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About Us

Mark Steward founded Max Associates in November 2000, to deliver high quality consultancy and project management services across the sport, leisure and cultural sectors.  Mark worked across a variety of London, District, Borough and Unitary Authorities and was at the forefront of investigating and demonstrating the social, economic and community benefits of sport, leisure and cultural provision.

Operating for over 20 years the company has gone from strength to strength. Offering excellent professional advice and support is still at the heart of what we do.

We are a market leader in strategic outcome planning models, feasibility studies, alternative management options and sport and leisure procurement. Delivering both consultancy and project management, we have extensive experience across the sport, leisure and cultural sectors.  

Our consultants have worked for local authorities, leisure contractors and charitable organisations and therefore have a unique knowledge of all aspects of sport, leisure and cultural services. Most recently Max Associates has been a key provider of specialist consultancy services to 29 Local Authorities on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on leisure services and management contracts and the recovery period. 

Our expertise includes:

Strategic Outcomes Planning Models
Facility Strategies
Management Options Appraisals
Leisure and Cultural Services Procurement
Business and Financial Modelling Including Funding Options
Service Reviews
Establishment of Sport and Leisure Enterprises
Performance Review
Contract Monitoring
Covid-19 Recovery Support
Stakeholder and Community Engagement
Max Associates Service Wheel

Strategic Outcomes Planning Models

Strategic Outcomes Planning Models

We have extensive experience in developing Sport England Strategic Outcomes Planning Models to inform decisions required by clients to deliver long-term sustainable leisure provision.  We have been ccommissioned to undertake 17 SOPM reports, with those completed achieving successful EOI and Sport England ring fencing funding.

Management Options Appraisals

Management Options Appraisals

Max Associates has completed nine appraisals over the last two years across leisure and wider cultural services.

Leisure and Cultural Services Procurement

Leisure and Cultural Services Procurement

Max Associates has undertaken over 30 procurement projects, completing shadow business plans and assessments of all income and expenditure projections for sport and leisure facilities. We are therefore fully conversant of best practice from private operators, consortiums and trusts. 

Contract Monitoring

Contract Monitoring

Max Associates has delivered mobilisation and contract management services for a wide range of clients. In addition, Max Associates has operational experience to ensure the contractor is meeting the requirements of the specification

Facility Strategies

Facility Strategies

We have completed over 35 feasibility studies for centres including traditional and innovative / commercial facilities to drive participation and income.

Business and Financial Modelling Including Funding Options

Max has extensive experience in developing complete revenue business plan projections for new developments

Performance and Service Reviews

Performance and Service Reviews

We have completed service performance and efficiency reviews for private sector, trusts and local authority facilities.

Stakeholder Consultation

Stakeholder Consultation

Max Associates has run and delivered a wide range of key stakeholder engagement consultations to fully develop shared local outcomes that physical activity, leisure and sport can impact and secure buy in from stakeholders.

Testimonials

The Max Associates team are extremely professional and knowledgeable and the work they have delivered for South Derbyshire has been outstanding.   

In South Derbyshire we had an outsourced procurement function with NHS Chesterfield – so the support Max Associates offed the Council in this process was invaluable.  They ensured we created the right service specifications to get the outcomes we were looking for and to get the best responses from the market. 

Prior to the actual leisure contract procurement work Max Associates conducted soft market testing to help initiate this process.  Also, with their expertise and support we were able to go out to market, appoint and mobilise new contractors with in a 12-month period. 

The outcomes from this means that significant savings will be realised to the council over the term of the contract, also investments into the leisure facilities have also been delivered in the first year of the contract, which has led to increased participation and customer satisfaction. 

Max Associates have also supported us on facility mix recommendations for a future leisure centre design and are working with us to devise a future Active Wellbeing Strategy. 

I would highly recommend Max Associates services to other local authorities to support any leisure contract procurement or leisure/physical activity strategy work.”

Sean McBurney
Head of Cultural & Community Services, South Derbyshire District Council

Lisa and the team at Max Associates have demonstrated their professionalism and expertise at every step. Through their guidance, our leisure operator contract procurement process has resulted in a positive outcome, representing good value for money for the Council and a positive offer for the community, ensuring the continuity of leisure services and improvement of facilities. Ensuring financial viability was a key part of the procurement process and with Lisa’s support, we secured a strong, credible and financially viable bid, which included an active communities offer, enabling a wider community reach, beyond the leisure facilities. As always, it has been an absolute pleasure working with Max Associates. Their insightful, supportive and partnership approach is exemplary, I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending them.”

Sarah Robson
Deputy Chief Executive, Sevenoaks District Council

We couldn’t be happier with the support and commitment from Lisa and the Max team, all technically and professionally excellent but also, crucially, in long projects with difficult challenges. Just so nice and such a good and enjoyable team to work with. They really do capture and embrace the clients’ key issues and concerns and are exceptional in the quality of support, their knowledge and expertise and crucially the respect and high regard they are held in across the wider leisure industry.”

Sue Drummond
Head of Leisure, Buckinghamshire Council

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