March 2010

SportPark Website Launches Today!

We are proud to announce the launch of www.SportPark.org.uk, the new SportPark website. It's now open for browsing, and you are the first people to get a look!

The site forms the 'public face' of SportPark on the world wide web, and will be updated with all the latest news and information as it happens. The aim of the site has been to make it as user friendly as possible, whilst doing justice to the purpose and ethos of what SportPark is all about.

As you will be some of the first people to view the new site, we welcome any feedback, positive or negative, so please contact R.Hall@lboro.ac.uk with any views, typos or comments or suggestions for improvements.

Pilates Is Popular!

It's only been going for a couple of weeks and pilates is already proving to be a big hit. Our instructor Sam Colver is clearly hitting the right buttons and stretching the right muscles! So much so we have had to lay on additional
classes to cope with the demand, so it now runs every Wednesday lunchtime with classes from 12.00 to 1.00 and 1.00 to 2.00.

Classes can be pre-booked at reception and are £3 a session. We are working on introducing a card payment and cheaper block purchase system but bear with us as it will take us a few weeks to get everything sorted.

Meantime it would help Bridget and Karen if you could avoid busy times when making your reservations, the afternoon is often the best time for catching them without a dozen balls in the air!

New Arrivals To First Floor

We welcome Clare Semens and Emma Davis from the England Cricket Board who have taken up residency in the small office on the first floor beteen pavilions 2 and 3. Clare and Emma are members of the ECB's Ethics & Compliance team. Clare works on ethics and Emma looks after permits for overseas players and coaches. They are looking forward to getting to know people with similar responsiblities in SportPark, so if you think you might have something in common why not seek them out for a coffee?

Arriving very shortly will be the UK Sport talent team led by Chelsea Warr who will occupy the front office on the third floor of the first pavilion and the regional office of the English Federation of Disability Sport led by Ray Ashley who will occupy the small office next to the Pitch and Pool. More details about them in our next newsletter.

Swimming To Make A BIG Splash

The next arrival and SportPark's biggest single tenant will be the guys from swimming. David Sparkes has been a keen supporter of the SportPark concept from a very early stage. He was an active member of the original steering group that first met to develop the House of Sport concept some 9 years ago, so its not surprising he's keen to get in now!

They are bringing staff together from 7 different locations dotted around Loughborough and staff from the ASA, British Swimming and the Institute of Swimming will all be based in the building. There will be over 180 of them in total! Swimming staff all seems really excited about being bought together under the one roof. Its a massive opportunity for them and we certainly expect the place to be buzzing when they arrive!

There's likely to be a few waves on the 12 April as they arrive in their new home, we hope everybody will do all they can to make them feel welcome, and help them to get used to where things are in the building. With over 300 staff in the building we anticipate there are going to be occasions when the car park is full and there are queues at the cafe. Representatvies from all the SportPark occupants are meeting to plan for this and we will provide more details shortly.

Meantime, our website launched today gives details of our easily accessible alternative parking and we are still keen to encourage staff to use the vaious bus options or even better bike, run or jog to work or organise a car
share. All of these options will help us and the planet so why not give it a go.

More details are available on the website or at reception.

Car Park Barrier Is Coming Down

A message from Lisa at reception:

Please be aware that the barriers for the SportPark car park will become operational on Monday 22 March 2010.

Providing you have registered your car and received your green parking permit you will have access through the parking barrier.

Please ensure you have your card available to enter the barrier, and could we also politely request you that you exit the car park from the barrier at the far end of the car park which will open as you approach.

Many thanks Lisa (01509 222820)

Great Feedback From Secretary of State Visit

Secretary of State Ben Bradshaw visited SportPark recently and the reports from his office were very complimentary:

'...you may be interested to know that the Minister described his experience as "excellent", which is the first time he has given any of his regional visits that level of rating. You might want to pass this feedback on to all involved.'

Many thanks to all SportPark residents who were involved.
 

Imago Event Management and Free Venue Finding Service

Imago are now offering a free venue finding service for your event.  In their own words, 'Free venue finding services saves you time, manpower and money as our buying power ensures you get excellent rates. We search venues throughout the UK - the benefits to you:

• The service is completely free of charge
  
• One telephone call to imago is all that is required to enable us to search for the best venues to suit your requirements
  
• Through the scale and scope of our buying power we endeavour to secure bookings at preferential rates
  
• Knowledge of industry and database of hotels
  
• One point of contact with immediate responses
  
• Saves time, leaving you to do your job
  
• Quality guarantee - including site visits on occasions
  
• Independent and not biased towards any hotel chain

For more information please see the imago newsletter here.

Science, Technology and Research into Sport Surfaces Conference

This is the second (unique) conference for those interested and involved in sport surface interactions and sport surfaces research and practice. It is borne out of the successful ‘SportSURF’ network, bringing together many academic disciplines and industrial parties to discuss and formulate research needs for sport surfaces and their interactions for the future.

The conference provides an opportunity for the discussion of current research ideas and project findings, dissemination of current practice and issues, and the transfer of technology and ideas between attendees from the academic and industrial communities in the UK, Europe and from around the world.

For more information click here.

Reminder: Café Sportive Event

A reminder you can still book on to the Café Sportive event at SportPark on 16th March.

 Panellists include:

Ron Maughan, Professor of Sport and Exercise Nutrition at Loughborough University. 

Ivan Waddington is Visiting Professor at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo and the University of Chester, UK. 

Geoff Parsons is a double Olympic High Jumper and medallist at a number of major championships.

If you would like to attend this event please contact Mike Ridler, event organiser, via email on events@bydesign-group.co.uk.

Another Flatmate Wanted

Amy Lowe from the Youth Sport Trust has a two-bed house to rent in Shepshed, Loughborough only 1 ½ miles from SportPark:

It is a clean, modern two bedroom two bathroom end-terrace house (only 5 years old), with double garage, and garden in excellent condition, with fully fitted stylish kitchen and available furnished or unfurnished. It would be ideal for working professionals in Loughborough. It is available from April 2010 and Amy is looking for £550 per month excluding bills.

If you are interested or know someone who is, please email: amy.lowe@youthsporttrust.org  before 1st April 2010.