In today's episode, James features an amazing trio with bursting expertise in Wraparound childcare within the sports corporate sphere. Meet Craig Jones, who has over 2 decades of experience working with children and young people within education as well as the sports, and fitness industries and is now serving as the Chief Child Experience Officer at Junior Adventures Group UK, UK's largest provider of Wraparound childcare.

Joining him is Rob Brown, who is on a mission to improve the employability of sports students and fast-track them into their ideal careers as the Managing Director of First Step Sports Group and Director at the Institute of Sporting Futures (ISF).

Last but not least, Andrew Hicks, known for his impressive track record in leading teams to achieve substantial growth and operational excellence, is now UK’s Managing Director at Coordinate Sport, a pioneer in providing comprehensive software solutions for sports program management.

Listen in as the quad offers a rare glimpse of insights into Wraparound childcare, its past dynamics, current landscape, and future trajectory, helping you gain valuable invaluable insights to align your strategy and readiness for entry or advancement within the wraparound childcare space.

Looking for support with updating or creating a new wraparound programme in your school? Check out our free guide to planning a comprehensive wraparound programme today.

Connect with our guests:

Craig: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-j

Andrew: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-hicks-

Rob: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-brown-

Connect with James:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/james_ventures

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coordinatesport/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-moore-uk

Coordinate Sport: https://coordinate.cloud/

Get Your Free Guide: https://coordinate.cloud/guide/what-you-need-to-know-about-primary-school-wraparound-care/

In today's episode, James speaks to Graeme Eaglesham, the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer at Future Kids. Graeme is a former professional soccer player, coach, and youth trainer who has held positions such as Sports Education Manager at Liverpool International Academy and assistant coach at Bellevue University. Additionally, he is an athlete for Gymshark, one of the world's largest fitness apparel companies.

Through Future Kids, a non-profit organization based in Omaha, Nebraska, they transform generosity from affluent neighborhoods into providing a variety of sports programs (soccer, tennis, and fitness after-school programs) and camps. Each program is tailored with a unique blend of skills, fitness, and character-building activities for underserved youths.

Tune in as James and Graeme speak about:

- Graeme’s journey from street sports to the heights of professional football and now visionary business leadership

- His thought process upon realizing the conclusion of his football career

- The impact of the pay-to-play model on game adoption

- Insights into running a business on the flip side of the pay-to-play narrative

- How they are leveling the playing field for kids in underserved communities and the remarkable programs they offer

- What he's anticipating at the ongoing soccer coaches’ convention

… and so much more!

Check out Future Kids:

Website: https://futurekids.leagueapps.com/

X: https://x.com/Future_Kids1?s

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/future.kidz/

Connect with Graeme:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/graeme-eaglesham-

Connect with James:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/james_ventures

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coordinatesport/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-moore-uk

Coordinate Sport: https://coordinate.cloud/

In today's episode, James speaks to Paul Lawrence, the CEO at Challenger Sports and Teamwear. Paul is also a sports instructor and women's head coach, having made significant contributions to teams like Indiana State, Florida Southern College, and Knox College.

With the goal of increasing the number of soccer campers while positively impacting children's lives through soccer, Challenger Sports was established in 1985. Over the years, they have become the most sought-after soccer camp in the United States, having served hundreds of thousands of soccer players. In addition to soccer camps, tournaments, holiday camps, clinics, and tours, they also produce and provide sports apparel through their offspring company, Challenger Teamwear.

In summary, James and Lawrence discuss:

- A nostalgic journey into the culture and functionality of British soccer camps in the 1980s

- The history and aspirations behind the founding of Challenger Sports

- Lawrence's journey from sports coach to founding the most popular soccer camp in the USA

- Insights into the growth of Challenger Sports over the years

- Current initiatives and innovations within the camp

- Strategies for rebuilding and rebounding from the impacts of COVID-19 on their activities

- The research model used to equip young athletes

- Perspectives on leveling the playing field for less advantaged athletes to reach the pinnacle of their sporting careers

… and much more!

