What We Do

Our expertise

About Us

Operating for 25 years, our directors and consultants have the skills, experience and knowledge to make a real difference for clients in the public, private and voluntary sectors. Our directors are at the forefront of those continuing to investigate the social, economic and community benefits of sport and leisure provision.

We have supported clients from high level over-arching leisure strategies through to centre feasibility studies. We have worked with clients to develop indoor and outdoor leisure facility strategies and advise on the best delivery and management options.

All our projects have been underpinned by an articulated vision, objectives and key requirements for the service based upon local area priorities and strategic outcomes. These priorities have always been central to the development of area-based strategic investment planning through to the development of outcome based operating specifications.

Our consultants have worked for both local authorities and operators and therefore have a unique knowledge of all aspects of sport, leisure and cultural services. We have experience of working with a range of stakeholders, ensuring that communications are undertaken at appropriate times and project plans consider decision-making processes.

Our Purpose

At Max Associates we love tackling challenges and creating better opportunities for everyone. We’re all about making a real impact by helping people get more active and healthier. Our Company is dedicated to improving our industry and always adding value along the way.

Our expertise includes:

Strategic Needs Assessment

Stakeholder and community engagement
Built Facility Strategies and Playing Pitch Strategies
Strategic Outcomes Planning / Active Wellbeing Strategies
Business case, feasibilities and facility investment strategies

Delivery

Management Options Appraisals
Leisure and Cultural Services Procurement
Financial modelling including funding options
Contract management and service reviews

Stakeholder and Community Engagement

Securing buy-in from all system partners is important to in all strategic planning. We have extensive experience of delivering a wide range of key stakeholder and community engagement programmes to develop shared local outcomes that Sport, Physical Activity and Active Wellbeing can impact.

Built Facility Strategies and Playing Pitch Strategies

Working with Active Partnerships, NGBs and local sports clubs, we have significant experience in developing Sport England compliant playing pitch strategies and built facility strategies.

Strategic Outcomes Planning / Active Wellbeing Strategies

Strategic planning for services is critical for successful delivery. We develop Strategic Outcomes Planning Models to support the delivery of long-term sustainable sport, physical activity services and Active Wellbeing strategy services.

Business Case, Feasibilities and Facility Investment Strategies

Assessing all types of strategic planning and local evidence and data, underlies our full business cases to support investment decisions across council areas of individual centres.

Management Options Appraisals

Max Associates has wide ranging experience of assessing alternative delivery models for leisure, culture and active wellbeing services. We have been at the forefront of considering how agency models can fit into each option.

Leisure and Cultural Services Procurement

Procuring the right partner to deliver your services is a critical project; we have extensive experience of procurement, providing full project management support for all types of tender processes. Our industry involvement provides up to date knowledge on the operator market and their appetite for risk.

Financial Modelling including Funding Options

Our operational experience supports detailed business plan projections and sensitivity analysis for all types of capital investment proposals.

Contract Management and Service Reviews

Following successful procurements, we provide mobilisation and contract management support. Further, we undertake mid-contract reviews, to assess performance against tender and ensure the contractor is meeting the requirements of the specification.

Founding Managing Director

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.

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

Recent News

Lucy Joins the Max Associates Team!

We are delighted to welcome Lucy Matthews to the Max Associates team! Lucy joins us as a Graduate Researcher and will play a key role in supporting our consultants and…

We’re Hiring!

Are you passionate about sports, leisure, and data-driven insights? This is a fantastic opportunity to work for a small, dynamic consultancy working with local authorities, Councils, and private sector clients…

See more of our latest news
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