What our clients say

"From inception to completion, I can't speak highly enough of the whole team at SLC. At every stage of the process, I was offered balanced and sound advice, tailored specifically to the needs of my individual report, rather than an "off-the-shelf" piece of work. The level of support and turnaround time was exceptional, and the quality of the final report was first-class. The team's deep understanding of the industry and best practices was evident in their professionalism and the advice they provided. They demonstrated an excellent grasp of the journey that not only Stoke-on-Trent Leisure and Wellbeing services need to undertake but also the broader industry's challenges and opportunities. In addition to their expertise, the team at SLC was friendly and welcoming, making the entire experience a pleasure to work with them." Neal Morrell, Strategy Manager, Leisure and Wellbeing Service Stoke City Council

"SLC have been an integral part of the GM ‘pivot’ work to date. Their workstreams were important components of a wider programme of work catalysing long term transformative change in public sector leisure. The team went above and beyond, bringing added value and expertise to the project as it evolved. Their passion, knowledge and attention to detail have been valued. As a whole project team, we learnt together; exploring approaches to the complex challenges in the sector, so that it can play its full role in improving population health and address inequalities across Greater Manchester." Richard Davis-Boreham, Strategic Director – Place and Operations Greater Manchester Moving

"The Council considers SLC as our 'go to' consultant. SLC are always at the forefront and driving change and progression across the sector. Their friendly but professional approach, knowledge, expertise, connections and reputation is second to none, and they maintain a blue sky thinking and outside of the box approach to the delivery of bespoke projects and pieces of work that are tailored and place based. We look forward to working with Duncan, Toby and the team again soon" Mark Hammond, Community Infrastructure and Development Manager  Malvern Hills District Council

"SLC's experience, guidance and support, throughout the leisure transformation programme, has been invaluable. David, Anna and Chetan were integral to the Council's team, supporting both senior officers and Members in a friendly, yet professional manner. The sharing of their expert knowledge of the industry ensured we achieved the best outcome for the leisure services for our residents." Marianne Donnelly, Internal Change Consultant Northumberland County Council

"SLC were great to work with, they spent time working with us to understand the brief and delivered quality outcomes in a timely manner. All of the team were easy to work with. We enjoyed the collaborative approach and appropriate challenge and this alongside extensive skills and expertise really added value to the final outcome. I would not hesitate to recommend." Jo Ireland, Assistant Director: Culture, Leisure, Archives & Libraries North Yorkshire Council

"We have worked with SLC for a number of years on a range of different projects which was highly beneficial as it ultimately led to a successful procurement process. SLC bring market intelligence and unrivalled insight into the cutting edge of leisure services delivery and the procurement process, which is far more complex than we expected. SLC helped enormously with supporting Members and senior officers through the process. The outcome for us is magnificent, more than we expected, and has ensured that Stevenage has future-proofed our leisure offer with the ability to flex and change as our customer demand changes and as the town develops in the future. We could not have achieved this without the support of Toby and the wider team at SLC." Geoff Caine, Culture, Wellbeing and Leisure Services Manager Stevenage Borough Council    

"From start to finish on any given project the SLC team are a professional cohort of talented consultants and associates who are highly qualified and respected from the industry. They are able to turn around high-quality projects at pace and scale to ensure the best outcomes. Working with SLC on the Bury Wellness Strategy has been an intense and challenging project but working together we have created a strategy we are collectively proud of and has been created through a whole system approach to deliver better health outcomes aligned to local strategies." Jackie Veal, Head of Wellness Bury Council

"SLC's work is of the highest possible quality. They are market leaders in sport and leisure consultancy and their extensive leisure industry knowledge and skilled staff enables them to work quickly and flexibly meeting the needs of the client by utilising their expertise to achieve high quality outputs and outcomes. I would definitely recommend using them for your project." Lisa Pottinger, Head of Sport & Physical Activity  London Borough of Tower Hamlets

"SLC have undertaken an extensive piece of pre-procurement work as part of a planned tender exercise of the Council’s main leisure management contract. Including options appraisals, supply and demand analysis, feasibility work and identifying facility investment opportunities, their knowledge and expertise has been invaluable. SLC cover a broad range of disciplines and bring with them extensive experience. Always open to a challenge, they bring fresh ideas, deliver on time and have been a pleasure to work with." Guy Fishbourne, Sport & Physical Activity Development Manager Bristol City Council

“The team brought knowledge, great expertise and insight, drawn from years of experience and understanding of this sector. It was also clear that the team were learning, adapting and embedded GM approach and ways of working and thinking as the work developed. The desire and willingness of the team to both share learning and learn with us and absorb the learning we already have from GM evaluation and experience was refreshing. Many consultants would feel the need and pressure to simply play the role of 'expert'.” Hayley Lever, Exec Lead and CEO GM Moving

