This area of our portfolio has developed and expanded as more local authorities’ contract private operators and arms length trusts to manage their sport and leisure facilities and services.

We offer experience and expertise supporting clients to assess the potential of and, as relevant, source the appropriate partner at the right price to deliver facility management and sports development contracts and services.

We also assist local authorities to develop ‘in-house’ bids to manage services as well as supporting established trusts to bid for neighbouring authority’s contracts. We are, as a result, well aware of the key potential pitfalls and challenges associated with this type of project such as:

• Property issues – lease arrangements (full or part repairing), dual/joint use agreements, defining areas of responsibility, maintenance, condition surveys and asset management plans.
• Staffing issues – TUPE, staff liabilities, single tier workforce and pensions.
• Private sector partnerships – hybrid arrangements, rate relief, payment mechanisms, cost of capital and capital investment requirements.
• Outcomes – service quality, investment requirements and contract price
• Approach – negotiated process and a detailed evaluation of submissions

Managing risk – Importantly we develop as standard practice for our clients, a risk register for the authority undertaking the procurement process to ensure that all elements of the process are fully thought through.