The Drive Phase Podcast

In this episode, James speaks with Allison Tripney, the Head of Community at Leicester City Football Club. Leicester City in the Community (LCitC) harnesses the power of football to inspire individuals to achieve their full potential in their communities.

 

LCitC runs a range of programmes designed to support the regions underserved communities, children, and young people. They support mental health, STEM skills and back to school programmes for children, as well as helping people seeking asylum through football. The programme had LCitC partnered with Amnesty International UK, Leicester City of Sanctuary and After 18 integrate into their new lives through the vehicle of football.

 

During the pandemic their one-to-one interventions through their Foxes Friday programme and their Back to Friends Back to School initiative have helped children grown in confidence and re-acquaint themselves with school life. Their new outdoor initiative partnership with the National Forest Company, supports children visiting and learning in nature. And for those not enamoured by football, their new Urban Foxes will bring young people from across the city, delivering skateboarding, Parkour and BMX-ing.

 

The Club's home on Filbert Way boasts of an extensive portfolio of sponsorship and advertising opportunities - plus a range of award-winning matchday hospitality packages. Young people from across Leicestershire have benefitted from Leicester City in the Community’s football development programs. With inclusive practice and football development running throughout the year, their key areas of work are education, community engagement, and health and wellbeing.

 

In a nutshell, Allison and James talk about:

• Allison's background and her early sporting memories
• Her secondary school teaching career What drew her away from classic school teaching into sports foundation education
• What they initially set to achieve with LCitC programs
• The areas of LCitC Allison restructured when she became Head of Community
• The business and funding model of the organization
• The challenges and opportunities for LCitC
• An introduction to the Urban Fox Program

…and so much more!

 

Connect with Allison:

LinkedIn: Allison Tripney

 

Check out Leicester City FC:

Website: https://www.lcfc.com 

LinkedIn: Leicester City Football Club

Instagram: @lcfc

Twitter: @LCFC

 

Connect with James:

Instagram: @james_ventures

Facebook: Coordinate Sports FB Page

LinkedIn: James Moore

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In this episode, James speaks to Tom Gribbin, the founder and CEO of Planet Super League. Tom has worked in sustainability for over ten years and has built and launched several digital ventures. He is an alumnus of the Cambridge MBA program (MBA) at Cambridge Judge Business School and also teaches entrepreneurship and management at UCL.   

Tom founded Planet Super League to combine three psychological drivers who were well versed in a passion for football, the digital space, and influencing environmentally friendly lifestyle changes. Tom’s venture (Planet Super League) uses the power of football to inspire people to live more sustainably, has been successful in capturing football fans' passion for their team and using that to make significant lifestyle changes. 

 

In a nutshell, Tom and James talk about:

 

• Tom's early life in school and sports experience
• His experience in teaching and lecturing at UCL
• Tom's career in sustainability and his first startup, a Children's activity tracking company
• The role of sports in Tom's life
•  The routines and habits he has put in place to balance the stresses of being a startup CEO
• Tom’s business model and how they raise funds
• Tom's word of wisdom to his younger self

Connect with Tom

LinkedIn: @tomgribbin

Twitter: Tom Gribbin

 

Check out Planet Super League

 

Website: https://planetsuperleague.com    

LinkedIn: Planet Super League

Twitter: @footballPSL

Instagram: @planetsuperleague

 

Connect with James

Instagram: @james_ventures

Facebook: Coordinate Sports FB Page

LinkedIn: James Moore

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In today's episode, James speaks to James Mapstone, the Co-founder and Chief Executive of the Alliance of Sport in Criminal Justice, and the founder and manager of 2nd Chance Group. His passion is for using the power of sport to inspire positive change and achievement, and his first-hand experience working within the criminal justice system led him to develop an initiative that provides sports activity programs to young offenders. 

