Sport England today announced five new groups of
approved suppliers to help organisations involved in sport to
improve the way they plan facilities provision and drive efficiency
savings.
The groups, which are made up of companies specialising in town
planning, needs analysis and playing fields, mean that Sport
England’s partners can manage procurements quickly and efficiently,
whilst benefiting from reduced rates secured by competitive
tendering.
Sport England set up the groups to drive its own efficiency
savings and ensure continuing high standards of quality but this is
now being opened up to our partners.
The process works in easy steps. After contacting Sport England
and signing up to the scheme, partners are sent the list of service
providers in the relevant group and their maximum day rates. They
are then able to invite the organisations to bid for the work in a
competitive market environment – saving them time and helping get
maximum value for money from their public investment in sport.
The scheme, known as the “Strategic Planning Framework for
Sport”, mirrors those already in existence in other major public
sector procurement areas such as IT and construction.
Charles Johnston, Sport England’s Property Director, said:
“At a time when public sector finances are under increasing
pressure, it’s important that we do everything we can to secure
value for money from every pound spent. That’s why we’ve helping
our partners to be more efficient. We want them to get the best
possible advice to ensure that the right facilities are built in
the right places for people to continue to use for years to
come.”
The panels will be available to access in September. Interested
partners should contact Nick Evans at Sport England on 08458 508
508 or email: planningforsport@sportengland.org
John Carleton, Local Partnerships Chief Executive, welcomed the
announcement. He said:
“As advocates of modern commissioning, Local Partnerships fully
supports the new Framework Agreement put in place by Sport England.
This new approach will greatly support local authorities and other
bodies in the appointment of consultants.”
Notes to Editors
The five groups are:
- Strategic Planning – Offering similar services to those
undertaken for the Facilities Improvement Service
Panel members: Continuum Sport & Leisure; Kit Campbell
Associates; Leisure Futures and; Neil Allen Associates
- Needs Assessment – The undertaking of needs assessments
in accordance with PPG 17
Panel members: Kit Campbell
Associates, Knight, Kavanagh & Page, Neil Allen Associates
- Playing Pitch Strategies – the undertaking of playing
pitch strategies in accordance with Sport England
guidance
Panel members: Knight Kavanagh & Page,
Neil Allen Associates
- Town Planning Support – including planning policy,
planning negotiation, submission of planning
applications
Panel members: Bidwells, Entec, Impact
Consulting, Land Use Consultants, Martin Elson, Nathaniel Lichfield
& Partners
- Sport Specific Facility Strategies – production or
review of facility strategies for National Governing Bodies of
sport
Panel members: Knight Kavanagh & Page, Neil
Allen Associates, Trio Plus
Partners who can access the panels are: local authorities,
Regional Development Agencies, Urban Development Corporations;
Urban Regeneration Companies; Greater London Authority; Homes and
Communities Agency, LOCOG, Partnership for Schools, County Sports
Partnerships, UK Sport and; recognised National Governing Bodies of
Sport
Sport England invests National Lottery and Exchequer funding in
organisations and projects that will grow and sustain participation
in grassroots sport and create opportunities for people to excel at
their chosen sport.
Sport England is committed to creating a world-leading community
sport system, and has set specific and measurable targets to
achieve by 2012/13:
- One million people doing more sport
- A 25% reduction in the number of 16- to 18-year-olds who drop
out of at least five key sports
- Improved talent development systems in at least 25 sports
- A measurable increase in people’s satisfaction with their
experience of sport
- A major contribution to the delivery of the five hour sports
offer for children and young people.