Bespoke Synthetic Pitch for Withington Girls’ School

Surfacing Standards Limited

SSL are delighted to formally handover the reconstructed external sports facilities at Withington Girls’ School.

The project involved reconstruction of the school’s synthetic pitch which has also been performance tested as part of the FIH Quality Programme for Hockey Facilities. As part of the design, SSL incorporated customised team shelters and school logo’s within the synthetic pitch surrounds. This has created a bespoke facility that has immediately impressed both school staff and pupils alike.

Customised team shelters

The independent school, based in Manchester, selected SSL as project consultant to provide independent advice on options to refurbish the 20 year old synthetic turf pitch and upgrade the tarmac tennis courts. SSL’s consultants carried out feasibility work and provided outline cost options, all supported by extensive survey work of the old synthetic pitch.

Having provided an evaluation to the school on the different options available, SSL then developed a detailed schedule of works before administering a formal tender process on the school’s behalf.

After a final survey of the works, one of several carried out by SSL throughout the project, SSL confirmed that practical completion had been achieved and the facilities could be handed over to the school to put into use.

The project marks another successful sports facility project delivered by SSL within the UK independent school sector.

SSL Achieve Quality Accreditation

Surfacing Standards Limited

SSL are delighted to have achieved a prestigious quality accreditation

ISO 9001:2015 is an internationally recognised benchmark that specifies requirements for an effective quality management system within an organisation. 

Following an independent assessment, our range of consultancy services consistently exceeded both client and statutory requirements and this accreditation provides recognition of this fact.

At SSL we regularly receive excellent feedback from our clients. To achieve this positive feedback, and continue to ensure the service we provide rises above client expectation, involves a great deal of work from the SSL team.

The ISO 9001:2015 accreditation is a reflection of the excellent quality procedures in place at SSL.

Striking Night-time Images of SSL Facility

Surfacing Standards Limited

Maximising community usage is a key consideration for the majority of 3G pitch installations. And these striking night-time images of the Madeley Ski Centre facility in Telford show just what can be achieved.

It’s now over 9 months since construction was completed on the SSL designed facility that meets both FIFA Quality & FIH Multi-Sport performance standards. The state-of-the-art floodlighting system incorporates the latest LED technology. As these images illustrate, light spillage is carefully controlled to keep light pollution over surrounding areas to a bare minimum. This has ensured that the facility, despite being in a rural setting, can be used outside daylight hours.

The project represents another carefully designed SSL synthetic pitch project that is now benefiting hundreds of community users and has been used for training purposes by AFC Telford United FC.

If you have a project requiring feasibility work and specialist sports pitch design input, contact us to discuss how our experienced team can assist.

Images courtesy of Musco Lighting.

Hockey Club Delighted with SSL Consultancy

Surfacing Standards Limited

SSL were pleased to be chosen as specialist sports pitch consultant by Chelmsford Hockey Club and Chelmsford City Council, for a joint project to resurface two synthetic hockey pitches.

Chelmsford Hockey Club boast 16 senior sides and the support provided by SSL throughout the project was vital. As Club President Spencer Wilcox explains; “From a hockey perspective, we’re delighted with both pitches. They play consistently well and have drawn favourable comments not just from members, but also visiting sides. Our pitch is used by juniors aged 5 right up to vets in their 70s so it is genuinely supporting hockey across the generations!…We’re also hosting the O40s regional finals for the second time in June – and hope to get the same favourable comments from the guys (some of whom are ex-internationals) as we got last year. Our pitch is also used by Essex HA for junior and development coaching. As for SSL, we and the council wouldn’t have wanted to enter into this joint project without the support of a consultancy firm – and SSL did an excellent job for us at a sensible cost. So many thanks for that!”

Having been engaged to carry out a condition survey on both facilities, SSL first provided outline costings for different possible design solutions before preparing a construction specification to enable a competitive formal tender process to take place.

Several tenders were received by contractors bidding to secure the contract. SSL completed a detailed commercial analysis of each bid to ensure like for like comparison before assessing each bid against quality criteria.

When works commenced onsite, SSL were on hand to complete a schedule of key stage inspections and also ensure material samples were collected and laboratory tested to confirm compliance with the specification.

With the performance of the shockpad layer being so critical to hockey performance, SSL ensured the existing shockpad layers to both pitches were thoroughly tested as part of the project.

The double pitch resurface provides another important hockey pitch project completed by SSL. And we’re pleased to once again receive such positive feedback from a UK hockey club!

SSL Committed to UK Sport Development

Surfacing Standards Limited

Surfacing Standards are pleased to be backing UK Sport development having recently provided sponsorship to the Sheffield team competing at the British Diving Championships 2019.

Hosted at the Royal Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh, the event is the most prestigious domestic diving event in Great Britain, with GB’s top divers competing for British titles.

Steve Wilcockson, Managing Director of SSL has a longstanding interest in the sport having previously reached the final of the Armed Forces Diving Championships. As Steve explains “My interest in diving started from the age of 14. That interest continued as I got older, even giving up my time to work as a volunteer at the Aquatics Diving Arena at Ponds Forge, Sheffield during the World Student Games.”

