The world of sport is fast changing – and there is a general movement towards professionalising all aspects of sports. Therefore, we recently announced another development which mirrors the wider sports industry’s direction of travel – a decision to move towards a more skills-based SAPCA board.
Last year, UK Sport and Sport England published the new Code for Sports Governance – a mandatory code which sets out the levels of transparency, accountability and financial integrity required from UK sports organisations. Among the code’s recommendations was that 25 per cent of each organisation’s board should be occupied by independent, non-executive directors.
While SAPCA doesn’t receive public funding, and therefore isn’t directly under the “jurisdiction” of the new code, it is only right that we meet the highest standards set for the industry we serve. For the next year, we will reduce the number of elected positions by three, to be replaced by three new positions for individuals to lead in the areas of technical, training and marketing.
We are also looking to reposition and reinvent the way the “outside world” sees us. To help with this, we are strengthening our Quality System, ensuring that only specialist companies that consistently deliver high standards of facilities are able to join SAPCA, and to remain as members. We are strengthening the system by introducing new protocols, updating codes of practices and investing in research.
Entering our 21st year in a rapidly changing sporting landscape, our focus is to make clear the benefits of choosing members of SAPCA for sports and play projects.
Our aim is to give peace of mind to sports clubs, schools, universities, local authorities – and all other clients – that by working with SAPCA members, their hard-earned funds have been invested wisely.