Everyone Active has beaten off competition from rival operators to land a seven-year contract as Southwark Council’s Sports and leisure services partner.

In a competitive tender process for the sought-after London contract – which saw weightings of 60:40 between the management fee payable to the council and the technical strength of the bid – Everyone Active emerged as the victor, scoring 84.5 out of 100. The operator was the highest bidder in terms of management fee (scoring 57.3 out of 60) and came a close second (of three bidders) in the technical category (scoring 27.2 out of 40).

The win marks a significant blow for rival operator Fusion Lifestyle, which has held the Southwark contract since the company was formed in 2000. Fusion will hand over to Everyone Active on 21 June, with existing staff to also transfer across.

The contract comprises eight leisure centres in Southwark, including the new £20m Castle Centre. Everyone Active will invest £2.7m into the centres – with five gyms set to receive Technogym kit refurbs in year one of the contract – and also deliver the council’s popular free swim and gym programme.

“This is a major sports and leisure contract in London, which we are delighted to have secured,” said Everyone Active managing director David Bibby.

“We work hard to engage with local communities and encourage more people to be active. Our focus is now on ensuring we achieve that aim in Southwark and that we manage the centres to the highest possible standard.”

A spokesperson for Fusion Lifestyle thanked staff for their efforts and said the company was proud of increasing attendances and reducing the costs of the centres to Southwark Council.

The spokesperson told Health Club Management: “Whilst Fusion would have wished to continue its presence in Southwark, the financial structure and short term of the Council’s proposed new contract arrangements fall substantially outside Fusion’s normal strategy and operating parameters and so Fusion was unable to meet the Council’s intentions for the new management arrangements.”