Wolves Backs Sports FlyingStart

 and help them kick the economic downturn.

Sports entrepreneurship expert Karen Bill, from the University, and Dr Lorna Collins, Director of FlyingStart Programmes at the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship, will work with Wolves to create a new development programme for sports-related businesses and social enterprises.

And the University of Wolverhampton is delighted that as this new initiative has been announced, Wolves has just been promoted to the top flight which will help raise the profile of the scheme. The University would like to congratulate Wolves on their success this season.

The FlyingStart Programme for Sports Business is the first of its kind in the UK. It will provide a series of specialist workshops with football-related enterprise challenges and a sports business focus.

The National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship (NCGE) runs successful intensive business launch FlyingStart Programmes for graduates.

Dr Lorna Collins, Director of FlyingStart Programmes for the NCGE, said: “We’re very excited about this new FlyingStart Programme. It addresses a burgeoning area of enterprise that hasn’t been directly supported before.

“Together with partners, we will deliver a specialist programme for current students, graduates and members of the football community who wish to start businesses in the area of social entrepreneurship in sport.”

The 12-month programme will be free for 60 participants and 50% of the places will be designated for West Midlands participants. It will begin with a three-day intensive residential course to be held at Molineux.

Karen Bill, Associate Dean (Research and Income Generation) in the School of Sport, Performing Arts and Leisure at the University of Wolverhampton, said: “The development of this Programme was really opportune. I am passionate about getting entrepreneurship into the sports curriculum.

“The catalyst for me was the recent white paper ‘Enterprise: Unlocking the UK’s Talent’ in which the Government announced the development of initiatives working with the English Premier League football clubs to roll out enterprise education programmes.”

She said the FlyingStart programme seemed an ideal place to begin and enter into discussions with Wolverhampton Wanderers and the NCGE.

Matt Grayson, Head of Marketing and Communications for Wolverhampton Wanderers, said: “With the development of football in the UK, and sport in general, there are lots of opportunities for ambitious young business people. We’re delighted that Wolves are the first football club in the country to support a scheme of this type, which will provide practical help to the next generation of entrepreneurs.”

Each participant will work through their business concept. The Flying Start Programme will fully support participants to develop and condition their enterprise proposition and to provide support, assistance and mentoring to get their enterprise started and running successfully by March 2010.

They will receive their own personal mentor prior to the Residential Intensive who will work with candidates throughout the 12 month start-up and launch period.

Potential participants are encouraged to apply early. They can find out more by emailing FlyingStart Events Coordinator david.benson@ncge.org.uk or karen.bill@wlv.ac.uk.

The sports workshops will take place from June 8-10 at Molineux. Anyone interested should register on www.flyingstartonline.com  and apply before May 25

Further information

For further media information, contact Emma Kilvert, Head of Media Relations and Communications at the University of Wolverhampton, on 01902 322003 or Matt Grayson, Head of Communications and Marketing for Wolverhampton Wanderers, on 01902 828376 or mattgrayson@wolves.co.uk.