 

Alliance of Sports is a Charitable Incorporated Organization that provides physical activity in sports-based intervention for young people leaving the criminal justice system. Working with national partners in criminal justice, sport, academia, government, and others, their mission is to build a better and safer society through the use of sport and physical activity in the Criminal Justice System by actively helping the sector in their efforts to reduce violence, crime and reoffending. The charity currently works with over 81 partners delivering seven initiatives across the country.

Tune in to learn more about

 

• James' early sporting memory and his journey
• The origin of the charity and its roles
• Funding injection of the charity
• The importance of program evidencing impact with data
• Recurring challenges and the lessons he learned along the journey
• His leadership philosophies and what he has put in place to manage stress and peak performance
• Upon reflection, the piece of advice he would give to his younger self

…and so much more!

Connect with James Madstone

 

LinkedIn: James Mapstone

Check out Alliance of Sport

 

Website: https://allianceofsport.org/ 

Twitter: @alliance of sport 

Connect with James

 

Instagram: @james_ventures

Facebook: Coordinate Sports FB Page

LinkedIn: James Moore

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In today’s episode, James speaks to Charlie Ford. Charlie is currently the interim CEO of England Boxing, the NGB that oversees more than 980 clubs and 24,000 members. Since 2017, memberships despite the pandemic have risen by 40%.     Ford has developed a broad range of experience through his passion for basketball and across the financial sector. He previously worked for England Boxing as Head of Community Development and as the COO of Basketball England.     England Boxing, known until 2013 as the Amateur Boxing Association, is the national governing body of amateur boxing clubs in England and is based at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield. The organization oversees the safety and welfare of its members, offers coaching courses, enforces child protection and compliances, DBS checking and promotion of boxing to potential new members, and provides a talent pathway for boxers to excel.     England Boxing also organizes and administers national and regional competitions for Elite, Youth, Junior, Schools, and Development Boxers, as well as an annual Three Nations tournament and a female-only Box Cup.     Tune in to learn more about: 

• Charlie's humble roots and how they placed him in a privileged position
• How his PE teachers and coaches potentially took the position of his busy father and supported him
• Charlie's decision to develop himself professionally rather than in the educational setting
• His career in finance and how he got into the coaching side of sports
• Charlie's England Boxing journey The financing of England Boxing
• Charlie's leadership and business philosophies that he has developed
• Their partnership with Coach Core and their key demographic

    Connect with Charlie: LinkedIn: Charlie Ford Twitter: @Coach_Ford82  

Connect with James

Instagram: @james_ventures

Facebook: Coordinate Sports FB Page

LinkedIn: James Moore

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In today's episode, James speaks to Marcus Kingwell, the CEO of EMD UK. Marcus is an accomplished presenter, public speaker, consultant, and facilitator. He joined EMD UK in October 2019 bringing a wealth of experience to the role. He has over 20 years of experience leading organizations including well cycling AOC sport, the Institute for sports parks and leisure, and sports-based consultancies with both National and International reach.   As the national governing body for group exercise we are dedicated to achieving our vision of healthier communities through group exercise. We work with instructors, operators and organisations across the sector to provide help, support and advice and to ensure that group exercise continues to inspire people of all ages and abilities to take part in physical activity.   Tune in to learn more about:

• Marcus's early life and career path
• Marcus's experience in management and consultancy for the organizations he worked for
• How he ended up in his current role as CEO of EMD UK
• How Exercise Move Dance came up, their focus, and key partnerships
• More about the membership offered and the trend of their membership during the Covid pandemic
• Marcus's approach to management and how his perspective on leadership has evolved throughout his career.
• The business philosophies and habits he employs to tackle business issues and stay focused
• The piece of advice Marcus would give to his younger self

…and so much more!   Connect with Marcus: LinkedIn.Marcus Kingwell   Check out EMD UK: LinkedIn: Emd-UK Website: EMD UK Instagram: @exercisemovedanceuk   Connect With James: Instagram: @james_ventures Facebook: Coordinate Sports FB Page LinkedIn: James Moore Coordinate Cloud: The Drive Phase Podcast

In today's episode, James speaks to Stephanie Hilborne. She is the CEO of Women in Sport, a charity that was established back in 1984 to tackle inequalities in the sports sector. Stephanie joined Women in Sport in 2019 from her 20-year career in Wildlife Trust, where she received an OBE for her services in nature conservation. Stephanie, finding her expression in sports back then in secondary school, played netball, badminton, and lacrosse. 

