Kent kicks off FA's first football business qualification in Aylesford
by business editor Trevor Sturgess
Kent is kicking off a pioneering course in football and
business.
The county has been chosen to host the Football Association's
first Certificate in Football Business and Practice.
It is being held at the award-winning Kent FA's headquarters in
Aylesford for staff involved in grassroots football.
The qualification, focusing on football business, leadership and
finance, is a partnership between the FA and Buckinghamshire New
University. Officials hope the scheme will be extended
nationwide.
Students from Kent, London and Sussex study for the year-long
certificate through two-day workshop sessions and work-related
distance learning.
Stephen Sharman, national game regional manager for the FA in
the south east, said: "The flexibility of the learning experience
for the students and the fact that they can apply each module to
their day-to-day roles was a key factor when designing the
course.
"It is planned to review the progress of the course throughout
the year and then offer the same opportunity to other County
Football Associations around the country, with the aim of building
up to three or four different cohorts."
The first students and
officials launch the FA's certificate in football business
He added Bucks New University had a successful track record
in delivering high-quality, industry-based courses combining a
theoretical and applied approach.
Paul Morgan, the university's departmental manager for sport
management, said: "We have already been impressed by the level of
engagement and professionalism displayed by the students and look
forward to seeing the outcomes of the course for their own career
development and for the FA's wider business strategy.
"The real benefit of the course is putting into practice the
football business aspects of the programme. Students also develop a
real project linked to their job and wider FA policy."
Kent FA won the Business Commitment to the Community Award in
the 2012 Kent Excellence in Business Awards.
07/01/13
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