NEWS RELEASE
ISSUE DATE: 30 November 2021
England Hockey commissions KKP to review and update the national facilities strategy
England Hockey, the national governing body (NGB) for the sport of hockey in England, has commissioned KKP to review and update a comprehensive national facilities strategy that will help to secure and enhance the future of the game.
The strategy and related action plan will be based on the key principles of: being club-focused; providing detailed analysis of current hockey facilities; and optimising participation by further developing the mechanisms England Hockey uses to assess demand for facilities to service match play and training provision for the various formats and levels of the game.
Announcing the partnership between England Hockey and KKP, Rich Beer, Development Director at England Hockey, commented:
“The England Hockey national facilities strategy is a hugely important tool for us in directing our work to shape the future of the game. The review with KKP will refresh and update a more detailed and comprehensive strategic approach based on the most accurate data and informed analysis, providing a clear action plan for facilities across the country. It will incorporate identified priorities for investment in new facility development, existing site renewal and upgrading, in addition to how we manage club support for facilities and potential strategic partnerships.
“Strategy delivery will help England Hockey to help clubs to get more people playing more often at all levels. The hockey community needs to work collectively to justify provision of facilities and operate effectively making sure pitches are well used. This refreshed strategy will help us meet the challenges and make the most of the upcoming opportunities to the benefit of the future of the game.”
Paul Ashton, who is heading up this assignment for KKP, welcomed the opportunity to work with England Hockey on such an important national project:
“The updated facilities strategy will provide a detailed assessment of hockey facilities across England, providing data relating to demand, critical pitch supply, capacity and the mechanisms via which England Hockey maintains its already very strong intelligence platform about venues to play the game. It will include analysis and assessment of current stock status and development potential. Our extensive experience of playing pitch strategies and facilities planning, aligned to KKP’s industry-leading database and geographic information systems (GIS), will assist us to further develop the sophistication with which current England Hockey facility provision data is analysed and updated by area, club type, playing surface and condition.
“This, along with user consultation and stakeholder interviews, will create a detailed, reliable picture of the current state of the game and, going forward, enable England Hockey to continue to take informed decisions about future provision.”
“KKP’s facilities strategy work for all clients is founded on processes that rely on a thoroughly researched, detailed evidence base. We have worked extensively with England Hockey over the last 10 years and are looking forward to delivering a high-quality updated strategy that leaves it optimally placed to work with its own membership, local authorities, schools and a range of other partners. The key is to ensure that the strategy helps the sport to develop a modern, fit for purpose, appropriately located network of hockey facilities to service the game’s current and future needs.”
For further information and comment please contact:
Paul Ashton is a principal consultant at KKP. Paul can be contacted via email at paul.ashton@kkp.co.uk or by phone at 0161 764 7040
KKP is online at www.kkp.co.uk
England Hockey is online at www.englandhockey.co.uk
Notes for editors
- England Hockey is responsible for the management and development of the sport from grassroots to elite activities. It has a membership comprising clubs (800-plus), counties (45) and the areas (8) which are members of it. Around 150,000 individuals play regularly in the club system with a further 15,000 playing in the university and college sector. Over 15,000 coaches, umpires and officials are supported and developed by England Hockey.
- England Hockey is also the nominated country for Great Britain Hockey and is responsible for assessing and preparing Great Britain (GB) squads to qualify for and participate in the Olympics.
- KKP is a leading UK-based multi-disciplinary national and international practice operating from offices in Manchester. It offers specialist advice and impartial, objective and creative consultancy support to a wide portfolio of clients. Full details of KKP’s work, clients and projects are available at www.kkp.co.uk