Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
New Internship Programme being launched
The Carnegie School of Sport’s ‘Get Ahead’ event will bring together some key partners, including the Leeds Rhinos Foundation, Yorkshire County Cricket Club, Leeds United Foundation and Active Schools. It will offer quality opportunities for students to get unique hands-on experience in the Sports Industry.
Ellie Standerline, who is in the final year of her Sport Physical Activity and Health degree, has been picking up valuable skills whilst on a placement at Leeds Rhinos Foundation. She has been helping the Leeds Rhinos’ coaches deliver PE lessons in primary schools.
She said: “It’s been really useful. At first, I was helping set up the equipment and providing lessons ideas but once I was comfortable, I helped deliver sections of the lessons to the children alongside the coaches.
“My course has a heavy focus on keeping children active and the health benefits of taking part in physical activity from a young age; I was able to promote this during my placement. This, and other placements I have carried out in schools, has helped me get a place on a PGCE course in September. It gave me the confidence, experience and knowledge to apply for the course.
“I would advise any students to take every opportunity to get work placements during their courses. Employers, and interviewers for Masters and PGCE courses, often need more than just a degree and anything additional you can offer, such as extra experience gained on a work placement, puts you in a better position.”
Gareth Cook, Community Manager for the Leeds Rhinos Foundation said: “The Rhinos internship with the University has been a fantastic model and one that we will be delivering again next year. We have had five students from Leeds Beckett working across Community, Health/ Education and Rugby League Development.
“The students have worked alongside our staff to deliver high quality PE/ Sport and Physical Activity whilst gaining Level 2 NGB qualifications. We are delighted that one student is now delivering paid work on the back of being part of the initiative. We anticipate that all five students will have paid work prior to the end of the academic year.”
Another of Leeds Beckett’s key partners is the Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Ian Fisher, Head of Strengthening and Conditioning for Yorkshire County Cricket Club (Yorkshire CCC) said: “Underpinning your university degree with an industry placement provides a great opportunity to help separate yourself from the pack in my opinion. It is something I in particular look for when hiring. The Yorkshire County Cricket Club’s science and medicine department has had a long relationship with Leeds Beckett and each year a number of students get a chance to work hands-on in a professional sporting environment.
“I really feel that as a department the support we provide to players is enhanced significantly by these placements and long may that continue and grow. This year, Leeds Beckett student Oliver Green has made a great impression, and I really hope he adds to the list of graduates going from one of these placements into a full-time role in professional sport.”
Oliver, who is in the final year of his Masters’ degree in Sport and Exercise Science, has been part of all the day-to-day science and medicine delivery at Yorkshire CCC, including strength and conditioning sessions, periodic performance testing, wellness and training monitoring, rehabilitation sessions, game day support including pre-game preparation and recovery.
He said: "I got my placement through a presentation at the start of semester. I've been doing a range of things and generally supplying sports science and strength and conditioning to the 1st and 2nd Teams and the Academy.
"If you have the time and are willing to commit to something, then definitely look at applying for a placement."
Through Active Schools, second year Sports Coaching students have recently had the opportunity to train to deliver the Active Schools initiative – Change4Life – in primary schools around Leeds.
The Get Ahead event on Friday (27 April) at the Headingley Campus starts with the launch of the internship programme at 11am. Leeds United Foundation, Leeds Rhinos Foundation and the Leeds Rhinos Commercial Sales team will take the stand to promote opportunities for the 2018/2019 academic year.
The event will also include an employer fair with local and national employers such as the West Ridings FA, Sagar Wright, PE Partner, PERFORM Group, the British Army, West Yorkshire Police, the Youth Hostel Association, Decathlon and many more.
During the event, students will receive careers advice, check their CVs and get LinkedIn guidance.
Louise Sutton, Employability Lead for the School of Sport said: “The Carnegie School of Sport has a long history of working in partnership with employers in the sports industry. Our new internship programme recognises the value external organisations provide in supporting the development of our students, who are the future talent of tomorrow’s workforce. The Get Ahead Event provides a platform for students to find out about the range of volunteering, placement, internship and project opportunities that exist within our partnership network.”
For more information of what to expect on the day click here.