 

Women in Sport has a performance history in unlocking possibilities and advancing the lives of women and girls, helping them attain their full potential in both sports and life. The organisation is breaking down the obstinate gender inequality in the sports sector and beyond. Stephanie has been very instrumental in changing the behavior, opinion, and attitude of women in sports by creating equal opportunities for them.

 

Women in Sport recently released their report on teenage girls and their loss of interest in physical activity. The landmark report shows that many girls in the UK are at risk of inactivity and disengagement with sport across the spectrum. More than 1 million girls in the UK lose interest in sport as teenagers | School sports | The Guardian https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-60646352 Link to full report on our website: Reframing Sport for Teenage Girls: Tackling Teenage Disengagement - Women In Sport"

 

Tune in to learn more about:

 

• Stephanie's childhood and how school shaped her life
• Sports as her way of expression back in Secondary school
• Stephanie's passion and career as an Environmentalist
• Her previous work at Wildlife Trust
• The significant improvements in attitude and culture in the sports sector.
• The genesis of the Women in Sport organization and how the charity is at the moment
• The recurring challenges she faces as she leads the organization
• How the charity is funded
• The routines and habits she has put in place to keep her high functioning
• One piece of advice Stephanie would give to her younger self…and so much more!

Connect With Stephanie

 

LinkedIn: Stephanie Hilborne

Check out Women in Sport:

 

LinkedIn: Women in Sport Website: https://www.womeninsport.org Instagram: @womeninsport_uk

 

Connect With James

 

Instagram: @james_ventures Facebook: Coordinate Sports FB Page LinkedIn: James Moore Coordinate Cloud: The Drive Phase Podcast

In today's episode, James speaks to Tom Clarke-Forrest, the Founder and CEO of Sport 4 Life UK. Fresh out of University, Tom began Sport 4 Life UK, a charity that uses sports as a tool to facilitate meaningful and sustainable impact for the young people of Birmingham. Tom has a bachelor’s degree in Sport & Exercise Science and Physiology from Leeds University, a Level 5 in 'Leadership & Management' as well as 'Change Management’ and is currently completing an Executive MBA. Before going to University, Tom had a gap year in Brazil, where he witnessed significant poverty and deprivation, but also the significant power of sport as a force for good in the world, and this experience acted as a platform for Sport 4 Life's inception.

Sport 4 Life UK is proud to provide the opportunity to young people aged 11-29 to prepare for, and move into, sustained education, employment, or training by improving their employability and key life skills - through its sports-themed personal development services. It is the leading sport for employability enterprise in the West Midlands, employs over 25 full-time staff and has a current operating income of c.£1.4m. In 2020/21, the organisation supported 1,015 young people, with 78% from ethnically diverse backgrounds and 30% females. 184 gained an accredited qualification, 360 are enrolled in targeted services, 96% improved at least one key life skill, 95% significantly improved their employability skills and 114 progress into employment, education, or training.  Tune in to Learn More About:

• Tom's earliest sporting moments and his career vision when he graduated.
• Tom’s trip to Brazil where he drew inspiration on the power of sports in the lives of youths.
• The challenges that Tom faced during the first 12 to 24months of founding Sport 4 Life UK and what his income generation springboard was.
• The day-to-day challenges he faces as he leads the business and the daily routine he has in place to help him deal with these challenges.
• Sport 4 Life UK’s work with NEET young people and the delivery of the HAF program.
• How Sport 4 Life UK changed its sporting offer.

… and so much more!

