A new generation of Super League Rugby players are in the making thanks to the Government’s Apprenticeship Levy Transfer.
Hull Kingston Rovers Rugby Club is piloting the Level 3 in Sports Excellence Apprenticeship Standard with four of its 18-year-old players after receiving £40,000 levy transfer from global learning and development company Tack TMI.
Tack TMI comes under the umbrella of Gi Group Holding and has bases in the region. Alison Golsworthy, Business Manager, Apprenticeships, said the company has a large levy pot and decided to get involved in levy transfer to give back to the local community and support SMEs to benefit from the apprenticeship programme.
The club, part of the Super League, the top-level of the British Rugby League system, has never been involved in the apprenticeship programme until now. It accessed the levy funding after approaching Hull and East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership (HEY LEP), seeking advice in respect of its recruitment and retention of academy players through the apprenticeship programme.
The LEP provides a bespoke free and impartial one-stop-shop workforce development service to SME businesses across the Hull and East Yorkshire seeking support at any stage of their business journey. Including increasing awareness of the apprenticeships offer to SMEs in the region and raising awareness of levy transfer to support the region’s wider economic growth and development of SME’s.
James Newman, LEP Chair commented. “It is really rewarding to see the work of the partnership coming together to create valuable new roles in our community. The work of the Growth Hub has been constantly recognised for its innovation in the area of workforce development. We look forward to expanding the partnership building on what has already being achieved.”
Paula Cullen, Head of Wellbeing and Development for Hull KR, the only Super League Club in the country involved in the Sports Excellence apprenticeship, said the pilot is working really well and is a perfect fit!
All players for the club’s under 18 academy are scouted. Academy players have a pathway to progress to the first team environment, but even though some are first grade players, not all could progress due to them requiring more support and development work in relation to their practical rugby league skills and ability. And while the potential was there, they were previously lost to the club.
Paula said: “As the club has grown, we were looking at succession planning and continuing our growth. We were looking at how we could keep talented players, and that was driver for going down the apprenticeship route.”
Working with the Rugby Football League (RFL), the governing body who were involved in developing the standard for the Level 3 Sports Excellence apprenticeship, which covers a variety of sports, and partnering with the LEP, the club were able to put academy players through the apprenticeship to enable them to stay on the path to become professional rugby league players.
Paul Medley, National Talent Progression Manager at the RFL, said, “The RFL are pleased to see Hull Kingston Rovers become the first club to take the significant step into the Sporting Excellence Apprenticeship. It is pleasing to see players been given the opportunity to learn and develop many transferable skills, whilst progressing the chances of becoming a full-time professional. We would like to thank Hull KR for taking this major step forward for our sport and hopefully this trailblazer will now lead to others considering this worthwhile path for players within their clubs.”
The academy players were placed with the Hull Kingston Rovers Foundation, the charitable arm of the club.
One player is now in the first team environment and the other three are with the reserves team.
As part of their apprenticeship, delivered by training provider SCL, the players gain knowledge and skills around all the technical and tactical elements of rugby league; this includes studying for the Level 2 coaching qualification, gaining knowledge in physiotherapy, strength and conditioning, analyst skills, and enhancing their behaviours and attitudes.
Jason Netherton, Head of Academy at the club, said: “We are very proud to be the first Super League club to offer this apprenticeship to our players.
Rugby League is regarded as a late maturation sport so to keep players in our environment for longer gives us an opportunity to keep working with these young men. It also gives them a broader view of what is needed to become a full-time athlete.”
Paula added the apprenticeship enables the young people to enhance the skills they already have as players, making them fully rounded professional rugby league players.
“Without the apprenticeship, we would have lost talented players,” Paula said.
“The apprenticeship has enabled us to help our players with the whole professional aspect of what it entails to become a Super League rugby player. “Not only are they an asset to the club as players, they are excellent role models for new players coming up through the game and promoting sport in the local community.
“The players are helping with diversity, they are involved in community outreach, working with disability groups, promoting rugby in primary and secondary schools, running keep fit and dance sessions for the elderly and are involved in local wheelchair rugby groups. It is working brilliantly and has enabled the Foundation to grow its staff.” She said the pilot has been a huge success so far and looking ahead, the club will continue to grow the programme. The club is looking at supporting other Super League clubs to follow this pathway.
In addition, the club is looking at how it can get more involved in apprenticeships across the organisation through levy transfer, extending it into other areas including leadership and management, events, customer service, media relations and business administration.
Paula confirmed the club is in the process of reaching out to other large employers in relation to levy transfer and is currently in talks with Oxford University to fund a Leadership and Management apprenticeship for staff. “It’s been a fantastic experience for the club and the young players,” she added.