Sporting Assets is social enterprise that helps develop sustainable sports and community businesses, often by taking ownership of facilities, developing new ones and by helping to create or diversify revenue streams.
We cover the whole process, from studies to assess whether a project is feasible, to business development to help organisations plan for the future, and finally to raising finance or taking on facilities.
We can help with anything from a one day workshop to a project over many years, working with you at each stage of the journey.
Please click on one of the three options below for further information.
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
Feasibility studies are typically undertaken in the very early stages of a project, before significant time and money are invested. We use the methods listed below to inform clients whether a project is viable and which factors need to be considered before proceeding.
Strategic and Policy Review
• Review of key local, sub-regional, regional and national strategy, policy and other relevant documents
• Their impact on the proposed project
Demand and Supply Analysis
• Demographic profiling of the local area
• Review of the sporting habits and activities of the local population
• Analysis of sports facility provision locally
Stakeholder Consultation
• Consultation with a broad range of key stakeholders such as the local community, governing bodies, local authorities, schools, clubs and other user groups
Outline Design Options and Capital Costs (Delivered by our partner Saville Jones)
• Outline designs
• Outline costings
• Planning and associated implications and issues
• Illustrative framework options for the site showing different land uses/zones of activity for the options
SPORTS AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
We offer a variety of services to help clients ensure that their organisations have the necessary foundations to:
• Plan for future growth or sustainability;
• Communicate this plan to key stakeholders; and
• Become “investment ready” and increase the likelihood of securing investments or grants.
Governance and Leadership
• Legal setup: Review of legal structure of the organisation to ensure it is fit for purpose. Options and recommendations for changes needed for future expansion, change of operational structure or financing.
• Operational structure: Review of operational model. Recommendations on what changes are required to future proof it for business expansion or additional services.
• Skills audit: Consultation with the board to understand what skills are required now and in the future. Skills audit and interviews with board members to identify the range of experience on the board and which areas need strengthening.
Growth and Business Planning
• Market potential review: Work with organisation to refine their understanding of how much they can expand their different services given their position in the market and partnerships. Interviews and market testing across a range of stakeholders to understand the relevant demand drivers and services that might be factored into current or future operations.
• Financial model: Creation of financial model to underpin the business plan. The model can be created for different uses, such as to show how much repayable finance can be serviced or to test the financial impact of different options for growth.
• Business plan: Creation of business plan for a range of uses; such as externally to present a case for investment, or internally as an operational guide.
Financial Management
• Financial management review: Full review of the organisation’s financial systems, controls and procedures, along with recommendations on how to improve each area.
• Financial management implementation: Assist the organisation’s staff with implementing recommendations from the financial management review.
Social Impact Management (Delivered by our partner Substance)
• Theory of change: Workshops with organisation and stakeholders to identify the needs they are trying to address, the changes they want to make, and what they plan to do to achieve this.
• Social Impact Measurement: Set up of impact measurement system and training on how to use it.
RAISING FINANCE
We have extensive experience in raising and combining different forms of finance, including:
• Social investment
• Community shares
• Grants
• Bank finance
• Donations and fundraising
• Crowdfunding
Options Analysis
• Outline of the project approach, timeline, critical success factors and possible funding mixes.
Social Investment and Tax Reliefs
• Review of which social investment options are possible, the pros and cons of each, and factors for the board to consider.
• Assessment of which tax reliefs will be available given the type of investments proposed.
• Preparation and submission of application to HMRC for advance assurance for chosen tax relief.
Grant Applications
• Grant search to investigate which grants are available
• Review of grant applications prepared by clients
Investor Engagement
• Preparation of prospectus for investors.
• Identification of potential investors and discussions to extract expressions of interest and initial offers.
• Management of due diligence process required by investors.
• Help to negotiate and close proposed investors into the project.