Services

Stage One

Assessment & Feasibility

For many organisations such as schools, community groups, home builders or councils, a new playground or sports facility may be an unfamiliar exercise. For what can be a large investment, we will guide you through the entire process.

We can assist initially by providing you a very detailed grading system of your existing facilities, through to some of the basic yet critical information to assess the viability of a project, and how to start planning for the formal process.

Some considerations and questions include:

What is this going to cost?
What equipment, surfacing and groundworks would be recommended?
How long does a project like this take?
What regulations do I need to follow?
Do I need a maintenance and sinking fund?
Is planning permission needed?
What about drainage, seating and pathways?
How often do I need to inspect the new playground or sports area?

This is the first step to really understanding what is involved and how you should go about getting a new play or sports facility, ultimately leading to the next step: tendering and evaluation.

Stage Two

Tendering & Evaluation

The next step is starting the formal process to find the right, design, equipment and contractor for the work. There are a large number of suppliers in the UK that range considerably in terms of experience, quality, products, coverage, and who and how they manage supply chains – we can help you navigate these and choose the right one for your project.

The 2015 Public Procurement Regulations and the Procurement Act 2023 (to supersede the existing regulations in February 2025) also stipulates the best practice and guidance that councils and other publicly funded bodies need to follow. These regulations were implemented following legal directives that were issued in 2014 based on transparency, non-discrimination and encouraging competition.

Some considerations for this stage include:

How do I write a brief and formal tender?
What should I allow for the budget?
How do I score the submissions?
What if I do not have time to meet or answer the supplier’s questions about the tender?
What technical information will I need to ensure a "fit for purpose" facility?
What are the procurement regulations I should follow?
Should I conduct a public consultation and what is the best approach?

The tender and evaluation process can take many months of planning, publicising, and evaluating the responses. This is probably the most critical stage, and we can make sure you follow the right guidelines and assist you effectively when choosing a contractor.

Once a contractor is selected you can move on to the next stage, contract and project management, which is the process from a purchase order through to a final completion and handover of the facility.

Stage Three

Contract & Project Management

Stage Three

Contract & Project Management

The final and most rewarding stage of the process is the construction phase, as this leads to the finished product and the tangible goal of all the hard work. Although a contractor has been selected, many risks are still present, and any number of factors can cause delays, quality control issues and any number of challenges for you and your organisation.

Our organisation takes away the pain and manages the process on your behalf alongside the contractor. The primary goal is to make the installation process as smooth as possible, while updating you regularly and effectively with complete transparency.

Some considerations for this stage include:

Is there a Building Contract in place?
When will the project start and finish?
What impact will there be on the local community?
How do I know the work is being installed as it should be?
How quickly can an issue be resolved?
Is there a ‘Construction Phase Plan’ in place?
Is everything on track, and what are the risks of delay?

Our goal is to ensure that every stage, right through to the completion of the play or sports facility is to the best standard, and the contractor has met the contractual obligations. Although things can go wrong, our role is to manage these risks in the best interest of you as the end customer.