Earlier this month UK Charity Women in Sport released Sport for Success, a comprehensive study into the role and importance of sport in helping women to achieve and contribute more in their careers.
While the link between sport and health continues to be well-documented, the latest report, backed by Investec, examines the role of sport in helping women to achieve more in their careers.
One of the key findings of the report which can be downloaded below is that of women who participate in sport three times a week 48% have a degree or other third level qualification as opposed to 24% in the general population.
The impact is particularly strong at the start of careers as well emphasising the importance of tackling the gap that still exists between boys and girls through schools and colleges.
Reaffirming how playing sport can help to develop skills and qualities valuable for women’s personal progression, Sport for Success highlights how the workplace too can benefit from the increased effectiveness of female staff.
“The evidence that playing sport improves our health is understood – but sometimes the health arguments alone are not enough to persuade people for whom exercise and playing sport is difficult, challenging or simply alien,” said Women in Sport Chief Executive, Ruth Holdaway.
“And many of those who shy away from sport, or find it difficult to fit into a busy life, are women.”
“At Women in Sport, we promote both the health and the wider benefits of playing sport, both for individuals and society – and especially the benefits that will help improve the lives of women and girls.”
“We are extremely proud to have partnered with Investec to build on our previous research into the social and economic value to the UK of women’s participation in sport.”
“Thanks to the generosity of Investec, we are now publishing a comprehensive study into the role and importance of sport in helping women to achieve more, and thus contribute more, in their careers.”
“This research has found a significant majority of women who are in management roles play sport (77%). Furthermore, women who play sport are more likely to be in those management roles in the first place than those who do not, and to have reached a management role much earlier in their career.”
“This makes clear the importance of having a greater number of opportunities for girls to be active and play sport from a young age – schools, colleges and community groups should take note.”
“Increasing the visibility of women playing sport in the media and in everyday life will also help, making it a more normal part of women and girls’ lives.”
“At Women in Sport, we want to see every woman and girl across the UK gain the same benefits from sport that men do and with almost 1.7million fewer women than men playing sport every week, this research is yet another reason to be clear that until we close this gender gap we are doing a disservice to women, to society and to the success of our economy.”
A full copy of the report can be downloaded here.
Sport for Business’ Coverage of Women’s Sport is supported by Liberty Insurance #SupportHerSport
