Looking for a supplier? Interested in becoming a SAPCA member? Tel: +44 (0)24 7641 6316 •
www.sapca.org.uk
New sports facility shows announced
SAPCA has announced the launch of the Sports Facility Show – a new event aimed specifically at those who buy, design, operate or maintain sports and play areas. The Sports Facility Show will be replacing
SAPCA’s long running Sports Facility Con- struction events and will be taking a new format – details of which will be announced shortly. The first event will be held at Cheltenham Racecourse on Tuesday 15 May 2012. The sec- ond event will be at Salford City Stadium in Manchester on Tuesday 12 June 2012. ■ More details are available by emailing
info@sapca.org.uk
Nine months into his role as chair of SAPCA, Sports Management asks Eric Page what we can expect to see from SAPCA in the future
turning a new page
Dr Steph Forrester from STI promotes research work on the design of sports equipment
What are the highlights of the last eight months? The main focus for the board has been the re- view of SAPCA’s strategic direction. It’s vitally important that the association continues to develop with a clear vision, agreed objectives and a sound business plan. As a membership body representing more than 200 companies and organisations, it’s essential that we fully understand the needs and views of the indus- try, in order to prioritise our future activities – especially at a time when the marketplace faces new challenges. As part of this work we undertook valu-
able market research with sports bodies, consultants, specifiers and a cross sec- tion of member companies. In essence, we proposed that SAPCA’s strategic direction should be re-focused around its vital work to raise standards of sports and play facilities, the strengthening of the as- sociation’s Quality Assurance system and more effective communication of SAPCA’s work across the marketplace to members’ customers and to the various sports, play and funding bodies.
UK expertise leads the world
A contingent of overseas UK Trade & Invest- ment (UKTI) officers recently visited the UK for a week’s insight into the sports facility and equipment market – an area of particular British expertise. Hosted by the Sports Technology Institute
(STI) at Loughborough University, the trade of- ficers attended from as far afield as Russia, Brazil, the UAE, North Africa and Canada, where they work to promote British expertise and source business opportunities for British companies. SAPCA, which works with the Global Sports Projects team at UKTI, presented a one-day seminar to the group. The delegation also visited the sports facilities for both London 2012 and the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Issue 1 2012 © cybertrek 2012
Can you give more details of the Pitch and Track Registration Scheme? All members within the Pitch and Track divi- sion of SAPCA will have to register any pitches (more than 3,000sq m) and athletics tracks that they build. SAPCA will then contact the end customer to advise what will be expected from the SAPCA member in terms of quality standards and Codes of Practice. SAPCA will independently inspect a per-
centage of these projects at random times during the build, ensuring that these standards are met. If customers are unhappy at any point
SAPCA IS RAISING THE GAME WITH REGARD TO QUALITY – ENSURING THAT ONLY THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF SPORT FACILITIES ARE BUILT BY OUR MEMBERS
How do you propose to raise quality standards? It’s SAPCA’s responsibility to ensure that our members perform to certain standards. To do this we ask all members to work to a Code of Professional Conduct and we are constantly adding new Codes of Practice for the design and construction of facilities. Again, all SAPCA members adhere to these codes. In these uncertain times we also now un-
dertake credit checks of all members once a year, which hopefully helps to give our mem- bers’ customers peace of mind. The scheme, operated through Experian, provides a financial stability figure for each member. Any mem- ber not reaching the minimum figure has their membership of SAPCA withdrawn. During 2012, we’ll be strengthening this sys-
tem even further. We’re launching a track and pitch registration scheme, which is great news for the industry and will be invaluable to members as a means of adding value to their projects.
they can contact SAPCA to discuss the issues. At the end of the project, SAPCA will contact the customer for feedback. The scheme is a great example of how
SAPCA is raising its game with regard to quality and we want to show the sports sector that SAPCA does have teeth and will use them to ensure that only the highest stan- dards of sports and play facilities are built by our members.
Exciting times then? Definitely – we are looking to make SAPCA an even more respected body within the sports and play facility industry. And, with the addition of Dave Moorcroft to the board, we’ve added another dimension – someone that will be the voice of sport and can help SAPCA with lobbying and linking to key sports bodies. I’m very much looking forward to the future of sport and SAPCA’s role within it.
Read Sports Management online
sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 71
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