PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Project Management

Project Management

Market Overview

Sporting and Recreational Services

UK sporting and recreational services experienced fast growth, increasing by 140% over 2000-2010. Economic slowdown did not affect the industry under review substantially, due to the upcoming 2012 London Olympic Games and an increasing number of gamblers hoping to win money, which would help out in a deteriorating economic climate. However, annual growth fell to 4% in 2008, from a peak of 15% in 2002. Nonetheless, the industry has recovered already in 2009, with sales growing by 13%. Industry growth was mainly driven by increasing purchases from households, which accounted for 65% of total market value in 2009. In general, growth in sporting and recreational services is the result of increasing health awareness. Growth is also due to an ageing population with a lot of leisure time, along with innovation and technological developments in sporting services. In 2009, the government meanwhile accounted for 23% of expenditure. The government also played a role in growth, as its spending on sports grew through a number of initiatives. These included Sport England, Active at Work and the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme. This growth in government spending was in line with concerns expressed regarding obesity and a low physical activity level across all age groups and of course due to upcoming 2012 London Olympic Games.

There are no significant regional differences in UK consumers' sporting habits. Higher levels of income, education and social class, however, usually mean higher rates of participation in some type of sporting activity. Moreover, age and gender are also important factors. Elderly people and women are less likely to engage in tough sports such as football or basketball, but are more willing to take part in gentler activities such as recreational walking and hiking. The most popular sport in the UK in terms of playing and watching remains football, while cricket and athletics are also among the most practiced sports. The popularity of gambling and sport is growing, reflected by the 8% annual growth in turnover of local providers, since 2000. Gambling remains the true UK addiction, with growth as high as 9% and turnover approaching £32 billion in 2009. According to UK Gambling Commission, there were around 150 casinos, 200 bingo operators, 8,800 betting shops and almost 550 societies offering lotteries in the UK in 2009. Since 2007, UK gambling companies have been allowed to advertise their services, and a number of other law changes were approved. One of these was the establishment of the Gambling Commission to manage the industry and issue licenses and to create a set of regulations for internet-based gambling practices.UK sporting and recreational services are dominated by micro-enterprises, with 72% of all enterprises having less than nine employees in 2009. Most sports instructors work individually, and the majority of gambling sites have 4-5 workers, with the industry thus showing deep fragmentation and specialization. Both sporting and gambling services grew substantially during the review period because of a growing number of businesses and individuals entering the ...