The Sporting Excellence Professional apprenticeship is aimed at athletes in high-performance environments, typically contracted to professional clubs, national governing bodies or talent pathways. The programme supports your progression as a professional athlete by developing the wider skills needed to succeed — both in sport and beyond. You’ll work closely with coaches, mentors and tutors to reflect on your performance, build self-awareness and prepare for long-term success.
You’ll cover areas such as technical/tactical development, physical conditioning, psychological readiness, nutrition, lifestyle management, and dual-career planning. The programme also includes modules on communication, self-analysis, feedback, and personal goal-setting — all aligned with professional expectations in elite sport.
As a full-time athlete, you’ll continue to train and compete as normal while completing structured learning alongside. The apprenticeship includes one-to-one tutorials, performance reviews, portfolio development and End-Point Assessment. Delivery is designed to integrate into your existing training calendar with minimal disruption to performance.
This programme is a recognised route for athletes transitioning into professional contracts or national squads. It also supports future progression into coaching, mentoring, performance support roles, or further education and qualifications.
You must be part of a recognised elite sport pathway and nominated by your club, academy or governing body. Typically includes GCSE English and Maths or equivalent, or willingness to work towards these.
This apprenticeship is fully funded through the Apprenticeship Levy for eligible clubs or NGBs. Athletes must be in full-time training with a contracted organisation and meet standard UK apprenticeship criteria. If you’re unsure whether you’re eligible, we can advise based on your sport and circumstances.
