Sports Development Apprentice

BEDFORD BLUES FOUDATION

BEDFORD (MK40 3JY)

Closes on Friday 27 March 2026

Posted on 30 January 2026

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Summary

A unique opportunity for an enthusiastic and determined person who is driven and passionate about changing lives in our local area, our Sports Development Apprentice will play a pivotal role shadowing and delivering our programmes, as well as experience and contribute towards the wider operations of our charity. 

Wage

£14,000 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Chartered manager (degree) (level 6)
Hours
Working pattern is Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm (with 1 hour paid lunch break). There will be occasional evening and weekend work. However, there will be prior notice.

35 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 1 September 2026

Duration

3 years

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

The role will encompass session delivery across our community rugby and outreach programmes, as well as relationship building, project management, fundraising and business planning with colleagues, including, but not limited to:

  • Deliver high quality sessions across a range of projects designed by Blues Foundation in school and community settings.
  • Activate curriculum programmes across primary and secondary schools, multisport sessions including ABILITY Blues, and other sport-related projects and camps where appropriate.
  • Contributing to marketing activity to engage a range of abilities, backgrounds and audiences, increasing rugby participation and access to our sport.
  • Develop opportunities for Blues Foundation to grow through relationship building, actively contributing to the department business plan and working with wider Foundation staff.
  • Establish constructive working relationships with the key stakeholders and develop regular contact to promote collaboration and sharing of good practice.
  • Play an instrumental role in supporting and enhancing our matchday operations, leading activities and communicating effectively with clubs, schools and community groups in the build-up to events.
  • Implement experience and knowledge gained from the Sports Business Management degree to further develop our work and create innovative ways to increase funding and increase our brand.
  • Plan, organise and review all sessions. As well as complete aspects of administration, monitoring and evaluation of sessions required.
  • Maintain a high standard of health and safety and implement correct safeguarding procedures.

Where you'll work

19 GOLDINGTON ROAD
BEDFORD
MK40 3JY

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

UNIVERSITY OF HERTFORDSHIRE

Training course

Chartered manager (degree) (level 6)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Support the development of organisational strategies and plans. Develop and deliver operational plans; being able to set targets and KPIs, manage resources, and monitor and measure outcomes to establish operational effectiveness, efficiencies and excellence.   Produce reports that clearly present information and data, using a range of interpretation and analytical processes.  Gain wide support to deliver successful outcomes
  • Plan, organise and manage resources in order to achieve organisational goals.  Identify key outcomes, develop and implement plans and monitor progress, and provide reports as required.  Proactively identify risk and create plans for their mitigation. Able to initiate, lead and drive change within the organisation, identifying barriers/challenges and how to overcome them. Ability to use widely recognised project management tools
  • Managing budgets, controlling expenditure and production of financial reports
  • Use of customer insight and analysis of data to determine and drive customer service outcomes and improve customer relationships.  Creative approaches to developing solutions to meet customer need
  • Able to identify service/organisational improvements and opportunities for innovation and growth, using qualitative and quantitative analysis of information and data and benchmarking against others
  • Communicate clearly, effectively and regularly using oral, written and digital channels and platforms.  Use active listening and open questioning to structure conversations and discussions, and able to challenge when appropriate.  Manage and chair meetings and clearly present actions and outcomes. Ability to apply influencing and persuading skills, to the dynamics and politics of personal interactions
  • Able to articulate organisational purpose and values.  Support the creation of an inclusive, high performance work culture. Enable others to achieve by developing and supporting them through coaching and mentoring
  • Able to build teams, empower and motivate others to improve performance or achieve outcomes.  Able to delegate to others, provide clear guidance and monitor progress. Ability to set goals and accountabilities
  • Able to build rapport and trust, develop networks and maintain relationships with people from a range of cultures, backgrounds and levels.  Able to contribute within a team environment.  Effectively influence and negotiate, being able to have challenging conversations and give constructive feedback.  Work collaboratively with internal and external customers and suppliers
  • Able to reflect on own performance, identifying and acting on learning and development needs. Ability to understand impact on others.  Can manage stress and personal well-being, and confident in knowing core values and drivers
  • Able to create personal development plan, and use widely recognised tools and techniques to ensure the management of time and pressure effectively, and prioritisation and strategic alignment of activities
  • Use evidence-based tools and ethical approaches to undertake problem solving and critical analysis, synthesis and evaluation to support decision making

Training schedule

Over a three-year period, the apprentice will spend the equivalent of one day per week undertaking university study, attending the University of Hertfordshire's de Havilland campus in Hatfield approximately every other Friday for face-to-face teaching, while the remainder of their week will be spent in the workplace and locations determined by the employer, learning on the job skills.

More training information

The University of Hertfordshire is a top 50 UK, career-focused, modern institution based in Hatfield (25 mins from London), educating nearly 35,000 students from 100+ countries.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English Language (grade 4)
  • Maths (grade 4)

A Level in:

Any subjects considered (grade 112 UCAS points)

Desirable qualifications

BTEC in:

Also considered instead of A Levels (grade 112 UCAS points)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • IT skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Customer care skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Presentation skills
  • Administrative skills
  • Number skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience
  • Physical fitness

Other requirements

It is important to us at Blues Foundation that we bring the right people into our environment. The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate an ability to actively and consistently exhibit the new Blues Family values - Passion, Adaptability, Unity, Sustainability and Enjoyment. We also require:

  • A full and clean driving licence with access to your own vehicle
  • Level 2 coaching award or equivalent, including England Rugby Coaching Award
  • Valid Emergency First Aid and Safeguarding qualifications desirable
  • The role will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check

The successful apprentice will:

  • Positively represent and promote Blues Foundation and the Bedford Blues brand. Maintaining a positive and enthusiastic attitude and energy to delivery.
  • Possess the ability to work independently, positively and to our core values across all elements of our work.
  • Be reliable, hardworking, trustworthy, and willing to work as part of the team for the benefit of Blues Foundation and the wide variety of projects delivered.

Desirable skills:

  • Experience delivering a variety of high-quality activity sessions, as well as an empathy and understanding towards the target audience.
  • Experience in delivering and engaging young people from challenging backgrounds is desirable. This includes some experience with disabilities and SEN sessions.
  • Experience and ability to communicate professionally across different levels.
  • Ability to deliver at a high standard and to the values of Blues Foundation, as well as an ability to contribute to wider work and impact of the charity.
  • Experience with Microsoft Office.
  • Ability to work and deliver in a team environment, as well as individually.

Blues Foundation are an equal opportunities' employer. We will consider any reasonable adjustments under the terms of the Equality Act (2010) to enable an applicant with a disability (as defined under the Act), to meet the requirements of the post. Blues Foundation may make adjustments or changes to the job description, role or grading at their discretion and will be communicated with the post holder.

About this employer

Bedford Blues Foundation is the charitable arm of Bedford Blues Rugby Club. We use the values of rugby, sport and exercise to promote health and wellbeing, and positive lifestyle choices through targeted interventions and sport programmes that support our community.

We deliver projects that are designed to support our target audiences. Projects include our rugby curriculum and afterschool provision as well as multisport clubs. Our intervention and social inclusion work includes our Tackle LIFE programmes, ABILITY Blues disability sport programme, as well as our Holiday Provision.

https://www.bluesfoundation.org.uk/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Annual leave entitlement is 25 days, plus bank holidays.

After this apprenticeship

Following successful completion of the Degree Apprenticeship, there may be an opportunity for the successful candidate to remain in, and progress within the organisation.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

UNIVERSITY OF HERTFORDSHIRE

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000011847.

Apply now

Closes on Friday 27 March 2026