Top:
Bladerunner at the Europen Parliament

Second:
The £21 million leisure development for the MOD

Third:
The FA's new gym is up and running

Bottom:
River Island lead the way

Bladerunner striding into Europe

Never one to rest on its laurels, the Bladerunner team has once again been successful in securing the leisure management contract for the European Parliament in Brussels.

Winning out against several major European service providers, Bladerunner has retained the membership contract at the European Parliament which it has held since 2003. With facilities that include a gym, squash courts and treatment rooms, Bladerunner will be operating the contract on a commercial basis and will be responsible for all costs, excluding business rates and a proportion of the utilities costs.

“This was an extremely important contract for us,” commented David Brame, Bladerunner Managing Director. “For the next three to five years, we are responsible for promoting and managing the membership for the European Parliament’s newly refurbished leisure facilities. With 10,000 employees, who would all be eligible, this is a serious undertaking and one that we hope will be the launch pad for other European operations for Bladerunner.”

Facility Manager, Matt Reynolds, added: “I am delighted to manage such a superb facility. The recent upgrade to the facilities puts it on par with any high street Health & Fitness club in Belguim”

Since winning the tender for the European Paliament, Bladerunner has also secured a contract with Coca Cola in Brussels, which began in November 2009.

Fighting fit at at Wembley

The FA Group has opened a new gym at its headquarters at Wembley Stadium to encourage its 560 strong staff to get fit and healthy. Known as the ‘venue of legends’, Wembley Stadium may yet produce their own sporting heroes with the help of Bladerunner and Life Fitness, the global leader in fitness equipment.

Working in partnership with Life Fitness, Bladerunner helped to design a new gym that would appeal to all Wembley Stadium based staff. The gym features top of the range Life Fitness equipment including the new Optima range chosen for its space-saving qualities, reliability and aesthetics.

David Brame, Bladerunner MD, said: “The beauty of this specific project is that many of the employees based at Wembley have a strong interest in sport and fitness. We wanted to produce a really exclusive and enticing environment but without the associated costs, and so far we have succeeded as we already have more than 200 members.”

“We work with many different companies to produce corporate gym facilities but The FA Group is probably one of the most prestigious,” added Rob Jones, Territory Development Manager at Life Fitness. “They were really open to ideas and the employees have been really excited about having their own facility on site. The challenge has been to fit enough equipment into the space available whilst keeping a really premium exclusive and spacious feel. As part of our continued relationship we also have some exciting activities planned for the site this year to encourage staff to get even more active.”

Cutting edge facilities officially opened at MOD Catterick

Previously Bladerunner announced the news that we had been appointed to manage the prestigious new £21m leisure facility at MOD Catterick. Officially opened in July 2009 by the Right Honourable Baroness Ann Taylor PC, the Minister for International Defence and Security, the venue now boasts in excess of 1,000 members and has become a flagship venue for Bladerunner.

The centre is part of a £300m regeneration project for the area and provides top level swimming, fitness, sports and conference facilities for the whole community living in and around Catterick Garrison.

The facilities include a 25-metre six-lane competition pool, a training pool, a teaching pool and a six-court sports hall for five-a-side football, basketball, volleyball, netball and badminton, which also has cricket nets and trampolines. There is also a technogym fitness gym and a studio offering more than 35 fitness classes every week.

 Baroness Taylor was also joined at the ceremony by World Champion swimmer, Jo Jackson, who recently set a new world record in the 400m freestyle short course, and Garrison Commander, Colonel Nick Millen, who commented: “The investment in the new centre has already been proved to be an outstanding success by the high numbers using the new state-of-the-art facilities.

"All parties involved have worked closely to ensure we have a facility that is fit for the 21st century. Without doubt, that partnership has again delivered a magnificent project to add to the overall development of Catterick Garrison.”

Bladerunner has worked closely with Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire County Council libraries’ service and Richmondshire District Council Sports Development. Bladerunner MD, David Brame, said:”The centre already boasts a membership in excess of 1000, an impressive swimming development scheme attracting over 400 novice swimmers a week, plus a range of classes and club bookings involving the local community”

River Island lead the way

In March this year Bladerunner opened a fitness centre at River Island’s new head office in West London.

Bladerunner helped to design and fit out the facility ensuring the gym remained in keeping with the River Island’s own unique brand and style.

Steve Edwards, Bladerunner’s Regional Manager responsible for the site says “It was important the gym was built in keeping with the River Island brand. It was also important the facility catered for a high proportion of female employees, hence the quality studio and choice of equipment”

The facility already boasts a membership of 25% of the work force and a vibrant class programme with a minimum of 2 classes per day including spinning, boxasize, pilates to name but a few.

River Island’s facility manager Jamie Davis said “the provision of a fitness facility was a big cultural change for River Island but we are delighted with the response and the end product, our aim is to make this facility the social hub for our employees”

The Deloitte Gym is going to the finals!

For the first time ever, in February of this year, Bladerunner entered into the Fitness Industry Association's FLAME Awards 2010 for 'Corporate Club of the Year'. The Deloitte Gym first submitted a full detailed questionnaire of the gym, followed by a thorough intense audit which has successfully carried us through to being entered into the final stages. Following completion of the member survey, results of the finals will be announced.

Special thanks and recognition goes to The Gym team for their outstanding efforts and hard work which has contributed towards Bladerunner's success in progressing this far and carrying us into the final stages.

Colin Aidoo, Manager of The Gym, said "I found the experience both challenging but enjoyable and I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all of my team for their support and commitment throughout and their successful running of the gym."