Earlier this month, we celebrated National Careers Week, a fantastic opportunity to highlight the wide range of exciting, rewarding, and impactful careers within the sport and physical activity sector. For Active Essex, this moment aligns perfectly with our ongoing commitment to developing the next generation of leaders, volunteers, and coaches through programmes such as Coach Core, the Move With Us Leaders Academy (MWLA) and our wider work to raise aspirations across the sector.
A Changing Skills Landscape
The skills, employability and post‑16 education landscape in England is undergoing significant reform. These changes carry real weight for Essex’s young people, employers, and local planners. National policy is increasingly focused on reducing the number of young people who are NEET, with new programmes emerging to support those who need it most.
The Post‑16 Education and Skills White Paper (October 2025) introduce major developments, including new vocational pathways such as V Levels and Foundation Apprenticeships, and a stronger emphasis on collaboration to address local skills gaps. For Essex, these reforms matter because they reshape how residents access training, how employers find talent, and how we plan a workforce that meets future economic needs.
Since 2020, through our People, Culture and Skills Framework, we have worked closely with Essex partners, employers, education, and training providers to better understand the challenges we face. We remain committed to creating a sector where diversity of thought is valued and a human‑centred approach is nurtured. Therefore, creating a space young people to start their career in this space and be supported through their organisations and future steps.
Supporting Young People Into Sport and Physical Activity Careers
Through the Essex County Council Employability & Careers team, we know already over 30 young people this year require support to build confidence, develop their CVs, and explore careers in sport and physical activity. As part of our implementation plan, Active Essex has committed to attending up to 15 careers fairs each year to champion the thriving opportunities within our sector. This reflects both the strong interest from young people and the opportunity for us to bridge the gap by offering guidance, experience, and clear progression routes alongside community partners and CIMSPA.
Why This Work Matters to Me
This work is incredibly close to my heart. Growing up, I didn’t know what career path I wanted to take I just knew I loved helping others. My local sports club offered volunteering opportunities, allowing me to support sessions before eventually leading my own. Over time, this built my confidence and developed my skills by receiving qualifications in the sport I was teaching, leading to a role as a PE Coach in schools.
That experience opened the door for me to further study sport development at university and led me to my career today in sports administration at Active Essex. I still stay connected to my coaching roots, giving up my evenings to teach at a local club. Sport has given me passion, purpose, and opportunities I never imagined possible. That’s why I feel so strongly about creating pathways for young people to discover their own potential just as I discovered mine.
Highlights From National Careers Week
Throughout the week, we celebrated our work programme that creates space for young people to start out their careers in sports and physical activity.
- 10 years of partnership with Coach Core, and we’re excited to announce that our Level 2 Community Activator Coach programme will launch in September 2026. Click here to find out more. Since 2016, we have supported over 92 apprentices across Essex, including 33 females, 14 ethnically diverse individuals, and 26 apprentices with learning support needs. in 2025-2026 programme 78% of apprentices secured continued employment with their apprenticeship employer, enabling them to remain within their organisation.
- Our Move With Us Leaders Academy, which works with organisations and schools to give young people aged 12–18 hands‑on volunteering experience, leadership development and confidence both on and off the pitch. Last summer, 122 young people supported as Young Leaders, and 154 Year 8 and 9 students completed Go Lead training to prepare for Disney‑Inspired Football Festivals. Click here to find out more.
- Our Active Essex Interns, who have now been with us for over six months, contributing to a wide range of programmes and workstreams. We believe internships offer a vital first step into the workplace and a chance to develop meaningful skills. Watch day in the life of our intern Mia.
If you would like more information about careers in the sector, our young leaders’ programmes, or how you can support young people through opportunities, please contact Chloe at chloe.hinds.activeessex.org
