The Sport and Leisure Consultancy Blog

Publication of the review of football in Scotland makes interesting reading, not least because it confirms what many involved in the game and sport in general already know. Damningly the report concludes that facilities are in crisis, are “pathetically inadequate” and in need of mouth to mouth resuscitation in the form of £500m investment. Although the focus is on football the reports findings could also be easily applied to swimming, athletics, tennis – indeed a whole host of other sports.

Improved facilities on their own will not solve sports ills, but it is widely recognised that attractive, welcoming, well designed facilities increase participation and enable talented athletes to realise their potential.

We live in hope (but not expectation) that the Scottish Government can find the investment needed to tackle the appalling state of many pitches and pavilions, but would urge it to go much further and invest and protect the entire sporting infrastructure. Many politicians who talk up the benefits of sport and are happy to be linked with sporting achievements now have an opportunity to walk up to the plate. An election seems an ideal time to ask those who seek are seeking our support ‘what will you do for sport in the run up to 2014?”

The last two months have seen The Sport and Consultancy delivering projects and winning new business. Despite the prevailing economic conditions business continues to be brisk. Whether this is the last throw of the dice before the public sector cuts promised by all political parties, post-election, kick in or whether it demonstrates greater resilience in the sport and culture sector remains to be seen.

The consultancy is now well established in Scotland  and our evolving client list is evidence of our arrival on the scene as a major player.

We would like to welcome the following new and returning clients in 2010:

• City of Edinburgh Council: Sports facilities and pitches strategy
• Scottish Borders Council (in an Associate capacity) : Sports facilities and pitches strategy
• Museums Galleries Scotland: Quality framework
• SkillsActive: Lecturers into industry – Evaluation study.

In the course of our work we sometimes come up against objections to implementing ‘big hairy’ solutions – not because they don’t address the problem but because of the fear that the organisation or people who will be affected by the decision are not ready for such stupendous change or upheaval.

Alan Weiss www.contrarianconsulting.com sets out humans capacity to adapt thus: “We’ve had floods in the northeastern US, a volcanic eruption, earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, and China. Despite these huge hardships, loss of life, and economic damage, life continues. Humans are resilient. How is it that your colleagues or your clients can tell you that a new idea or initiative is too traumatic to implement, or an unexpected event was too staggering to permit any thought of new projects? People tend to lose perspective. Business, like life, goes on.”