Sportsafe UK - Official Blog

The positive work being done by Colchester MP Sir Bob Russell to support the development of Colchester based business Sportsafe UK has seen the Essex Company go from strength to strength. Sportsafe sells, installs and services sports equipment.

The vital support from Sir Bob helped to secure funding which has been instrumental to securing over 60 County and Council contracts servicing over 10,000 schools across the UK for the next five years.

Sportsafe, with its headquarters based in Colchester, will be turning the tables in 2012 with a new manufacturing plant in planning. This new plant will help boost the local economy and will be a welcome arrival for residents who have found themselves out of work during difficult times. Seeing a growth of 10% during 2011, the company have their sights set on an even better 2012 by developing a new apprentice scheme bringing vital jobs to the local town. Jonathan Neill said “We pledge to create two Apprenticeship positions during the summer as well as creating eight permanent positions”
Mr Jonathan Neill, Managing Director, said: “2011 had been a fantastic year, seeing great business confidence, significant growth and many new long term contracts.

“This has all resulted from the vital support given by Sir Bob Russell. He saw the potential for Sportsafe to expand locally and assisted in retaining and creating new positions. Without his help and support we would have not achieved what we did during 2011.

“ We feel Colchester is extremely lucky to have such a strong Member of Parliament and one who is prepared to go the extra mile for the people and companies of Colchester.”

Sir Bob said: “I am committed to helping local businesses and fully support the economic potential of Colchester. When I first met Sportsafe I was extremely impressed with what we they had achieved and saw the potential growth of the business which would lead to more vital jobs for the town. With the right support and hard work and determination of Sportsafe and their employees they have achieved growth in a difficult climate.”

Sportsafe philosophy is always one of prevention is better than cure and this applies to Sports installations especially in Schools and the related servicing - do not cut back even in these difficult times on safety.

A view echoed by this recent article in the www.dailyexpress.co.uk - MILLIONS IN PAYOUTS FOR ACCIDENTS AT SCHOOL


Scanned Copy of Article -MILLIONS IN PAYOUTS FOR ACCIDENTS AT SCHOOL

As the number one service and maintenance company in the country Sportsafe UK realise how important that it is to prolong the life of your sports equipment with regular maintenance checks. There will always come a time however when equipment reaches its economic life span and you may need to consider upgrading, refurbishing or replacing your equipment.

Sportsafe UK have always had the expertise required to provide and carry out installation of new equipment and now you may have a fantastic opportunity to gain the funding that is available following the London 2012 games. Sport England has over £50 million available to Schools, Colleges, Universities and Sports Centres to refurbish or upgrade their existing facilities and now is the best time to “tap into” this funding.

Sportsafe UK can provide the assessment, advice and official quotation to enable you to submit your application to Sports England and get your facility looking great again in 2012!

Contact Sportsafe UK, your sports hall equipment experts, for all the right guidance and information you need to bring your sports hall back to life!

Sportsafe are delighted to now be members of the illustrious Sports Facilities Group (SFG).

Local firm keeps it in family, as founder’s brother joins team.

Sportsafe UK has recruited a new Operations Manager, capping a great few months in which it has been named Growing Business of the Year at the Colchester Business Awards and the Essex Countywide Awards. The company is keeping it in the family – the ‘new boy’ is Managing Director Jon Neill’s brother, Paul.

Paul Neill joined the company in June from Palladian Press where he worked his way up from a 16-year-old new joiner to being their Bindery Manager. In his new role, he’ll be overseeing staff, making sure the business runs as efficiently as it can and keeping up Sportsafe’s focus on customer service.

Paul says, “It’s a great new challenge for me, working in a very different industry, but dealing with the kinds of issues I’ve built up real expertise in. I’ll be making sure we use our resources well, keeping staff motivated and always looking at how we deal with customers to make sure they get the best.”

Jon Neill, Managing Director of Sportsafe, says, “I’m really pleased we could ‘poach’ someone of Paul’s calibre. He’s professional, organised and dedicated to quality and great service. It’s those qualities that make him the perfect man for the job.”

Colchester-based Sportsafe UK has also taken on a new engineer in Surrey, one of a planned six it needs to recruit this year. The company needs new blood because of its continuous growth. This year alone, it has renewed 20 contracts and increased the number of schools it covers from 10,000 to 40,000.

A sports company from Essex has won three contracts which will see its services extending further across the UK than ever. In the last week, it has won contracts to install and service sports equipment in 100 schools in the London Borough of Bexley, 10 in Lancashire and eight in Liverpool – and the company prides itself on never losing a contract when they come to be renewed.

Sportsafe UK has created 5 new jobs by winning 3 new contracts since the beginning of this year, and now sells, installs and services sports equipment for 11,000 customers from Shetland to Bournemouth. The company won a Colchester Business Award in 2007 for its excellent standard of service.

