Testimonials

Pine Grove Park, Fort William

We, as a small committee of volunteers, needed help to bring our dream of a new Playpark to our 10+acre site in Pine Grove, Plantation, Fort William. We got that help in the form of “Alan Jones Associates” with their knowledge and professionalism. I know for sure that without his input we would never have got this major project to fruition. Alan helped us secure £237,000 towards our project and successfully delivered it to completion.

- Helen MacKenzie, Chairperson Plantation Community Association

Highland Skate Park Association

Alan assisted with the strategy and our funding applications to the Big Lottery, sportscotland and Active Places. He is also managing both the Inverness and Muir of Ord projects. Alan has valuable contacts with the Highland Council, with leisure contractors and with the various funding bodies. Between both projects Alan assisted in securing £650,000 towards project costs He is reliable, well organised and works hard so I have no hesitation in recommending him to help with similar projects.

- Nigel Campbell, Treasurer

Esk Road 21st Century Play Area

Your input, particularly your engagement with our pupils was extraordinary and raised their enthusiasm and levels of confidence. Your technical knowledge of the process significantly helped to maintain the momentum and achieve a very successful outcome. We also appreciate that you put in significant amounts of your time over and above any contracted for and fully appreciate your generosity.

- Head Teacher Cauldeen Primary School

Inshes Park

Alan Jones Associates have been engaged by Inshes Community Association as fundraisers and project managers since we were set up in 2012. Alan's role has been to secure external grant aid from multiple sources to fund the play equipment, safety surfacing and park furniture for Inshes Park in Inverness.

In addition to having secured more than £500,000 for this, Alan has also fulfilled the role of Project Manager in preparing specifications, tendering and assisting our Association with evaluating submissions, and overseeing the installation of the above. In this respect his company has provided us with a complete turnkey solution to meeting the community's needs for high quality park and open space provision.

I have no hesitation in recommending his company's services to those in similar need for creating a community park.

- Thomas Prag, Chairman Inshes Community Association

John O'Groats Mill Trust

Alan successfully tendered for the task of carrying out a feasibility study and subsequent business plan for the redevelopment of the old water mill in John O Groats for the John O Groats Mill Trust. I think it is fair to say that his was not the cheapest tender. Despite this the trustees felt that his tender exhibited the most thorough understanding of the issues involved in what was likely to be a complex project.

The Trust had already done a considerable amount of research and community consultation. Alan was able to work with us, taking what we had done as a starting point. He then helped us to build on that, tying up the information logically and using it, backed up with national and local statistical information to build a compelling social and economic case.

Our decision to work with Alan proved sound as the resulting well- presented study and projected way forward enabled us to apply successfully to the Scottish Land Fund for the six figure funds required to secure the community purchase of the Mill and its surroundings. Without his input I doubt whether our application would have been successful. With the hindsight I now have, were we to be involved in a similar project again, I would find it very difficult to go past Alan.

- Rogni Brown, Chairman John O'Groats Mill Trust

North Kessock Ticket Office

Alan Jones Associates were engaged by the North Kessock Ticket Office Project to undertake the business plan for the community asset transfer and development of the former ticket office in North Kessock. Having successfully delivered the business plan, they then progressed to secure the capital funding of around £150,000 and retained to project manage the Asset Transfer and refurbishment to completion. This included managing all stage of the capital funding process including project reports, the on-site management of contractors, and working with planning and building control to secure planning permission and Building Warrant.

Alan and his team subsequently supported the group through the same process in order that we could further develop the site with an attractive community Coastal garden. Again, Alan Jones Associates were efficient in securing and managing all capital funding, and in project managing the construction to completion.

I would have no hesitation in using them in any further community projects.

- Maggie MacDonald, Chairperson North Kessock Ticket Office Project

North Highland Initiative

As Chairman of the Duke of Rothesay’s North Highland Initiative(NHI), I would commend the work of Alan Jones Associates who we have been engaged as consultants over the last 5 years in working with communities on heritage, tourism and visioning projects to ensure that community aspirations are realistic, achievable and deliverable.

Alan's company has assisted NHI in scoping work and road testing ideas ranging from creating a network of visitor hubs around NC500, to completing feasibility studies and business plans for projects such as the Russian Arctic Convoy Museum, John O' Groats Mill, the Caithness Broch Project and the repurposing of Tain Old Picture House.

In many of these his company have also assisted in securing significant capital grants, and his ongoing and continuing support is an asset to the North Highland communities.

- David Whiteford OBE, Chairman North Highland Initiative

Highland All Abilities Cycling Centre

Alan Jones Associates was commissioned to carry out the Initial Feasibility Study, and as a result, this led onto an application to Highland LEADER and sportscotland, to assist as major donors to the £250,000 project. Both these applications were accepted.

Alan then assisted with all aspects of tendering and procurement and following the appointment of a contractor he project-managed the construction of the track to completion.

After 2 years his company were again commissioned to do a second Feasibility Study for a new Adventure Bike Park, As with the first project, he secured £135,000 to build the second facility and project managed this to completion.

I have no hesitation in recommending his company Alan Jones Associates for any similar wheeled sports project.

- Jo McGregor, Chairperson Watermill Foundation Ltd

Woodland Wheels Pump Track Boat of Garten

Alan Jones Associates completed a Feasibility Study and went on to Project manage the Pump track for Woodland Wheels, Boat of Garten.

The background knowledge and planning provided, helped support our community vision to secure the relevant funding and ensure a high-level wheeled sports facility was delivered. With his support in managing the project from the outset, Alan Jones Associates were instrumental in this project’s success.

- Nash Masson, Woodland Wheels Boat of Garten

Banchory Skate Park

Alan Jones Associates were recommended to the Banchory Skatepark Group to help secure funding for a new Skatepark in Banchory. Alan visited and consulted with the group, recommending a Feasibility Study to be undertaken to validate the need for a new skatepark facility in our community. Alan then supported the group in identifying appropriate funding for this critical stage and after securing this, we appointed his company to deliver the study in full knowledge of their excellent track record in wheeled sports projects.

The Feasibility Study is the cornerstone of this project without which we would never have progressed beyond conversations and good will. Alan Jones Associates have provided an advisory service throughout our project: from setting up as a constituted group, registering as a charity, all the way through to completing planning applications, tendering the work and providing advice on specifications which ultimately secured the lease of the site from Aberdeenshire Council.

The Group then engaged Alan Jones Associates to support the full funding quest to secure £220,000 to construct the new skate park which they have now fully delivered on.

I have no hesitation in recommending their company for any other wheeled sports project.

- Russell Crichton, Chairman Banchory Skatepark Group

Fraserburgh Skate Park

Alan Jones Associates were instrumental in assisting the Broch Skate Club (Fraserburgh) with obtaining the funding required to carry out a feasibility study. After commissioning them to carry out the study, we retained them to help us out with all other project management work related to the club. 

This included the preparation of specifications, advertisement and providing a tender and evaluation framework to help the club decide on the best skatepark design. 

Alan met and consulted with the club throughout the feasibility study in a timely and efficient manner. He also helped us procure a 25-year lease for the site.

In addition, we managed to successfully secure £276,560 worth of funding in large part thanks to his work in our funding applications process. 

Overall, Alan and his team have been very knowledgeable and quick to offer much needed guidance and useful support through every stage of the project.

I would highly recommend his company for any and all future projects related to skate parks and wheeled sports facilities.

- Anneka Niro, Chair, Broch Skate Club (Fraserburgh)