 

Connect With Tom:

LinkedIn: Tom Clarke-Forrest

Twitter - @TCForrest

 

Check out Sport 4 Life UK:

LinkedIn: Sport 4 Life UK

Website: https://sport4life.org.uk

Instagram: @sport4lifeuk

 

Connect With James:

Instagram: @james_ventures

Facebook: Coordinate Sports FB Page

LinkedIn: James Moore

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In this episode, James speaks to Peter Arch, the Vice President of People at Gymshark, Denver office.  Born from a sporty and competitive family and drawing influence from his PE teachers, Peter pursued his passion for sports from a young age. He got his BA Honors from the University of Warwick, where he was captain of the football and cricket team. He was voted University Sportsman of the Year in 1983 and later became a lecturer at Aylesbury college. He then helped someone open a gym in Oxford and played soccer for Oxford City. He later joined an indoor soccer facility company in Kansas City as they also ran soccer camps during summer before joining Gymshark.

 

Tune in to learn more about:

 

• How Peter Co-Founded the largest soccer coaching company in North America, Challenger Sports
• How Gymshark uses sports as a medium to get to the kids and introduce them to sports
• Why Peter abandoned the indoor soccer facility and running camp to join Gymshark
• More about the establishment of Gymshark and its growth
• Gymshark’s expansion across the US and why they went for Denver.
• What piece of advice Peter would give his younger self from his future self

          and so much more…!

 

Connect with Peter:

LinkedIn: Peter Arch

 

Check out Gymshark:

LinkedIn: Gymshark

Website: https://www.gymshark.com 

Instagram: @gymshark

Connect With James

Instagram: @james_ventures

Facebook: Coordinate Sports FB Page

LinkedIn: James Moore

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In this episode, James speaks to Justin Merritt, the CEO of Ignite Sport. Sport has always played a huge part in Justin's life through a variety of roles as a participant, coach, manager, educator, and fan. He, therefore, founded Ignite to encourage participation, remove barriers and create a safe fun environment. Whether it’s at a specialist sports club, training camp, or a young participant's first time trying out, a positive experience is essential.

 

Ignite Sport UK runs unique programs for children throughout the South of England and offers a range of qualifications for aspiring trainers and coaches. They’ve also partnered with leading teams like Oxford City FC to promote community spirit. In the evolving technological world, they’ve spotted a way to strengthen their business over the long term by creating digital resources, such as online courses.

 

In a nutshell, James and Justin speak about:

 

• Justin's early childhood experiences and education.
• Justin's ear;y work experiences and how those prepared him for his current roles.
• Ignite's launch story.
• How Justin managed his role at Oxford Utd alongside Ignite.
• Justin's vision for Ignite for the next 3-5 years.
• The day-to-day challenges that Justin faces while running Ignite.
• The key to running a successful sports business.

... and so much more!

 

Connect with Justin: 

LinkedIn: Justin Merritt

 

Check out Ignite Sport:

Website: www.ignitesportuk.com

Twitter: @ignitesportuk

Facebook: Ignite Sport UK

 

Connect with James: 

Instagram: @james_ventures

Facebook: Coordinate Sport FB Page

LinkedIn: James Moore

Coordinate Cloud: The Drive Phase Podcast

Part 6 of our wrap-up series brings together the best insights from our previous episodes and is a great way to jump in and sample the Drive Phase content.  

We’ve taken the opportunity on this episode to reflect on those conversations and selected clips from 10 guests across 9 episodes to cover a range of key topics.

 

We also want to take the opportunity to thank all of our listeners for your support and ask that you subscribe and leave a review on Apple podcast or follow us on Spotify. 

 

Since starting the show we have gone from strength to strength and are so pleased we have been able to execute on our vision of supporting physical activity providers to grow.  I am excited to say we have been shortlisted in the Sports Podcast Awards. Please follow the links in the show notes to vote for us in the ‘Best Sports Business Podcast’ Category.

 

Welcome to this week’s episode of The Drive Phase Podcast and part 6 of the Lessons From Leaders series.

 

Enjoy the show