Check out Challenger Sports:

Website: http://www.challengersports.com http://www.challengerteamwear.com  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/challenger-sports 

Connect with Lawrence: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/mwlite/profile/in/paul-lawrence- 

Connect with James:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/james_ventures  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coordinatesport/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-moore-uk  

Coordinate Sport: https://coordinate.cloud/   

In today's episode, James speaks with Niall Quinn, an Irish former professional footballer who played top-flight football for Arsenal, Manchester City, and Sunderland. With 92 caps, Niall stands as Ireland's second-highest goalscorer of all time. He has also served as a football manager, sports television pundit at Sky Sports for over a decade, and as an interim Deputy CEO of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI).

With many accomplishments to his name, he is also the founder and president of Team Taca, a private podcast that collaborates with youth soccer clubs to produce world-class private and localized club podcasts, offering content that educates, inspires, and empowers the next generation of youth athletes. Niall and James dissect the pay-to-play model dominating U.S. soccer landscapes, scrutinizing its impact on the sport's evolution while emphasizing how mindful communication through podcasting can greatly influence the mental health and overall well-being of young athletes.

In a nutshell, they speak about:

- The dynamics of the modern business side of sports

- The challenging pattern he observed in clubs and his strategy to alleviate tension with fee-paying parents

- How they implement their model to serve both children and their parents

- Insights on how to handle situations where your child's performance may not have shined brightly

- Notable professional footballers who emerged from their youth teams

- The importance of instilling work ethics in young players

- How they aim to inspire, empower, educate, and cultivate good habits in youth athletes for only 50 cents per podcast per kid

…and so much more! 

Check out Team Taca:

Website: https://www.teamtaca.com/ 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/team-taca/ 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/teamtacapod/ 

Connect with Niall:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/niall-quinn-team-taca/

Connect with James:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/james_ventures 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coordinatesport/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-moore-uk 

Coordinate Sport: https://coordinate.cloud/ 

In today's episode, James invites back previous guests for an insightful panel discussion, of three business titans from both sides of the Mergers and acquisitions process. Craig Brennan, the founder, and CEO of The Little Sports Group is building a business and growing through acquisition; Dean Horidge, the former founder of Fit for Sports and is now CEO and founder of Thinkably and Chris Irwin, the founder of Ed Start Group and current CCO at Salford Red Devils. 

Listen in as the quad panel unravels valuable insights delving deep from their experience and positions in business growth and M& A business path, setting you up for a fruitful M & A process that will enable you to make the impact you aim for and sustain it.

In a nutshell, the quad speaks about:

• Their approach and experience in mergers and acquisitions, M&A transactions

• Organic growth vs growth by acquisition, detailed benefits and challenges that come with each

• Their thoughts and experiences on the process of acquisition ( the nitty gritty of valuation, negotiation, trade action) etcetera

• The 5 main signals to look out for while doing your due diligence for potential acquisitions

• How to navigate the transition cultural, value, and proposition dynamics from the acquisition side for smooth transactions

• Positive possibilities in the sector some 3 - 5 years down the road

• Nuggets on maintaining funding sustainability; a roadmap on how to go about your reliance on revenue streams

… and so much more! 

Connect with our guests:

Linkedln:

Chris Irwin https://uk.linkedin.com/in/chris-irwin-74150a31 

Dean Horridge: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deanhorridge1/ 

Craig Brennan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigbrennanlsc/ 

Connect with James:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/james_ventures 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coordinatesport/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-moore-uk  

Coordinate Sport: https://coordinate.cloud/  

In today’s episode, James engages with Andrew Busby, the CEO of Kings Active Foundation, an organisation that has been driving sustained change in sports and activity for children across the country. Assuming the role of CEO in 2023, he has spent two decades in commercial business development before joining the Kings Active team, to create partnerships for the benefit of children globally.

Going back to 1991, The Kings Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation, was established with a mission at its core: to utilise Sport and Activity to enhance the lives of thousands of children annually in the UK and globally. Over the years, they have positively impacted over 3 million children and generated more than 20,000 active jobs worldwide, all while remaining committed to their vision of getting children active, having fun, and learning together.

