UK based Assignment Examples
November 2020 to August 2021 – Elite Sport in Wales
Steve worked with the five elite sports on the socially distanced return of spectators to sports grounds. Steve participated in the regular liaison meetings between stakeholders and joined the Welsh delegation visiting the Carabao Cup Final at Wembley Stadium. Socially distanced capacity calculations were completed for Cardiff City Stadium (football), Liberty Stadium Swansea (football) and Sophia Gardens (cricket), together with a COVID-19 risk assessment covering all three venues. Individual plans were prepared for the return of spectators for test events at the three venues. The test events were evaluated on site using live Kahoot! quizzes for the spectators and observations by IWI consultants.
March 2020 to date – Fulham Football Club
Steve Frosdick and Kate Adey are carrying out an independent safety and security audit at the Craven Cottage stadium. The work has been prolonged by the pandemic, however the document review and recommendations are complete, one match visit has been made and a compliance audit of the medical facilities in the new Riverside Stand has been delivered. Further work is in hand.
February 2021 to date – Celtic FC
In preparation for the easing of lockdown measures, Steve supported the club with their calculations for the socially distanced return of spectators to Celtic Park under four possible scenarios. He then carried out further capacity calculations as incrementally increased numbers of fans were permitted to return to the stadium. Evaluations of three matches were carried out on site using live Kahoot! quizzes for the spectators and observations by IWI consultants.
Steve is also supporting the club with evacuation planning for a new viewing gallery for wheelchair users and with a review of the event operations manual.
December 2019 to February 2020 - Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club
Commissioned by the Head of Operations, Steve Frosdick, Chris Baker and Ravi Sharma undertook an independent safety and security audit of the operations at Molineux Stadium. The report and recommendations were fully accepted by the client.
2012 to date - Cardiff City Stadium
Contracted by the Stadium Manager to research and monitor the safety, security and service risks around persistent standing by fans in two areas of the stadium. The work concluded that standing in one stand should be tolerated but managed, whilst standing in another area should be eliminated. The risk assessment was approved by the local Safety Advisory Group, commended by fan groups and serves as a template for other clubs. Ongoing monitoring work during subsequent seasons has resulted in the production of further reports setting out club policies and giving updates on progress with implementing the risk management controls. See here
2014 to 2018 – Celtic Football Club
Appointed to advise the club on safety and security management. The first part of the work dealt with the club’s proposals for the installation of a rail seating system at Celtic Park. Following the German model, such a system was intended to provide a safer environment for fans who wished to stand to watch the game. This work eventually resulted in the club making a successful application to Glasgow City Council for a rail seating system to be installed during the summer of 2016. This was the first time such permission had been granted in the UK and drew considerable national publicity. See for example Steve’s live television interview on Sky Sports News and live interview on Radio 5 Live
The second part of the work involved a full audit of current safety and security management systems, procedures, staffing, documentation and operational performance, together with associated facilities management. The audit resulted in a further phase of work during which the recommended improvements were implemented. The action plan included operational stewarding, a new operations manual, the revision of the safe capacity calculations, safeguarding and a variety of facilities management and ticketing issues.
Going forward into the 2015/16 season, Steve worked with the club on new risk management projects involving business continuity, the stadium structure and the new club manual for operational safety and security at Celtic Park. He also remained involved in the implementation planning of the rail seating system.
At the start of the 2016/17 season, Steve carried out independent observations of the newly installed rail seating section over the opening matches. The rail seating section has been very successful and is attracting worldwide interest.
Steve was subsequently retained to carry out independent annual assessments of the physical infrastructure and safety management at Celtic Park and to provide ongoing advice on the operation of the rail seating section.
November 2017 to March 2018 – The SSE SWALEC (Glamorgan Cricket Ground)
Contracted to support the Operations Department as editor of the operations manual needed to support an application for 'new-style' safety certification.
May 2016 - Motherwell Football Club
Contracted to advise the club on how to prevent a mass pitch incursion after the final home game of the season and so avoid the threat of serious sanctions. A plan was developed with the club and the police and successfully implemented on the day of the match.
November 2015 - March 2016 - Football Safety Officers' Association Scotland (FSOAS)
Contracted to organise the FSOAS 2016 Seminar on Integrated Safety, Security and Service. The role involved designing the programme, inviting the speakers and facilitating the event.
2014 to 2015 - Confidential Client
Steve was contracted as an expert witness/adviser to lawyers acting for one of the interested parties in the new inquests for the 96 persons who died as a result of the 1989 Hillsborough Disaster. The assignment began with an analysis of the vast archive of disclosed documentation, using the same terms of reference as the Coroner's own experts on stadium engineering and policing. The work then involved preparing 'shadow' reports on the two expert areas and briefing the client's team of solicitors and barristers. The overall inquest on causation began on 31 March 2014 and Steve was on stand-by to give any further expert advice required until the individual inquests began on 11 May 2015.
2014 - Portsmouth Community Football Club
Contracted to carry out a two-stage review of operations at this historic stadium, the unique architecture of which presents significant operational challenges. The first stage involved an independent audit of safety and security management systems, procedures, staffing, documentation and operational performance, together with associated facilities management. The work concluded with detailed advice on revising the capacity calculations for Fratton Park. The second stage examined the retail and hospitality food and beverage operations on match days, giving advice on increasing turnover, profitability, quality and fan satisfaction. Detailed reports with recommendations on both stages were presented to club executives and taken forward into improvement plans in readiness for the new season.
2013 - Operations Manual - Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Building on the previous assignments, Steve worked with the Stadium Director and Stadium Management Department to research and write the operations manual needed to support the Stadium’s application for ‘new-style’ safety certification. The final product was a very substantial set of documentation which was reviewed and approved by both the local Safety Advisory Group and the certifying authority.
2012 - Safety and Security Management Training - Rangers Football Club, Glasgow
Contracted to design, develop and deliver a training course for 15 newly appointed staff taking the new role of Designated Stand Manager at Ibrox Stadium. The course evaluation was extremely positive that the learning outcomes had been achieved.
2010 to 2012 - Safety and Security Audit and Operations Work - Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Contracted by the Stadium Director to undertake a full independent audit on the safety and security management systems, documentation and operational performance at this 74,500 capacity venue. The work was completed during the November 2010 international rugby series and delivered a report with recommendations for improvements, all of which were accepted by the venue management. Subsequently contracted to provide ongoing ‘mystery spectator’ services to critique operational performance at a sample of international football and rugby events, including the London 2012 Olympic Football Tournament.
2011 - Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
Contracted to provide safety and security consultancy in connection with the club’s redevelopment of their Molineux stadium. The work involves advising on crowd management options for the new North Stand, risk assessments and assistance in drafting the operations manual needed to support an application for new-style safety certification.
2011 – 'Critical Friend' Review of Match Policing – Hampshire Constabulary
Contracted to undertake independent ‘critical friend’ reviews of the policing operations for high risk Southampton FC and Portsmouth FC fixtures. The role involves critiquing documentation and observing the briefings, deployments and operations at and around the grounds before, during and after the matches. Each match assignment concludes with a report highlighting the positives and pointing out any areas for future improvement.