news and events, pmpgenesis

It’s been one year since Partnerships for Schools announced that local authorities in Building Schools for the Future (BSF) Wave 7 and beyond must have a complete and up-to-date playing fields strategy. For many, this was seen as yet another obstacle on the rocky BSF highway. But, argues Marcus Kingwell, a playing fields strategy can be one of the most powerful and lucrative sports planning documents that a local authority can have.

Skanska-RM is preferred bidder for Essex Building Schools for the Future

Skanska-RM has been selected as preferred bidder for the Essex Building Schools for the Future programme. Initially, this is for the development, construction and maintenance of three schools for Essex County Council: Chelmsford New Model Special School, Cornelius Vermuyden School and Arts College and Castle View School.

New year, new fixtures…but where are the new English players in the Premier League?

“The FA and the Premier League really need to get together immediately on how they’re going to address this situation. For the national team in the future it is looking very, very bleak”. Sam Allardyce (Manager, Blackburn Rovers) [(source: Interview with Sky Sports News – 31/12/09)]

It's a kind of magic...

Attendance figures for the Third Round fixtures of the Football Association Challenge Cup (FA Cup) have been surprisingly low and the media has been quick to use this to raise the question – Does the magic of the FA Cup still exist?

Golden decade of sport provides opportunity for new global industry in UK

Britain’s ‘golden decade of sport’ has begun. The roster starts with the Ryder Cup 2010 in Wales then builds to London 2012, and on to Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games 2014, the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, the Rugby World Cup in 2015, a possible FIFA World Cup in 2018 and the Cricket World Cup in 2019.

Spiceball Leisure Centre completed on-budget and ahead of schedule

Cherwell District Council (CDC) has announced the opening of the new £15m Spiceball Leisure Centre in Banbury, Oxfordshire, which has been completed on budget ahead of schedule.

Council backs £12m wellbeing centre designs

Plans for a new £12m health and wellbeing centre in Newcastle-under-Lyme are now well on their way. Following feasibility and business planning work carried out by pmpgenesis, the new designs for the facility, drawn up by William Saunders Partnership, have also been approved.

An eight point plan to get Scottish football back on track

“Of all the small nations of this earth, perhaps only the ancient Greeks surpass the Scots in their contribution to mankind” - Sir Winston Churchill. Churchill may have been talking about society in general, but it is not too late for a similar enlightenment to occur in Scottish football. The spirit of the beautiful game in Scotland has to be rekindled at all levels. The sport and its key stakeholders are pursuing the wrong goals.

The X Factor – and what it can teach business executives …

The scene is all too familiar. The trembling 18 year old walks into the room and stands in front of the judges with her hopes high. Sandra launches into an unaccompanied version of “Hero” by Mariah Carey. After a cringing verse and thirty seconds of ridicule she is sent on her way in floods of tears. Simon Cowell has told her she can’t sing and her dream is over.

PPG17 study for Cotswold District Council

pmpgenesis has been appointed by Cotswold District Council to undertake a comprehensive study of PPG17 Open Space, Sport and Recreation - to assess the adequacy of, and prepare a strategy for open space, and sports and recreational facilities in the area.