Sport for Business has launched a ‘Future Leaders’ programme for sport and business students attending the University of Ulster.
The first phase of the programme, launched yesterday in Belfast, will see the first cohort of students on the Sport Connex Leadership Development Programme run by the Ulster Business School having full access to the daily intelligence on the commercial world of sport published by Sport for Business.
“You should always look to where the puck is going rather than where it is,” said Michael McQuillan of the Ulster Business School quoting Ice Hockey legend Wayne Gretsky while launching the Programme.
Norther Ireland Minister for Employment and Learning Dr Stephen Farry also spoke in strong positive terms about the ability of Northern Ireland to establish itself as a real cluster base of companies engaged in the many and varied ways in which sport and business cross over and connect.
There will be course input over the year from members of the Sport for Business community of sporting and business leaders throughout Ireland. Sport for Business will also develop initiatives with Sport Connex’s community of start ups and high potential businesses.
Reputation
Sport for Business has built a strong reputation as the most influential meeting point between sport and business over the past two years, and this programme is the first of its kind providing students with up to the minute information that will help their development as future leaders within the sports industry both in Ireland and in an international context.
“The University of Ulster has a number of very strong courses designed for aspiring graduates, innovators and entrepreneurs looking to develop a career in the sports industry, focusing on the business of sport,” said Sport for Business Founder Rob Hartnett, speaking yesterday in Belfast.
“Such students recognise the need to continually update their business and management knowledge to complement their undergraduate study before embarking on their chosen career.”
Collaboration
“We live in an era of collaboration where new partnerships between sport and business are providing real value to both parties.”
“Working with a great team at the University of Ulster we will breed a new way of looking at the business of sport.”
“We take today as a starting point but our sights are set on a tomorrow where the passion of sport and the power of business are aligned in ways that will transform society. Smart people are choosing sport as the first choice to develop brilliance in their careers.”
Improvement
“They are creating step change improvements in the way businesses are managed and how the population at large is aware of its own physical literacy and fitness.”
“This is an exciting programme, aimed at building on very successful courses and producing future leaders of real quality.”
Discussions are also taking place with a number of institutions in the Republic of Ireland around the benefits of collaboration between the world of sport, business, learning and Government.
Give your organisation a head start in the commercial world of Irish sport by becoming a member of Sport for Business today. News * Analysis * Connected
Sport for Business delivers events that bring sport and business closer together in an effective networking environment. Find out more about upcoming events in Funding, Youth Sport, Workplace Fitness and Digital Sport.
