SSL Continue to Provide the Highest Standards

Surfacing Standards Limited

ISO 9001 is the internationally recognized standard for Quality Management Systems. It is the most widely used Quality Management System standard in the world.

Auditors have recently reviewed SSL’s management procedures and have confirmed that we continue to achieve ISO 9001 standards across all areas of the company. This is independent verification that SSL continue to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements.

At SSL we are confident that our service offering always meets the very highest standards. To ensure we maintain our position as industry leading sports facility consultants we are constantly striving to improve our service offering. So the recent audit is something we value and take very seriously.

The audit found zero areas of ‘major’ non-compliance and zero areas of ‘minor’ non-compliance. We received positive comments against 12 aspects of our management system including operational planning, support services, service provision, design/development and document control.

We are delighted with the recognition and look forward to providing a high quality service to existing and future SSL clients.

SSL ‘Exactly the Company Needed’ for Pitch Resurface

Surfacing Standards Limited

At SSL we have extensive experience when it comes to synthetic pitch resurface projects. And we were delighted with the feedback received following our role overseeing the resurface of the synthetic pitch at Lodge Park Sports Centre in Corby.

SSL were appointed by Corby Borough Council to provide consultancy services relating to the resurface of one of their key leisure community assets.

As Kevin Williams, Sports Centre Leisure Manager, explains; “I was looking for a company to assist as I had no prior knowledge of what needed doing or how to put a specification together for such a project. It soon turned out that SSL were exactly the company that I needed.”

“Apart from undertaking the project during Covid-19 and all the issues that it brought, I think it’s a testament to SSL that there were no specific issues that weren’t resolved very quickly. The service meant that the project was very easy to handle from my perspective”.

“It was soon very easy to see the level of understanding that you have of your business and the needs of the client. SSL have a reputation that makes a client feel at ease and confident that you will deliver a high standard of service…which you did. Many thanks to Nick and all those involved at SSL”.

Following a detailed review of the old pitch by an experienced SSL Surveyor, we provided the council with a detailed survey report before advising on options for refurbishment and budget cost projections. After a design was agreed, SSL developed a contract specification that the council could issue to tender. Our pitch specific knowledge was vital in assisting with the analysis of contractor tender bids. We were also able to provide reassurance to the council during the works onsite as an SSL Surveyor was assigned to complete quality control inspections to sign off each key stage.

With SSL appointed by numerous other local authorities, schools, universities and sports clubs, we look forward to continuing to work hard to deliver high standard synthetic pitch resurface projects over the coming months.

SSL client is Independent Secondary School of the Year for the North West!

Surfacing Standards Limited

SSL are delighted to hear that Withington Girls’ School has been named North West Independent Secondary School of the Year by The Sunday Times and also regained its position in the top 25 elite independent schools in the UK.

Having been engaged with as sports pitch consultant to deliver the reconstruction of the 20 year old synthetic hockey pitch at the school’s site in South Manchester, SSL are thrilled that the dedication and passion of the staff, pupils and everyone involved at the school has been recognised.

And there is cause for double celebration as the redeveloped synthetic hockey pitch has recently achieved FIH (International Hockey Federation) National certification. This means that the SSL designed facility meets all requirements of the FIH Quality Programme for Hockey Turf. Tests include measurements of how the ball interacts with the playing surface, ensures the surface provides well-being and protection for players and includes checks to confirm the pitch has been built to the dimensions, line marking, slope & surface drainage requirements of the FIH.

This means that the facility meets hockey performance standards that are recognised internationally, something that is certainly something the school can be very proud of.

To hear more about the project and the role SSL played, take a look at the project video…

SSL at Withington Girls’ School

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!

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.  

Ryan Giggs impressed with SSL designed pitch

Surfacing Standards Limited

It’s always good to receive positive feedback. But when the person giving feedback is a 13-time Premier League winner and current Welsh National Team Manager, that’s even better!

SSL were delighted to play a key role in the 3G resurface of the synthetic pitch at Plas Arthur Leisure Centre on the Isle of Anglesey.The new facility was officially opened by Welsh National Team Manager Ryan Giggs, and assistant Osian Roberts. Speaking at the opening, Giggs commented;

“It’s a great facility…I only wish I had this sort of surface whilst I was playing”.

Images kindly provided by Anglesey County Council

As specialist sports pitch consultants, SSL were employed by facility development experts Alliance Leisure to prepare a detailed construction specification and design drawings. This was issued to specialist contractors to price against, with Dura-Sport Ltd securing the contract. When the works progressed onsite, SSL’s experienced team carried out quality control inspections to provide reassurance that the expected high quality construction standards were being achieved.

The opening of the pitch was marked by a tournament featuring pupils from the island’s five high schools. SSL are pleased to have played an important part in delivering what is the first full size 3G pitch on the Isle of Anglesey, a major investment by Isle of Anglesey County Council.

The FAW Trust play a key role in growing football participation and a video of the 3G pitch opening can be viewed via their website;

http://www.fawtrust.cymru/get-inspired/news/wales-manager-ryan-giggs-opens-angleseys-first-3g-pitch/

SSL deliver refurb of Cheshire sports courts

Surfacing Standards Limited

Just 37 days since construction started, over 3500m2 of macadam sports courts in Cheshire have been successfully refurbished in a project carefully designed and overseen by SSL.

SSL were first engaged by Helsby High School in May 2018 to provide an independent assessment and outline cost options to refurbish two blocks of old unusable macadam courts. With a preferred option identified, SSL developed a detailed specification document complete with bill of quantities and a suite of design drawings before tendering the scheme to several specialist contractors. Construction works were commenced by Fosse Contracts Ltd on 10th October with SSL carrying our key stage checks during the build to ensure the required industry construction standards were achieved.

The of 29th November saw official project handover, just 37 work days since works commenced!

Despite the winter weather kicking in, the school is now able to increase their sports provision, not just for pupils, but also for the local community.

A time lapse of the construction phase can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uQjns35ROI