As SLC reflects on the last year, we are delighted with the success of 2016/2017 and are looking forward to continuing to support our existing client base and forging some new partnerships in the upcoming year. SLC has successfully delivered over 50 projects for clients in local government, education, the third sector and private sector in the last 12 months.

Highlights

Leisure Procurements

SLC is rapidly becoming the UK’s leading advisor on leisure procurement. We supported Slough Borough Council in their leisure procurement who managed to secure future savings of c. £13M over 10 years linked to transformation in services for Slough residents. SLC also supported East Northamptonshire Council to secure savings of c. £3M over 10 years including the creation of an outreach service for this rural District. Finally, we secured savings of c. £10M for Westway Trust, over ten years linked to a major investment in their facilities. (Westway Trust have played a key role in supporting the victims of the Grenfell fire tragedy and we would like to acknowledge their vital role).

SLC is currently supporting West Lindsey DC, North Kesteven DC, Barrow DC, Watford BC, de Stafford School and Crawley BC in their upcoming procurements in 2017 / 2018 many of which include cultural facilities.

Planning Clout

SLC played a key role in securing planning permission for a developer in Camden after a complex four year planning process. SLC’s Anna Daton provided the detailed needs, supply and demand analysis and supporting business case to provide evidence for a residential and leisure planning application on a former leisure site.  SLC’s evidence was pivotal in the case being won for the appellant with full costs awarded.

New facility in Scotland

At SLC, we love to see a project come to fruition. This year, saw the development of The Quay Zone in Girvan, South Ayrshire, Scotland. In 2013, the Council appointed SLC to review the business plan and undertake a feasibility study in which SLC helped find an alternative design solution that would be more affordable and sustainable. Our work was critical in finding a solution that met local needs and was deliverable.

Other news

SLC supported our first international client this year, supporting Galway City Council and Galway Salthill Failte Ltd, Ireland with a leisure feasibility study for tourist destination and leisure facility, Leisureland which is ongoing.

Paul Kelly, one of the UK’s most respected Leisure Consultants will be joining SLC as a Director. Paul’s role will be to further bolster SLC’s dominant position in the leisure and culture procurement market and support the growth of the business through longer term projects, programmes and partnerships. Up until joining SLC, Paul has worked as a freelance consultant supporting an extensive number of leisure development and procurement projects across the UK and NI, delivering cumulative annual savings in excess of £7m in recent years and more than £70m of capital investment.

SLC is supporting a number of Councils in complex and currently confidential leisure regeneration schemes many of which are progressing to full developments working with Paul Weston our Associate Architect. Paul’s contribution has been hugely valued by our clients and the SLC team.

Think Tank Seminars

SLC has also hosted three facilitated Think Tank events this year which have provided over 35 Councils with examples of best practice on Leisure Procurement and provided an opportunity for delegates to discuss their issues and challenges with peers and our expert team.

We are looking forward to building upon the success of previous Think Tanks, providing more events on sustainable leisure and cultural services linked to leisure procurement, asset management, and management options this coming Autumn. (Manchester 27 September and Birmingham 28 September). Further details can be found here.

Strategic Partnerships

SLC has also created two strategic partnerships to provide our clients with a broader range of complimentary services. SLC have partnered with Set Square Surveyors who provide leisure / culture-specific condition surveys and lifecycle advice developed with SLC, supporting clients such as West Lindsey DC, North Kesteven DC, Crawley BC, Bury Council and West Berkshire Council.

Additionally, SLC has recently partnered with BSSEC, who provide energy-efficiency and carbon reduction solutions for clients and their leisure / cultural facilities. BSECC have worked with over 600 clients over the past 10 years, assisting them in identifying how much more efficient their assets can become, linked to invest to save opportunities including simple audits through to fully managed multi-site, technical implementation programmes. Working with BSSEC we can design, manage and implement all aspects of your asset’s energy efficiency plan.

Client Feedback

Getting outstanding results for our clients is what gives us the greatest satisfaction. We review all completed projects with our clients and they score us on a number of factors from 0-4. Our combined client scores for projects in the last 12 months is currently at 95%. Some examples of written feedback include:

  • ‘SLC added significant value throughout the planning process on issues that are not mainstream.’
  • ‘The intelligence from the current market was invaluable for benchmarking our services.’
  • ‘We were extremely pleased with the quality of the advice received and professionalism involved.’

Duncan Wood-Allum, Managing Director said, “I’d like to thank all our clients for entrusting their projects to SLC over the last 12 months and our wonderful team for all their hard work. The support SLC’s Chairman, Richard Leman has been a real factor in our managed growth this year. We’ll be recruiting further over the next 12 months in response to unprecedented demand for our services.”