The newly-formed Institute for Sport, Parks and Leisure (ISPAL), the Sports and Play Construction Association (SAPCA) and the Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) have agreed to collaborate on industry best practice standards.

The three organisations plan to present a unified voice on industry issues such as resource utilisation; venue procurement strategies, planning construction and maintenance; health and safety; and training and education.

The agreement follows the recent publication of the IOG’s strategic review, Challenging Perceptions, which was created to highlight the path which the IOG and grounds care profession is to follow over the next six years.

Geoff Webb, chief executive of the IOG, said: “The development and strengthening of working partnerships is one of the strategic action points highlighted in Challenging Perceptions and our innovative partnership with ISPAL and SAPCA is both timely and significant as we begin preparations for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games as well as the legacy benefits that are intended to follow.

“Together, IOG, ISPAL and SAPCA welcome discussions with like-minded industry organisations to further expand and reinforce the unparalleled opportunities that such collaboration will generate.”