New SAPCA CEO

RICHARD SHAW

SportsNation talks to the new SAPCA CEO and learns about his passion for creating positive outcomes for society

The Sport and Play Construction Association (SAPCA) has appointed Richard Shaw as its new CEO. Richard joins the association from Learn by Design, an education outreach company, where he has spent the past three years as chief operating officer. He will begin in his new role on 1 June, replacing the retiring Chris Trickey, who has steered the association since its inception in 1997.

Richard started his career journey helping people find – and maintain – work as an employment manager at Birmingham City Council. During his nine-year stint at the council, he oversaw a range of employment projects aimed at helping under-represented groups access sustainable employment.

Richard with Rupert McNeil, the government’s chief people officer Leading from the front

Richard’s first leadership roles at director level were at charity Age Concern – where he spent nearly two years as director of development – and at education outreach company, University of the First Age (UFA), where he was director of operations and development for four years. While at UFA, he was responsible for running the National Citizen Service (NCS), a voluntary personal and social development programme for 15–17-yearolds in England and Northern Ireland.

“NCS was launched as one of David Cameron’s ‘big society’ projects, designed to involve young people in society more,” Richard says. “The project takes young people on outdoor and team building activities and then gets them volunteering in their communities. The youngsters also get a taste of independent living and have the opportunity to learn a variety of skills for their future.”

Richard’s involvement in overseeing the NCS saw him lobbying – and working with – central and local government at the highest levels. It also led to him being headhunted by Learn by Design, which secured the NCS contract following a tender in 2019.

“I’ve always been passionate about getting involved in projects which have real-world outcomes for society and NCS has been fantastic in terms of helping young people engage with their communities,” he says.

Making a di erence

Richard adds that it was his passion for creating positive outcomes that

I’ve always been passionate about getting involved in projects which have real-world outcomes for society

initially attracted him to apply for the role of SAPCA chief executive.

“Having worked on the NCS programme for around six years I was ready to look at how I could help provide positive societal outcomes in some other way,” he says.

“That’s why SAPCA really appealed to me when I saw the role advertised, because I believe the outcomes associated with sport and play are massively undervalued.

“Through my professional experience – and having been involved in sport throughout my life – I know that good quality sports provision truly matters in society. We need high-quality facilities in order to achieve the outcomes that we all want – a healthier, happier, resilient and more inclusive population.

“I’ve experienced it first-hand. I coach my daughter’s football team who, this season, benefitted from a fantastic, well-maintained pitch they loved to play on. But for next season, the team might not play on that pitch and face the prospect of having their games on a poorly maintained public authority pitch. My daughter is now considering joining a different team – all because of that pitch.

“For me, that is the difference that good quality sports provision can make – it is the difference between people enjoying sport and not playing at all.

“Every now and again we hear politicians and people in power talk about the importance of sport – especially during major events. But beyond that, I feel there is a lack of consistent appreciation of just what sport can do to improve communities and the nation’s health. That’s another aspect that drew me to SAPCA – the opportunity to play a small role in elevating sports and play on the government’s agenda and to make sure it’s something that is talked about more consistently, especially when it comes to funding.”

Positive challenge

As well as having a devotion to creating worthwhile outcomes and positive change, Richard is passionate about sports. In addition to coaching his daughter’s team, he still turns up for football on a weekly basis, plays tennis for his local club and is a season ticket holder at Aston Villa FC.

The combination of his professional background in operations, projects and stakeholder management – as well as his experience in dealing with local and central government – and passion for sport should stand him in good stead as he takes up his role as SAPCA CEO in June.

Richard says he can’t wait to get going. “In my previous roles, I’ve delivered programmes to young people on behalf of government and business,” he says. “The decision to step away from this type of work has not been easy.

“But the work that SAPCA does and the potential it has to respond to the challenges that we face as a country post-COVID-19 are exciting and will be a fantastic challenge.” l