A SOUTHEND duo are set to compete in the national finals of a Dragons’ Den-style competition hosted by a gym after impressing with an innovative idea.

Jon Lee, who works at the David Lloyd gym, in Snakes Lane, Southend, alongside gym member Keith Fullick, were put forward to represent their branch in the competition’s central and east regional finals.

Keith a 51-year-old web designer, created an online box league singles system for the club’s tennis competitors, which has since become an app.

The concept impressed the dragons, including head of the region James Willis, and the David Lloyd Southend members are now looking forward to competing in the national finals.

Jon, who is the adults tennis professional at the gym, said: “Keith is a member of David Lloyd Southend and, about 18 months ago, he came up with the idea to take the box leagues online to make them run more efficiently and keep them up to date.

“That was moving forward successfully with around 100 players involved and then, after talking to me, we looked at creating a tennis app for David Lloyd members.

“What the app can achieve is massive and I’ve already had two meetings with Mercedes about a potential sponsorship because the money apps can make is huge.

“We have been told that we won the central and east regional finals, which is fabulous news, and we will now go into the national finals.”

The tennis app allows David Lloyd members to access their box leagues, along with offers and other available benefits.

The latest events can be viewed, while coaches can also be contacted.

Jon added: “We plan for this to develop into making court bookings so that it becomes an all-in-one tennis app that leads the way in what it can provide members.

“I think we have a good chance of winning. Should we win, it would be something that could potentially be run across the David Lloyd Clubs group and the locations in Europe. It would reach roughly 1.2million people.”