Scotland: Member update from CEO

Member Replace from CEO – August 2025

1. Summer season replace

This summer season has been an excellent celebration of every little thing that makes our sport so particular – from unforgettable moments on the pitch at each degree, with aspiring juniors, rising expertise, senior squads, and masters all showcasing their ardour and efficiency. Highlights included reconnecting with the wealthy historical past of Scottish hockey on the Scotland v France match, alongside strengthening very important collaboration with our golf equipment and key stakeholders. Trying forward, our Board has set a transparent route: we’ve got to develop a technique that’s constructed upon significant engagement and collaboration, underpinned by transparency, communication, and accountability. Our intention since I began in submit has been to work collectively to strengthen our sport and create higher methods of working for the long run. We nonetheless have some challenges we are going to inevitably need to work by way of and beneath I’ve offered a brief abstract highlighting among the superb achievements which have taken place over the summer season with some necessary updates to construct upon that route, to work with our key stakeholders overtly and transparently to form the way forward for our sport.

Board Replace

We had been delighted to welcome new Non-Government Administrators (Neil, Simon, Emma and Mike) at current board conferences. Collectively our board have helped set the route of journey as we have interaction with members and prioritise this collaboration shifting ahead. Additional particulars on our work are offered beneath. Meet our board

2. New Package Associate at Scottish Hockey

Following a aggressive course of with contributions from our board, employees and Masters Hockey we’re delighted to have recognized the Osaka model as our new package companion with Specialist Sports activities main their distribution within the UK. Partnering with such a vibrant hockey model presents many alternatives a few of which have already been realised.

3. Coverage updates in Scottish Hockey

Improved governance at Scottish Hockey has been an space of focus for Scottish Hockey in 2025 to construct a extra constant strategy to our work and companies each for our employees and members. Scottish Hockey has now up to date our Worker handbook that references plenty of key insurance policies and steering for workers and are engaged on an anti harassment and respect coverage, up to date Equality Variety and Inclusion Coverage in addition to an up to date Safeguarding Coverage.

Reviewing our insurance policies is essential to establishing constant methods of working which can be honest, inclusive, and legally compliant. The Folks Committee have supported these efforts and additional updates will likely be offered forward of the brand new season. An replace on our transgender participation coverage, following the Supreme Court docket clarification earlier this 12 months, was due for launch this week; nonetheless, as a result of components past our management, this has been delayed. We are going to share the steering as quickly as attainable earlier than the beginning of the season.

4. Occasions

Enormous congratulation to everybody concerned in delivering

the U18s European Championships
Aspiring and rising (B & G) squads travelled throughout Europe to compete on the highest degree,
Senior Males and Ladies competed within the European Championships performing effectively with ladies reaching among the finest outcomes ever achieved at that degree.
On prime of all of that our Courageous Cup was an excellent success with hundred of individuals competing final weekend supported by our President, Craig Munro has additionally been vastly supportive in current weeks attending and supporting plenty of key occasions.

Workers and volunteers deserve huge credit score for this quantity of labor in such a brief time frame.

5. Organisational Progress

Staffing, construction & Technique – Since I began in submit at Scottish Hockey I’ve invested vital efforts to make sure Scottish Hockey strikes ahead sustainably and a part of this has included work to have interaction stakeholders in growing a long run technique that will likely be underpinned by a monetary plan and a staffing construction that compliments the wants of our sport and addresses among the challenges we’re conscious of together with communication challenges. It will take a little bit of time to implement and our plan is to take a cautious and regarded strategy to our staffing construction when we’ve got readability on our long run strategic priorities. Consequently we could also be brief staffed within the interim as a result of some vacancies. Relaxation assured the place we’re clear on subsequent steps we’re working to strengthen management capability and higher help employees and our members.
Monetary Place – Via cautious price administration, our monetary outlook has improved in comparison with final 12 months however the margins concerned in working any enterprise are nonetheless tight to get to the place we need to be. Whereas we’re nonetheless working in direction of full stability, and a few historic commitments stay which can be difficult, we’re inspired by the progress being made and stay centered on doing all we will to attain a balanced funds for 2025.
Membership & Member Engagement – The CEO, employees and board are attending district periods throughout Scotland to pay attention, construct belief and understanding, and collect enter from key stakeholders on the game’s long-term technique.
Safeguarding & Governance – Strengthening safeguarding stays a prime precedence, with ongoing enhancements to processes, insurance policies and resourcing. Should you want any help please contact our engagement supervisor.
Industrial Partnerships – A brand new package partnership has been secured connecting Scottish Hockey to some of the thrilling hockey manufacturers. Alongside this we’ve got secured contractual financial savings, serving to to strengthen sustainability and worth for cash throughout just a few necessary areas of the enterprise.
Membership Charges – Charges will stay unchanged for the 2025/26 season. Communications have been shared with all Members to activate membership for the 12 months which is now open for season 2025/26.

6. Trying forward

By September, all district engagement periods will likely be full, informing a draft long-term technique by December 2025.
By the tip of the 12 months, we anticipate to have readability on our strategic route, funds, and a sustainable staffing construction to strengthen supply in 2026.

As Scottish Hockey continues to evolve throughout this era, there have been some current staffing modifications. Sam Macfarlane is shifting on from a component time position in Competitions. We do have some further staffing modifications on the horizon that I’ll replace on sooner or later. We thank Sam for her contributions to hockey in Scotland and need her each success for the long run. We’re additionally excited to announce the appointment of our new Lead Supervisor – Efficiency within the coming days.

This communication is aimed to mirror our dedication to openness and collaboration with key stakeholders to form the way forward for hockey in Scotland. As we strategy the brand new season, we’re getting ready an up to date disciplinary code that can present a singular course of for managing self-discipline each on and off the pitch. If we will help you in any manner at the moment please don’t hesitate to get in contact – and good luck to everybody for the beginning of the season. We’ve famous some key dates beneath to your consciousness.

Dates for diary

Rule Modifications & Inclusion Replace

The discharge of season rule updates has been delayed to permit cautious consideration of a selected rule. Within the meantime, present guidelines ought to proceed to be adopted. The up to date steering will embrace revisions to transgender inclusion coverage consistent with current authorized clarifications.

E mail communication and web site

This will likely be shared on or earlier than week commencing 1st September 2025

Communicated to golf equipment

Shaping the Way forward for Hockey – Premiership Golf equipment

Engagement session led by Competitions Supervisor who will meet with Premiership Membership representatives to debate competitors arrange and collect enter from golf equipment on a key rule change for season 2025/26.

On-line

Wednesday twenty seventh August

Michael MacDougal to coordinate immediately

Shaping the Future –

Engagement Classes

Borders accomplished – twentieth August. East accomplished

Throughout Scotland

Dundee – twenty fifth August

Aberdeen twenty seventh August

West – 1st September

Contact your Regional Supervisor for extra data

Shaping the Future