Sports Solutions GB, a consultancy specialising in sports facility development projects, has expanded its Swindon-based team, having recently been appointed to work with Oldham Athletic FC to deliver a scheme to develop new sports facilities at a 30 acre site in Failsworth. The proposed £20m facility will include a mixed use 15,000 seat stadium, leisure amenities, a range of community sports facilities, artificial pitches and a health and fitness centre.
Dougal Nicholls has joined the SSGB team as an Associate to assist in developing the business and supporting Project Managers and Directors on its expanding portfolio of sports facility development projects. Dougal was previously Director of Consulting at pmpgenesis and has over sixteen years of experience in successfully managing and delivering a wide range of projects in both the public and private sector.
Dougal has managed and delivered a wide range of projects ranging from strategic planning and facility development projects to event feasibility and bidding, including development of Swansea’s Liberty Stadium, sportscotland’s National and Regional Sports Facility Strategy, the Rugby World Cup 2015 England Bid, Twenty/20 Cricket World Cup Bid and Facility Legacy Planning for Commonwealth Games 2010 in Delhi.
A further addition to the team is Graduate Consultant, Toby Wintgens. Having graduated from University of Southampton with a First Class Honours degree in Sports Management and Leadership, Toby will be responsible for supporting Project Managers and Directors on a range of sports facility projects, where his interest and enthusiasm in sport will be invaluable.
From its head office at South Marston Park, the larger team will enable Sports Solutions GB to help more sports clubs, Local Authorities and schools deliver much needed community sports facilities, which are recognised as playing a key part in improving the health and fitness of young people and adults throughout the UK. The team has recently been appointed to work with Marlborough Tennis Club to develop additional facilities. This is in addition to recent appointments to work on proposed community sports facilities in Fylde, Witney and Inverclyde.
In addition to these new projects, the team at Sports Solutions GB is currently working on a number of projects which are at the stage where planning applications have been submitted, including the development of £1m community sports facilities in Wadebridge. The team has extensive experience in helping clubs and organisations secure grant funding, which has helped many communities realise their dream of new sports facilities. Thame recently benefited from over £1.4m of funding which Sports Solutions GB helped to secure, and a new Community Football Hub is currently being built and will be open in autumn 2010.
Chris Bevan, Sports Solutions GB’s Managing Director, said “We are delighted to be in the position to strengthen our team with two new recruits, particularly during the challenging economic climate. With community sports facility projects and grass roots sports being recognised as being vital to the improving the health and fitness of the UK’s children and teenagers, our team is working on a number of new schemes. With a larger team we are well equipped to help clients successfully deliver community sports facilities which will enable more of the local community to enjoy sport and an active lifestyle.”
