Elite Sports Employer Skills Academy
The Elite Sports Employer Skills Academy provides students with the opportunity to develop their sporting potential alongside valuable industry knowledge, professional skills and employability experience. Designed for students with a passion for sport, the academy connects learning with real-world opportunities through partnerships with professional sports clubs, coaches and industry experts.
Through a combination of academic study, practical experiences and employer engagement, students are supported to build confidence, resilience and a professional sporting portfolio that can help them progress into careers within the sports industry, higher education or elite sporting pathways.
About Elite Sports Employer Skills Academy
The Elite Sports Employer Skills Academy has been created to support students who are passionate about sport and want to maximise their potential both on and off the field. Open to students aged 16–19, the academy enhances learners' academic studies through access to industry-led activities, employer engagement and sporting opportunities that help prepare them for successful futures within the sport sector.
Working closely with a range of professional sports organisations and partners, students have the opportunity to take part in workshops, projects and enrichment activities designed to develop their technical knowledge, leadership skills and professional behaviours. These experiences help students gain a greater understanding of the sports industry while developing confidence, communication and teamwork skills that are highly valued by employers.
The academy also encourages students to broaden their horizons through coaching, event delivery, volunteering and competitive sporting opportunities. By combining academic achievement with practical experience, students gain valuable insight into the wide range of careers available within the sports sector while building a portfolio of experiences that supports future progression.
Students will develop knowledge and skills in areas including:
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Sports coaching and leadership
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Teamwork and communication
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Event planning and delivery
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Sports performance and analysis
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Professional behaviours and employability
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Sports industry career pathways
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Confidence and resilience
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Portfolio development and personal progression
Sheffield United Football Club
Sheffield United Football Club currently supports 82 of our BTEC learners. The club provides our learners with an environment in which they can train and compete in a football environment; an integral part of their learning journey alongside their academic qualification.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club currently supports 135 of our BTEC learners. The club supports our learners by providing a football focused environment in which learners can train and compete alongside their academic qualification.
The Sheffield College Basketball
Formed by a merge between The Sheffield College Basketball Academy and The Sheffield Sabres and in partnership with Extra Mile Basketball; The Sheffield College Basketball has 5 different teams with 70 registered players. Players registered in these teams study a variety of A Level and BTEC Courses, as well as taking part in training sessions to compete in EABL and AOC Competitions.
Sheffield Sharks Basketball
The Sheffield Sharks supports five groups of students who are undertaking skills for life courses and who want to develop their knowledge on careers and opportunities. The Sheffield Sharks offers the opportunity for students to develop their employability skills through workshops and masterclasses, ran by various members of the team at Sheffield Sharks, as well as the opportunity to support at local basketball events.
Sheffield STIX Ice Hockey
Sheffield STIX Ice Hockey supports, coaches, and mentors aspiring hockey players to develop their sporting skills. STIX have been working with The Sheffield College since 2022 and provide student competitions and projects to enhance our students’ academic programme. Most recently, STIX presented our students with a competition to design them a new playing shirt. John Robinson, one of our HE Graphic Design students won the competition and was presented with a printed shirt!
Sheffield Diving
Sheffield Diving's training environment is one of the biggest 10 metre venues in Britain, with two dry-diving areas, an air track and a unique tailor-made diving trampoline. The diving pool has the only 1 metre overhead wet harness in the Great Britain and the most amount of diving springboards in the UK. The club supports our College students with team building activities and offers our students the opportunity to develop their diving skills. Their mission is “to produce elite divers and ensure that all members are nurtured to their full potential”.
KW2 Kyle Walker Football Academy
Launching in September 2024, the KW2 Football Academy will offering scholarships for 16-19 year olds with a comprehensive full-time initiative combining football and education. This program aims to nurture both athletic and academic skills, offering participants a well-rounded experience to support their development on and off the field. To find out more, visit: https://www.sheffcol.ac.uk/kw2-kyle-walker-football-academy
Latest News
TOP FOOTBALLER LAUNCHES SCHOLARSHIP TO SUPPORT THE NEXT GENERATION OF TALENT
11/03/2024
The Sheffield College
ASPIRING SNOOKER PLAYERS URGED TO GET ON CUE WITH NEW EDUCATION PROGRAMME
22/05/2024
The Sheffield College
STUDENT HAS DESIGNS ON NEW CAREER AFTER SPORTS LOGO SELECTION
30/05/2022
The Sheffield College
We are proud to support students as they develop their skills, pursue their sporting ambitions and gain experiences that prepare them for the next stage of their education, employment or athletic journey.
Tom Kotylo, Academy Director
About our Employer
The Elite Sports Employer Skills Academy is supported by a network of professional sports clubs, coaches and industry partners who work collaboratively with The Sheffield College to enhance students' learning and career development. Rather than being linked to a single employer, the academy acts as an umbrella programme that brings together expertise from across a variety of sports and organisations.
Through partnerships with professional and community sports organisations, students gain access to workshops, masterclasses, projects, mentoring opportunities and real-world sporting experiences. These partners provide valuable industry insight and help students understand the skills, behaviours and commitment required to succeed within the sport and leisure sector.
The academy has worked with organisations including Sheffield United Football Club, Sheffield Wednesday Football Club, Sheffield Sharks Basketball Club, Sheffield STIX Ice Hockey, Sheffield Diving and other sporting partners. Together, these organisations help inspire students, provide professional role models and create opportunities for learners to develop their sporting, educational and career ambitions.