Managing Director Jon Neill says, “Each of these contracts is for a number of years, but we’ve never yet lost a contract when it’s come to renewing, so I hope we’ll be visiting all three places for many years to come. We employ all our engineers directly – we don’t subcontract – so when someone calls us, they’ll be talking to the people who do the work. That’s how we guarantee quality.

“As well as installations and servicing, we recycle equipment, too, so that schools can get reconditioned equipment they might not otherwise be able to afford. The scheme covers East Anglia at the moment, but we’re aiming to make it nationwide this year, so everyone can benefit.”

A sports company based in Essex has won a contract with the Orkney Islands Council to install and service sports equipment in schools, leisure centres, swimming pools and fitness suites across the islands. The 500+ miles between the company and Orkney won’t be a problem, though – it has a base in Fort William, from which it already undertakes all the work on its most northerly client, the Shetland Islands Council.

Sportsafe UK created 4 new jobs in Scotland by opening the new Fort William office last year, because demand for its services is so high in the country. It now sells, installs and services sports equipment for 11,000 customers from Shetland to Bournemouth, and won a Colchester Business Award in 2007 for its excellent standard of service.

Managing Director Jon Neill says, “This is a three-year contract, but we’ve never yet lost a contract when it’s come to renewing, so I hope we’ll be visiting Orkney for many years to come. We employ all our engineers directly – we don’t subcontract – so when someone in an Orkney leisure centre calls us, they’ll be talking to the people who do the work. That’s how we guarantee quality.

“We do everything from basketball goals to cricket nets, climbing frames to soft play areas. We repair and refurbish, too. I can’t promise all our engineers will speak Orcadian dialect, but from what I’ve picked up, I can say that we’re ‘fair blide’ – very happy – to have won this contract!”

Sportsafe UK, Colchester’s Growing Business of the Year 2010, has launched a new website to make life easier for its customers and to highlight its new recycling scheme, which makes sports equipment more affordable for schools and other customers – and stops unwanted equipment going to landfill.

The new site makes it easier for people to find what they need – and who they need to call – and tells customers more about the recycling programme. The scheme currently operates across Essex and Suffolk, and the company wants to make it nationwide. Sportsafe collects unwanted sports equipment from schools, then cleans, services and repairs it before offering it for sale at a substantial discount.

The website is part of the company’s 2011 focus on customer service, which sees it trying to reduce service costs for budgeting councils and switching to electronic reporting to reduce customers’ paperwork.

Jon Neill, Managing Director of Sportsafe, says: “The new site will help us expand the recycling scheme, but it’s also easier to navigate, with new photos, so customers can find what they want quickly and see the equipment they’re interested in. It’s just one way we’re investing our profits for the future.”

Sportsafe’s new website follows a year in which the company grew by almost 30%, and won a Colchester Business Award recognising its success. Sportsafe sells, installs and services sports equipment, and last year signed contracts worth more than £2 million, increasing client numbers from 12,000 to over 50,000 by 2012.

Sportsafe UK has taken on a new engineer recently, and we’re looking for one more. Have you got the skills we need – and a talent for looking after customers?

Sportsafe was named Growing Business of the Year at the Colchester Business Awards 2010, and our prospects are good. This year already, we’ve renewed 15 contracts and signed 9 new ones.

If you want to join the team, we’re looking for someone with experience of sports equipment installation and maintenance.

We employ 40 people in Colchester already, and also have premises in Nottingham, Fort William, Manchester and Surrey. We sell, install and service sports and fitness equipment to more than 12,000 customers from Shetland to the South Coast, including private schools, sports centres and local and fire authorities.

When we started out, in 1996, Sportsafe was a one-man band. We’re now one of the biggest and best known companies in the industry. We re-invest our profits to fund our expansion, and we grow because we believe in good, old-fashioned customer service.

Join a success story – send us your CV today to philw@sportsafeuk.com

First Time Fix Cable Kit

Here it is! Instant Repair solution for Fitness Equipment Cables

First Time Fix Cable Kit

The first time fix cable kit system allows instant cable repairs that save time and money. The patented system is comprised of PVC coated stainless steel cable which are cut to the required length, easy fix ‘Sta-Lok First Fix Eye’ are simply attached using a spanner providing a load capacity up to 500KG 1000kg.

Whats Included:
• 1 x6m PVC coated stainless steel cable
• 1 x Sta-Lok First Fix Eye
• 1 x M10 Stud End

Benefits of First time fix cable system:

• Stainless steel cable, lasts longer and stronger than galvanized
• First time fix, no extra call out or fitting charges, saving costs
• No long delays for cable
• Will replace 90% of manufacturers’ cables,
• Ideal for an engineers van
• No crimper needed, only spanners, anyone can follow instructions to fit
• Guaranteed to withstand 500kg 1000kg  load
• Patented product
• Sole supplier Sportsafe UK
• Benefits to customer of first time fix, perception of service when cables are changed without delay