Manor High’s Simon Cole Sports Centre: Finalist at the ProCon Leicestershire Awards 2025

We’re thrilled to share that the Simon Cole Sports Centre at Manor High School in Oadby has been named a finalist in the Medium Non-Residential Scheme of the Year category at the ProCon Leicestershire Awards 2025.

What makes the ProCon Awards special?

The ProCon Awards are Leicestershire & Rutland’s premier celebration of the built environment, shining a spotlight on excellence in design, construction, regeneration, and property development. This year marks the 22^nd annual ceremony, which will be held on Thursday 13^th November at the King Power Stadium, Leicester.

Why this project stood out?

The judges highlighted several elements of the Simon Cole Sports Centre that really caught their eye:

• Designed for people and purpose: The new four-court sports hall and four classrooms were created to meet Manor High School’s growing intake of 200 pupils in 2025-26. The spacious sports hall is flexible enough to host whole-school events, exams, and assemblies – a feature the judges singled out for its thoughtful design and functionality.
• A hub for the community: Beyond the school day, the facilities are open to local sports clubs, giving the wider community a boost in sports provision and engagement.
• Sustainable and innovative: From solar panels and air-source heat pumps to EV charging points, eco-friendly thinking was built in from the start. The team even reused excavated soil to create an outdoor amphitheatre and engaged around 70 pupils in tree planting with the Woodland Trust.
• Collaboration that delivers: Smooth teamwork between SMD, Surveyors to Education (S2e), TMV Architects, Oak Multi Academy Trust, and specialist partners made the project a success. The judges praised not just the quality of construction, but the spirit of collaboration that brought the scheme to life.

A lasting legacy
This project doesn’t just meet immediate needs – it’s built for the future, ensuring Manor High School can serve its growing student population while offering high-quality facilities for the community for years to come. Being recognised as a finalist reflects the project’s focus on sustainable, innovative, and community-centred solutions – everything we strive for at SMD.

Graham Rendall, SMD Contracts Manager, said:

“We are incredibly proud of the team and grateful to Manor High School and Oak Multi Academy Trust for their collaboration. This project is more than just a sports centre and classrooms – it’s a demonstration of sustainable education in practice. Together, we’ve created a lasting SMD legacy in the heart of Leicestershire that will benefit students and the wider community for years to come.”

We’re proud of what this scheme represents and the legacy it leaves, and we can’t wait to celebrate with fellow finalists this November.