“SLC co-produced and delivered complex elements of a major transformation programme for the City’s leisure services as it considers its approach for the next 30 years. Working alongside officers, regularly engaging elected Members, they worked seamlessly across the Council and wider stakeholders as part of an integrated team. Their ability to manage complexity, work flexibly and adapt to changing programme requirements through the pandemic really stood out. You can trust SLC to add significant value and deliver.” Lisa Firth, Director of Culture, Parks & Leisure Sheffield City Council

“In April 2022, SLC were commissioned to undertake a short piece of work, as part of a complex Management Options Appraisal. The team brought a wealth of experience and knowledge, in addition to bringing fresh ideas and quickly developing a sound understanding of key challenges and emerging priorities. The team were both highly professional and approachable and the final output was exactly what was required. SLC’s work is of the highest standard.” Lisa Berry, Commercial Project Manager Salford City Council    

“The Council commissioned SLC to carry out a review of the Council’s leisure service following the Covid-19 pandemic. Like most local authorities the Council’s leisure contract became increasingly challenging throughout 2020 and 2021 and therefore there was a need to review the future of leisure. SLC showed great professionalism, expertise and energy right from the start – engaging with members, senior management and officers and gaining knowledge on the Council’s corporate objectives and strategies as well the service. SLC regularly updated key stakeholders on their work and showed great adaptability and flexibility throughout. Following a number of consultations and workshops SLC eventually produced an in depth, evidence-based report, putting forward innovative options for the future of the Council’s leisure service – which was both strategic and practical, which has set a strong foundation for the Council to build upon.” Rikin Taylor, Head of Corporate Finance Westminster City Council

“SLC have produced an insightful diagnostic report which will support the Councils immediate strategic needs pre procurement. It was evident from the onset that the team at SLC has extensive leisure industry knowledge, including the impact of Covid and how the market is recovering. Throughout the project SLC ensured our needs were met and have helped us identify key workstreams. I look forward to working with them again in the future.” Louise Randall, Leisure Manager North Herts District Council    

“SLC produced a comprehensive report that gives a clear analysis of inactivity in Islington and what can be done to address it. Its recommendations are a major component in the Proactive Islington Strategy.” John Thorne, Leisure and Physical Activity Manager Islington Council

"SLC provided a comprehensive financial report that informed the Council's decision making to reopen their leisure centres at a very challenging time during the COVID-19 pandemic. The detailed analysis of our operator's financial forecast enabled us to understand the financial consequences and allowed us to remobilise leisure centres once Government lifted the restrictions on the industry so that residents could get back to being physically active, which was much needed during this time." Nicky Boothroyd, Facilities Contracts Manager Manchester City Council (MCR Active)

"SLC's support was invaluable when looking at the Covid support for our leisure provider, their industry expertise and ability to translate that into how we could respond really supported our decision making around this complex and uncertain area. They were also accessible at short notice and for lots of last minute questions." Julia Smith, Director Communities and Wellbeing, Harborough District Council

“SLC supported the Council with a robust independent management options appraisal during the COVID crisis in summer 2020. Although the Council had been with the same outsourced operator for over 20 years, SLC’s understanding of the Council’s aspirations for leisure and insight regarding the impact of COVID on the sector led to the conclusion that the optimum solution for South Kesteven was to run its four leisure facilities through a Local Authority Trading Company. Following this decision SLC supported the Council in developing a business and mobilisation plan for the new company, Leisure SK, which was ready for business in January 2021 and following lockdown opened the centres in April 2021. SLC’s independent advice and insight were vital building blocks in helping us secure the post-COVID future for leisure in the district through Leisure SK at an extremely difficult time for public leisure services”. Karen Whitfield, Head of Leisure, South Kesteven District Council

“SLC’s expert support and advice throughout a very challenging period for the Council was invaluable in securing a positive outcome for our leisure services. They were flexible in their approach when Covid-19 led to a required change in direction and their industry expertise and knowledge together with clearly presented and timely solutions added real value to the contract extension negotiations and enabled the Council to make fully informed decisions. Communication was superb - always available by phone, quick to reply to emails and reports were always turned round within agreed deadlines even when these were very tight. We were very happy with the support provided by SLC and wouldn’t hesitate to use them again.” Mark Aldous, Senior Leisure & Cultural Services Officer, Assets & Commercial Services

"Thurrock Council recommended SLC to me, and I have not been disappointed." Martin Randall, Director for Communities Adur District and Worthing Borough Councils