In a nutshell, James and Andrew speak about:

• The transition from a passion for Art & Design to entering the parking sector.
• The significance of distinguishing between one's strengths and passions.
• Insights into the role of universities and alternative paths in the broader context of achieving success.
• The narrative behind the establishment of Kings Active Foundation.
• The strategic changes to their business model because of COVID-19 and his thoughts on the pros and cons of this transformation.
• The 3 to 5-year vision of the organisation and their aspirations within that vision.
• The compelling spirit and distinctive features of Kings, particularly in how they welcome individuals back into their families.
• Andrew's strategies for maintaining a high level of productivity and performance
• and so much more!

Check out Kings Active Foundation:

Website: http://www.kingsfoundation.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-kings-foundation-kings-camps

Connect with Andrew:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewbusby01

Connect with James:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/james_ventures

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coordinatesport/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-moore-uk

Coordinate Sport: https://coordinate.cloud/

In today's episode, James speaks to Rebecca Hopkins, the founder, and CEO of The STA Group, a sports tech entrepreneur, award-winning ENS Sports PR, and co-founder of Women's Sports Week. At a time when everybody seemed oblivious to the tech revolution in the sports sector, Rebecca, to shine a spotlight on this unheralded contribution, launched the now leading global tech-led innovation in sports, The STA Group.

The STA Group (Sports Technology Awards Group), is a constellation of companies which includes ENS, the UK’s longest-standing independent sports PR agency, and The Sports Technology Awards, which leads in the global celebration of tech-led innovation in sport. They also have a new podcast Tech Chairs Podcast that explores technology's relationship with sports by inviting tech experts, champion athletes, and elite coaches to get their insider insights.

In a nutshell, James and Rebecca speak about:

• Rebecca's earliest sporting memories and her journey to sports tech

• Her first break into the world of sports that was  formerly a male-dominated sphere

• The gap she went about filling on tech recognition in the sporting industry

• The earliest stages of their launch and the biggest success story they've highlighted so far

• Greatest challenges they faced in their young stages and how they're now the leaders in their sphere

• Insights she'd learned throughout her entrepreneurial journey and interaction with high-achieving business people

• Importance of working towards being a master of one and getting into the guts of what you do

…and so much more!

Check out The STA Group:

Website: http://www.sportstechgroup.org/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sports-technology-awards-group/ 

X: https://x.com/SportTechGroup 

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tech-chairs-the-sports-technology-podcast/ 

Connect with Rebecca:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccahopkinsens 

Connect with James:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/james_ventures  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coordinatesport/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-moore-uk  

Coordinate Sport: https://coordinate.cloud/

In today's episode, James speaks to Paul Gately, a professor in exercise and obesity at Leeds Beckett University, the Director of MoreLife at Leeds Metropolitan University, and the interim CEO of Obesity UK. He is one of the foremost experts in the area, consistently called upon as a keynote speaker and author in the obesity and physical activity field.

Paul's drive to assist people in tackling obesity was sparked by his observations at an American weight loss camp. He established a singular weight loss camp specifically for young individuals as a result. With a professional journey spanning over two decades, Paul has directed his passion, research focus, and expertise toward Obesity UK, a leading charity committed to advocating for, educating, and aiding people navigating obesity - the authoritative voice for individuals with obesity in the UK.

In a nutshell, James and Paul speak about:

- His experience of school sports and weight management in comparison to today

- The observations that sparked his interest in children’s obesity

- How they translated from the Weight Loss Camp model

- The biggest drivers in obesity rates by 2030

- His thoughts on the circumstances, culture and lived experiences that result in obesity

- Which country he believes is making the best progress in weight management

- His thoughts on the dynamics of home and school life that reduce obesity levels

- His routines for maintaining peak performance personally and in business

…and so much more!

Check out Obesity UK:

Website: https://www.obesityuk.org.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/obesity_uk/

Connect with Paul:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgately

X: https://x.com/profpaulgately?

Instagram: https://instagram.com/pauljgately

Connect with James:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/james_ventures

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coordinatesport/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-moore-uk

Coordinate Sport: https://coordinate.cloud/