Nikki Smith of Sheffield Diving Club commented “Sheffield Diving had a team of 15 divers competing at the competition, comprising of both junior and senior athletes. We are very grateful to receive the support of Surfacing Standards, it’s fantastic that a major sports facility consultant in the UK is putting something back into UK elite sport. Athletes face many challenges and it’s brilliant to see Surfacing Standards commitment to encouraging and supporting young people.”

The British Diving Championships is often used as a selection meet for the Great Britain senior team. This year the event is the selection competition for several International events including the 2019 World Diving Championships.

As an established sports facility consultant, Surfacing Standards are keen to help support British sport and wish Sheffield Diving every success in the future.

Stunning 6 Pitch Facility Delivered by SSL

Surfacing Standards Limited

Surfacing Standards were pleased to be selected as consultant to deliver one of the largest sports pitch projects ever carried out for a UK education provider!

Set in 220 acres of North Yorkshire countryside, Queen Ethelburga’s College promotes standards to match the very best independent schools in the world. The Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) awarded the College the top grading of ‘Excellent’ following an inspection in February this year.

When it was decided to make a significant investment to create a Sports Village, the College turned to experienced sports pitch consultants SSL to write a detailed design/specification before overseeing the construction of 6 new synthetic turf pitches.

The project created a site that can offer the complete sports development experience with different synthetic turf surface systems to provide elite level performance for various sports including football, rugby and hockey.

We recently took to the skies to fully appreciate the scale of the facilities – CLICK BELOW to download a video link to take a tour of this state-of-the-art development….

Queen Ethelburgas CollegeDownload

SSL exhibiting at ISBA Conference 2019!

Surfacing Standards Limited

We are delighted to confirm that SSL will be exhibiting at the ISBA Conference 2019.

The ISBA (Independent Schools’ Bursars Association) includes more than 960 independent school members and offers a range of services to bursars and senior management staff on all types of school matters.

As independent sports pitch consultants with substantial experience in the independent school sector, SSL provide design and project management services for ISBA members throughout the UK.

The conference takes place at the Manchester Central Convention Complex on Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 22nd May. If you are attending the Conference and have a potential sports facility project you would like advice on, feel free to visit stand Number 100 to meet SSL’s experienced team.  

SSL provide key input to £200m Parklife programme

Surfacing Standards Limited
Jeffrey Humble Playing Fields  (image courtesy of Liverpool Council)

Just over two years since SSL produced various design options as part of a detailed Feasibility Study into this Liverpool Parklife project, the end result looks fantastic!

The scheme at Jeffrey Humble Playing Fields includes three floodlit 3G pitches, changing rooms, a gym and associated car parking. The development will be the home for the Walton and Kirkdale Junior Football League which boasts 38 teams.

It forms part of a £200 million programme to build multi-pitch Parklife hubs across the country and involves a partnership between the FA, the Premier League, local councils and local leagues, Sport England, the Government and the Football Foundation. 

At SSL we pride ourselves on attention to detail and providing a balanced approach to assessing the viability of different development sites. Being an independent consultant with extensive knowledge of sports facility development, SSL are delighted to have been involved in the Liverpool Parklife project, along with many other Parklife schemes across the country.

To hear more about the new facilities, including comments from the Mayor of Liverpool and Chief Executive of Liverpool City Council, please view the below article courtesy of the Liverpool Echo.  www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/liverpools-new-state-art-football-15239646

The Football Foundation, the country’s largest sports charity, are responsible for the delivery of the Parklife programme. For further information about Parklife  please visit www.footballfoundation.org.uk.

SSL deliver stunning facilities for The Manchester Grammar School

Surfacing Standards Limited

SSL are pleased to hand over an impressive new hockey pitch and tennis courts to one of the leading independent schools in the UK!

SSL were appointed by the School to carry out an initial Feasibility Study and outline design. SSL’s experienced team were able to provide expert advice prior to submitting a detailed planning application to Manchester City Council. Following approval, SSL provided a contract specification document accompanied by design drawings as produced by SSL’s in-house CAD design team. This enabled the project to be formally tendered to several specialist contractors.

A careful tender analysis process, based on both price and quality criteria, was carried out by SSL and a report provided to the School.

Following contract award, SSL managed the construction stage on behalf of the school, chairing progress meetings with the contractor Greenfields UK as well as carrying out key stage quality control inspections to provide independent verification that the works were being built to the required high quality standards.

And the end result looks impressive! Facilities include a new floodlit waterbased synthetic hockey pitch, synthetic turf tennis courts and tarmac MUGA/overspill car park. SSL are sure the new development will only serve to enhance the top-class reputation of one of the UK’s leading educational establishments!

A short video illustrating the new facility can be viewed below….

Quality Pitch for Coventry University

Surfacing Standards Limited

SSL were delighted to be selected by Coventry University to assist with the resurface of the synthetic turf hockey pitch at their Westwood Heath site. The pitch has recently been awarded FIH National certification confirming that the facility has been resurfaced to the highest standard.

Having been employed in the early stages of the project to provide the University with independent design advice and guidance, SSL’s experienced staff were on hand to provide quality assurance via a series of key stage surveys.

SSL have provided a high quality service to a number of Universities and higher educational institutions in recent years, with this project marking the most recent impressive example.