Two leading not-for-profit fitness organisations, GLL and Nuffield Health, have announced the formation of a strategic alliance that will deliver significant health and service benefits for local authorities and communities in the UK.

From 1st April 2011 Nuffield Health, the UK's largest trading charity, has transferred the management for all of the 15 council-owned leisure centres it operated across four local authority partnerships, to leading charitable social enterprise GLL.

In addition, Nuffield Health and GLL have announced a strategic alliance that sees Nuffield Health withdrawing from the direct delivery of public leisure management services, while working with GLL to develop a clinically-led health improvement offering that will be available through GLL-managed facilities.

The transfer of management contracts offers customers and staff security in the knowledge that their local leisure services will continue to be managed by one of the industry's most reputable leisure providers.

Jobs at all of the affected leisure centres will remain secure and at an operational level business will continue as usual. The move will also see council partners, customers and staff benefit by allowing for increased investment into capital projects, business expansion, and greater training and career opportunities for employees.

Online booking and payments will also be introduced, in addition to fast track entry kiosks at busy centres.

Local sportsmen and women will have the opportunity to apply for funding from the GLL Sport Foundation - set up to support talented athletes in the run up to London 2012 and beyond.

Commenting on the strategic alliance, Chris Symons, Director of Development at GLL, said: "GLL is the natural successor to Nuffield Health within this market. Both organisations are founded on not-for-profit, charitable principles and are recognised as industry leaders both in terms of delivering high quality public leisure services and excellent standards of customer care.

"The agreement sees GLL consolidate its position as the leading provider of leisure services within London and the South East and builds on the company's expansion across the Thames Valley region, following its merger with Nexus Leisure in 2010."

Marcus Powell, Managing Director, Corporate and Community Fitness at Nuffield Health, said: "We're excited by our new partnership with GLL which will see the development of additional services that the public will be able to access through local leisure centres to help them take control of and manage their health more effectively."

The affected leisure centres comprise: City of Westminster, The Porchester Centre, Seymour Leisure Centre, Paddington Recreation Ground, St Augustine's Sports Centre, Queen Mother Sports Centre, Jubilee Sports Centre, Marshall Street Leisure Centre Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, Kensington Leisure Centre, Chelsea Leisure Centre, St Luke's Outdoor Pitches Borough of Reigate and Banstead, Donyngs Recreational Ground, Banstead Sports Centre, Horley Anderson Centre City of York, York Waterworld, Huntington Stadium.