⭐ Sponsor Spotlight: Conica UK
A Trusted Surfacing Partner Supporting Our Soapbox Challenge
When it comes to high‑quality safety surfacing — from playground systems to bound rubber and stone — Conica UK is a supplier we’ve relied on for many years. Their products appear in countless Venture Play installations across the UK, Scotland and Wales, and we’re excited to have them backing our Nottingham Super Soapbox Challenge this year.
What makes the partnership stand out isn’t just their technical expertise — it’s the way they work. Whether it’s advice, materials or fast‑turnaround samples, Conica have always delivered with a calm, knowledgeable and genuinely supportive approach.
🚦 A Moment Worth Sharing (and Why This Partnership Feels So Natural)
One of the moments that really stood out to us was Ashley personally dropping off samples to our offices ahead of an event. It wasn’t a big dramatic gesture — just simple, genuine customer service. He told us the thing he remembered most was “the energy and friendliness of Ally and the office team,” and that small interaction set the tone for how easy and natural working together has felt ever since.
Conica also shared a brilliant photo from the FSB tradeshow in Cologne, showing part of their sales and commercial team representing the brand at one of the biggest international surfacing and sports flooring exhibitions. It’s a great reminder of the scale, expertise and people behind the products we use every day — and the team behind the partnership we value so much.
🌈 Getting to Know Ashley
Behind the great communication is someone who brings a huge amount of personality into the partnership.
Half‑Marathon Logic:
Ashley joked that the moment he realised he was actually doing it was when he found himself “10k+ away from home” with no choice but to keep going. A brilliant mindset — and very on‑brand for our Soapbox spirit.
Football:
A proud Nottinghamshire lad, he’s firmly Nottingham Forest.
(We did resist the urge to remind him Leicester won the Premier League… promise 😉)
Gig Lover:
When Oasis tickets went live, he and his mates sat on Ticketmaster all day with no luck… until production tickets magically appeared a week later. After several frantic refreshes, he ended up eight rows from the front at Wembley — a textbook Ashley move.
Life Outside Work:
Running, football, good music, and time with his little boy Louis — who turns five in March.
And if he were behind the wheel of a Soapbox kart?
A strategic driver — not flashy, not chaotic… just smart decisions at the right time.
🛠️ What Conica Provide
Conica continue to support us with:
- Impact‑attenuating surfacing
- Bound systems
- High‑performance flooring
- Technical guidance
- Fast samples (even on tight timelines)
And with their Newark base, they remain one of our most accessible and responsive suppliers.
⏱️ Why This Partnership Matters
With this being the first year our little Soapbox team has organised something like this for charity, having a partner who communicates quickly, supports fully and genuinely makes things easier has meant far more than they know.
Thank you to Ashley and the full Conica UK team for supporting our Soapbox Challenge entry and helping us raise funds for Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People.
We’re proud to have you with us.
