The Parkwood Group has taken over leisure management contracting business 1Life Management Solutions Limited (1LMS Ltd), which trades as 1Life, having acquired it from its US parent company.

Parkwood runs leisure and sport centres, museums, theatres and parks on behalf of local authorities in the UK.

Glen Hall, MD of Parkwood, said 1Life will retain its own identity, with services operating as normal for customers, but will be run by Parkwood Leisure’s senior leadership team using Parkwood’s systems and support services.

“The 1Life acquisition opens up exciting opportunities to improve the customer experience, as well as improving efficiency through economies of scale," said Hall.

Indicating that Parkwood is seeking further growth through acquisition, Hall said: "I hope operators who are feeling the strain and local authorities will reach out to discuss our exciting product offering which delivers improved value for money and customer service.

"Our journey over the past few years was recognised in the UK Active Awards in 2022, when we were named ‘Outstanding Organisation of the Year’," said Hall. "Recognising the need to tailor delivery to local circumstances, Parkwood has developed innovative and scalable support services, which can now be offered directly to local authorities and other leisure operators."

Ian Hendrie, recently appointed CEO of 1Life, added: “This acquisition is great news for 1Life, its customers and clients, with 1Life becoming part of a secure, market-leading operator.

"Following recent events that have impacted the entire sector it was important to secure a strategic outcome for the company," he said.

The company was acquired from an American asset management business on 10 February 2023, with 1LMS Ltd relinquishing control of iLife's assets to Alston Newco Ltd – a company listing Glen Hall and Mike Quayle as directors. Hall also became a director of 1Life Management Solutions Limited on 10 February. Financial arrangements of the deal have not been made public.

The company started life in 1990 as Moveneat before changing to Cobra Leisure, Relaxion and then Leisure Connection. It has had a roll-call of industry names as directors over the decades, including Dave Stalker, John McGinley, Andrew Holt, Nigel Golding, Graham Farrant, Alan Coppin, David Brame, Ian Barclay, Peter Kirkham and Neil King.

Julian Nicholls, the current chair resigned from this role on 10 February after 12 years. Nicholls was originally brought in to implement the company's rebrand from Leisure Connection to 1Life.

1Life has been in decline for some years now, losing contracts steadily since 2016, when it was running 18, including some private sector contracts. This had fallen to 10 by 2019, with the current number not known. A previous management team member has indicated to HCM that the contracts relinquished were loss-making.

1Life's accounts show substantial overheads which could be reduced with head office consolidation and also that its three most lucrative contracts do not expire until after 2030, making it an attractive takeover proposition. It has also fixed its energy contracts.

1Life's historic profits/losses show as:

2015 £600k profit

2016 £600k loss2017 £1.7m profit (during 2017 the company agreed a settlement of £2.9m in compensation for the termination of a major contract, with funds received after the account date)

2018 £700k loss2019 £1.4m loss

2020 £2.3m loss (includes £1.7m of furlough and council support, ie £4m loss without subsidy)2021 £3.5m profit (includes £4.4m of business interruption, furlough and council support, ie £900k loss without subsidy)