Procurement that shapes outcomes

We support leisure and active wellbeing procurement to close funding gaps, strengthen services and deliver better outcomes for communities.

We enable sustainable, high-quality provision that responds to local need, supports prevention and reduces long-term pressure on public services.

We bring commercial realism with a clear focus on health, inequality and community impact.

We support you to:

  • Define success
  • Build a robust evidence base
  • Test the market early
  • Structure investment and delivery
  • Run effective procurements

Clients tell us our approach brings clarity, aligns stakeholders and creates solutions the market can deliver. It helps secure partners who invest, innovate and deliver meaningful local outcomes.

Where difficult choices are required, we set out clear options and trade-offs — helping you prioritise what matters while protecting accessibility and long-term viability. For example, we support exploration of models such as the Agency Model, providing independent, expert advice.

Having supported 50+ procurements, we bring deep practical experience across operating models, contract structures and market engagement. We supported Sheffield City Council with one of the UK’s most complex leisure procurements, securing an outstanding outcome for the city.

We consistently deliver significant financial and social value — typically securing £1m+ annual savings, alongside increased investment, improved facilities and stronger community impact.

Helping councils deliver outcome‑focused procurements that secure strong partners, close funding gaps and drive sustainable financial and community impact.

“SLC’s professional expertise and experience provided high quality support throughout the development of the joint leisure procurement strategy through to award of a joint leisure contract. They understood the complex requirements of the two sovereign councils and provided support in the development of key documents, regular briefings with key stakeholders and the development of the base and investment bid options. This enabled the process to deliver the best outcomes for both Brentwood and Rochford residents. I would not hesitate to recommend them.”

 

Kim Anderson

Rochford District Council and Brentwood Borough Council 

“Our leisure contract procurement exercise was a once in a lifetime opportunity. We wanted to get it right and SLC helped us to do just that.

 

They immediately struck me as a consultancy that knows the leisure market, the political environment we work in and all the associated complexities really well. Their market insight and intelligence, their responsiveness and generally being easy to work with helped myself and the team immensely.”

 

Mark Broadhurst

Assistant Director Housing, Leisure and Communities

Wyre Council

Case studies