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To request application forms for membership of SAPCA please use the contact details to be found at the bottom of this page or use our on-line Application Pack Request Form by clicking [here] .
Companies join SAPCA for a variety of different reasons. Some of the main benefits of membership are explained below.
Why was SAPCA formed?
SAPCA was launched as the “Sports and Play Contractors’ Association” in 1997, to promote high standards for sports facilities in the UK and to provide a strong voice for the industry. It is a non-profit-seeking Company, limited by guarantee, and funded mainly by its members. By actively representing the industry, the Association has grown significantly in both size and stature since it was launched and now has over 150 members. As well growing in size, SAPCA has also expanded by adding new Groups of members, such as for companies offering professional services, and to include as Affiliate Members other organisations (such as sports governing bodies) with whom the Association works.
SAPCA operates through its own full-time administration that reports to the SAPCA Board of Directors. The Board comprises representatives from different member companies, who are elected by each Group of members. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman of SAPCA are elected by all members at the Annual General Meeting. The individual Groups within SAPCA also actively pursue programmes of work relevant to their own areas of interest.
SAPCA’s Strategy Review: raising standards
As 2002 marked SAPCA’s fifth anniversary, the Board of Directors carried out a Strategy Review in consultation with the membership, in order to plan for the Association’s continued expansion and to prioritise SAPCA’s activities. One of the main conclusions of the Strategy Review was that SAPCA should continue to focus primarily on its essential role of raising standards within the industry. This is being progressed through a number of activities, but most importantly the increased regulation of the industry by SAPCA, through greater vetting and on-going monitoring of member companies, and the provision of a dedicated Training Programme for the industry.
SAPCA is an open and inclusive organisation that welcomes applications for membership from any company actively involved within the industry. However, all applicants must demonstrate that they have the necessary expertise, experience, and professionalism. SAPCA members are required to comply with the Association’s Code of Professional Conduct and to meet the standards of construction laid down in SAPCA’s Codes of Practice. SAPCA has built its reputation (and the support of governing bodies) on the high standards and quality of its membership, and will continue to do so. It does have teeth – companies have been expelled from membership for failing to meet the standards required.
A new name and structure for 2003
Other key issues that resulted from the Strategy Review were the changes to SAPCA’s name and membership structure that were introduced on 1 January 2003. The name of the organisation was changed to The Sports and Play Construction Association, to reflect the fact that SAPCA now represents the industry as a whole, not just one part of it, and to give equal status to all members. The membership structure was revised to reflect the evolution of SAPCA that took place since 1997. Several new membership Groups have been created, so that the structure more clearly identifies the diversity and specialist activities of the membership.
Working with the governing bodies of sport
One of SAPCA’s most important activities is to work closely with the various sports governing bodies and relevant funding agencies, in order to co-operate in raising standards of sports facilities throughout the country. This provides SAPCA with an important voice with which to represent the industry, and to lobby on its behalf. As a result of this liaison, a growing number of these key organisations actively support SAPCA and recommend that those developing sports facilities should use SAPCA members for their projects.
Codes of Practice
One of the most important ways in which SAPCA works to improve standards is through the publication of its Codes of Practice, copies of which are freely available to download from the SAPCA website. Codes of Practice have been produced for the construction of tennis courts, synthetic pitches and athletics tracks, and for the maintenance of synthetic sports surfaces. Further documents are currently being written for sports fencing, sports lighting, the renovation of tennis courts, and the painting of macadam tennis and netball courts. SAPCA has also produced with Sport England a guide to the design and construction of multi-use games areas (MUGAs), which sets minimum standards for projects being funded through the £750 million New Opportunities for PE and Sport Programme. All of these documents are produced by drawing on the expertise and experience within the membership of SAPCA.
Promoting members to their marketplace
Among the many advantages of membership, SAPCA members benefit from exposure to the marketplace through a number of activities, including:
- SAPCA’s close liaison with, and support from, key sports governing bodies, funding agencies and other relevant organisations
- SAPCA’s one-day “Sports Facility Construction” exhibitions and seminars, held regionally each year
- the SAPCA Website
- SAPCA’s partnership with Sports Management magazine, the Association’s official publication
- SAPCA’s participation in a number of other high-profile exhibitions and events
Information on the Sports Facility Construction events, SAPCA’s own one-day exhibitions for members, which are held in different parts of the country each year can be found by visiting the Exhibitions and Events section of the website. These have proved to be very popular with members, offering a very cost-effective way for companies to promote their products and services to a highly-focused audience from the sports facilities marketplace.
The SAPCA website provides a wealth of useful information for anyone developing sports facilities, particularly through the Technical Guidance section. The site includes a searchable database of SAPCA members, and is the most effective way for potential customers to source companies and products for their projects. Each member’s profile within the site includes company information, photographs, a link to their own site, and the inclusion of their trade names in the product directory. Members also have the facility to submit regular stories for inclusion in the Industry News section, such as to promote new products and to highlight important projects in which they have been involved.
SAPCA takes part in a number of other exhibitions, events and seminars in order to promote itself and its members.
Annual Conference for Members
SAPCA’s Annual Conference for Members is one of the most important events of the industry’s year. The Conference provides a valuable opportunity for members to get up-to-date on a wide range of subjects, and to meet with new and existing colleagues from across the industry. It also serves an important function as a source of valuable training for industry personnel.
Information service
SAPCA provides its members with regular News Updates, to ensure that companies are kept up-to-date on a wide range of subjects, from Government policy and funding for sport to the initiatives of sports governing bodies, new regulations affecting the industry to the activities of the Association. For greatest effectiveness and efficiency, SAPCA’s main form of communication with its members is by e-mail.
Networking opportunities
An important benefit of SAPCA membership for many, particularly the industry’s manufacturers and suppliers, is the opportunity to meet up with fellow members at the meetings and events arranged by the Association. In addition to various business meetings, seminars and the Annual Conference, SAPCA also organises an annual golf day – The SAPCA Open. As well as being a very keenly-contested tournament, The SAPCA Open is primarily a social event, for members to enjoy together.
Value for money
SAPCA has already achieved a sound financial base, with each year’s surplus being re-invested into the activities of the Association for the benefit of members. The Annual Membership Fees charged are set each year to enable the continued growth of the Association’s programme of work, while providing good value for money for the benefits provided.
Some companies join SAPCA because they want to benefit from the SAPCA’s promotion of its members, while others are more interested in becoming actively involved in the work of association. Whatever is the most important reason to you, we do hope that you will want to belong to and support the trade association for your industry.
How to join
To request application forms for membership of SAPCA please send your company details, including a brief description of your business activities, to SAPCA at the following address:
The Sports and Play Construction Association
Federation House
Stoneleigh Park
Warwickshire
CV8 2RF
Telephone: 024 7641 6316
Fax: 024 7641 4773
E-mail: membership@sapca.org.uk
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