"Duncan and his team at SLC took our brief to develop an exciting and meaningful future strategy aimed at making a difference in recreational swimming and delivered a powerful and innovative set of recommendations that have given the organisation a purposeful direction for its future. Particularly impressive was the skill and tenacity they showed in ensuring a wide cross section of the Foundation’s many partner organisations contributed to the plan, spanning the Charity, NGB, commercial, public, and voluntary sectors; crucial to an organisation reliant on co-operation from all those involved in the delivery of public swimming across the UK." Anthony Kendall OBE, Chair  Swimathon Foundation

"SLC fully met our project brief and expectations, providing exceptional quality of work and value for money. Their outstanding industry knowledge and experience was reflected in their work and provided invaluable re-assurance to the Council. Toby and his colleagues were very professional and accommodating at adapting to necessary changes in the project remit. Waverley was extremely satisfied with all elements of the project and it has been a pleasure to work with SLC on this project from start to finish." Tamsin McLeod, Leisure Services Manager Waverley Borough Council

"We used SLC to support the re-tendering of our Leisure Contract in 2018 and found their industry knowledge and experience to be excellent. Consequently we were very pleased to be able to secure their services for this assignment and they did not disappoint - will definitely use again." Graham Rowe, Partnership Services Manager, Crawley Borough Council

"I don’t think you’ll regret using SLC. My personal view, is that compared to another consultancy the Council have used on leisure matters, they are head and shoulders above them in terms of market knowledge and reporting." Marie Percival, Regeneration and Property Officer Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

"The team provided expert advice and current market insight at every step of the way, including the development of clear strategic priorities, an innovative service specification and a procurement strategy which secured engagement from bidders despite a highly competitive and busy market. Their professional but supportive and friendly approach means that they’re easy to work with, accessible and extremely reliable. The result was outstanding, exceeding all expectations – revenue savings of over £10M over the term of the contract, reduced risk to the Council and a new robust and innovative specification which extends the reach and impact of the service. We couldn’t have asked for more from SLC and would highly recommend them to anybody looking for procurement support." Chris Fennell, Leisure & Community Section Head Watford Borough Council

"The SLC team worked with us in a collaborative way in sometimes difficult circumstances (during Covid 19) and produced a high standard of work which was very well presented. I would have no hesitation in working with SLC in the future and hope to be able to do so." Michael Samways, Ebbsfleet Development Corporation

"The team at SLC produced an insightful report which will support our corporate decision making process to ensure that the built and natural environments at Ebbsfleet help create active communities. SLC went above and beyond to ensure that our needs as their client were met and have helped us to identify our next steps in order to deliver the strategy." Miriam Fagbemi, Community and Health Project Manager Ebbsfleet Development Corporation

"SLC's support was very responsive and proactive throughout a project that underwent a number of changes" Paul O'Driscoll MRICS, Commercial Surveyor

"SLC have always been responsive, adaptable, helpful and professional, even after they finished the main commission for us; I wouldn’t hesitate to use them again." Howard Bright, Principal Development Manager Peterborough Investment Partnership

"The Cabinet were extremely pleased with the outcome of the procurement exercise, and Officers and I want to record our appreciation of the hard work of your team in helping to achieve such an excellent outcome." Sheena Ramsey, Managing Director Worcester City Council

"We have worked with SLC for a number of years, from our perspective they are market leaders and the go to people in terms of consultancy, these guys have worked in the industry and have a realistic but ambitious approach. The credibility of SLC from both clients and contractors is second to none." Geoff Caine, Culture, Wellbeing and Leisure Services Manager Stevenage Borough Council

"This is the second time we’ve commissioned SLC to undertake an end of year review and once again it’s proven to be hugely valuable. Effective commissioning isn’t just about putting in place the right arrangements with the right partners, it’s about making sure the services are delivered in the right way on an ongoing basis. To have our contract independently reviewed by industry experts who really understand what good looks like and who tell you what you need to know rather than what you might want to hear is why SLC are our ‘go to’ consultants." Chris Fennell, Head of Leisure and Environmental Services Watford Borough Council

"It has been a pleasure working with Toby and the team. They demonstrated a wealth of knowledge and experience that was extremely valuable to us. Their professionalism and the quality of their work is remarkable and we would not hesitate to work with them again in the future." Fotini Vickers, Leisure Services Manager Waverley Borough Council

"SLC provided initial procurement project insight as part of our wider review of our sports strategy and enabled us to gain sign off from our Trustees to progress with the partnering of our sports provision. The additional procurement work performed by SLC to assist us in procuring our operating partner was instrumental and has helped to shape the future of our sports under the Westway. Overall, we are very grateful for the advice and continued support and look forward to working with SLC again in the future." Stephen Wren, Director Westway Trust

“SLC’s comprehensive evidence was pivotal in securing a positive planning outcome to allow the former Templars Tennis Club in Golders Green to be developed with eight houses and a new consolidated community multi-sports facility. I would not hesitate to use them again or recommend their services”. Luke Raistrick Centro Planning Consultancy