When I think about the future of the sport and physical activity sector in Greater Essex, I think about the young people who will shape it.
Our sector is strong with over 49,000 employed and an incredible 301,400 volunteers. However, if we want the sector to continue to grow, evolve and effectively meet the needs of our diverse communities, we must invest in its future.
I think there’s a common misconception that careers in sport, fitness, and physical activity are limited to sports coaches, personal instructors, and lifeguards. While these roles are important, there is much more breadth and depth to our industry. These include physios, data analysts, nutritionists, facility managers, project coordinators, bike mechanics, community connectors, and many more.
Growing our own talent
This is something I am deeply passionate about. Over the past few months, we’ve welcomed three new interns into our team. They’re gaining experience across the business, and their energy and enthusiasm are infectious. We now have six individuals who started with Active Essex as interns, and are now valued team members, progressing their careers within Active Essex.
I was particularly proud to be a part of this year’s Black Interns Programme, hosting Timi, a brilliant young individual who embraced every opportunity to learn about Active Partnerships and the wider sport and physical activity landscape. These experiences matter. They show that when we invest in young people, they invest back with commitment, creativity and curiosity.
However, I am also aware of the reality for young people seeking their first job and starting a career. My eldest daughter is finding her way in the creative industries, and I see firsthand the many barriers and challenges that exist. In Essex, the youth unemployment rate is higher than the national average, with 11.7% of those actively seeking work being unemployed. Furthermore, 3.4% of 16–17-year-olds in Essex are not in education, employment, or training (NEET). In Clacton, half of all people over 16 are economically inactive and one in five have never had a job of any kind. But the sport and physical activity sector contributes significantly to the Greater Essex economy. Active Essex supports fantastic schemes like the £1.3 million funded ‘Essex Year of Opportunity’ which provides support for young people to gain skills and connect with employers
Community is at the heart
Across Essex, community clubs and schools are already doing fantastic work to engage young people. At Active Essex we want to build on that. Our #MoveWithUs Young Leaders programme creates a clear, inspiring pathway for young people to get involved and grow. It offers learning and development opportunities for our next generation of leaders, volunteers and coaches.
It is vital that we have a diverse workforce, and that we ensure that a career in sport and physical activity is attractive, rewarding, and scaffolded by a strong qualification and learning framework. Most of all, the work needs to be enjoyable, with a strong culture of teamwork, fairness, and clear opportunities for progression.
As we welcome the start of a new academic year, let’s do everything we can to support our young people in Essex who want to work in our fantastic sport and physical activity industry.
