qualities UTC aims to foster in their students: determination, resilience and leadership. We’re very proud of Ralf and we can’t wait to see what other amazing things he accomplishes in the future!”

Ralf is hoping to expand his business in the future: “I’m looking to expand the range of products available, and I’m hoping that my business will eventually become a worldwide superstore that will benefit the lives of others.”

Photo: Ralf Fatoohi taking part in a team-building exercise at UTC South Durham in February 2020.