Jobs scheme excellence leads to launch of new business for unemployed former shop assistant - 2nd Dec 2010
A 22-year-old former shop assistant from Bridgwater who was unemployed for seven months has been selected from a national unemployment scheme to launch his own business under the wing of the UK's largest kids coaching organisation.
Bobby Hughes joined the Government's Future Jobs Fund scheme after struggling to find work. After a series of interviews and assessments he was accepted by Premier Sport to work as a coach.
After just six months in the job, sports mad Bobby was deemed so outstanding he was offered the opportunity to set up his own business in his home town under Premier Sport's protective wing.
Premier Sport is dedicated to developing innovative sports coaching which will help children to live a healthy, fit life, and successfully delivers coaching to more than 125,000 children every week.
The company is backed by big-named sporting ambassadors including rugby legend Lawrence Dallaglio, Olympic gold medallist Duncan Goodhew and former rugby league champion Paul Sculthorpe.
Bobby has launched his business in Bridgwater, Shepton Mallet, Highbridge and Burnham, Weston, Worle and the surrounding areas, and is offering PE coaching both in and out of school hours as well as holiday camps, breakfast, lunch and after school clubs with a team of coaches in up to 21 different sports under the Premier Sport umbrella.
"I never thought in a million years that I would be running my own business at such a young age and I have been given an amazing opportunity," said Bobby.
"I hated not working, I've had several jobs but I never felt fulfilled. I was always sports mad participating in any sport available and now I have the opportunity to pass on the importance of a healthy and active lifestyle as a career, with two really committed coaches on board who make my job a lot easier."
Through Premier, Bobby is now qualified to deliver Dodgeball, Basketball, Multi-skills, Hockey, Gymnastics, and Tag-Rugby, alongside completing first aid courses, child protection exams and teaching training.
Since February 2010 Premier Sport has employed over 150 new sports coaches through the Future Jobs Fund. The FJF is an initiative launched by the former government to provide work opportunities to individuals aged between 18 and 24 who have been unemployed for three months or more.
Premier Sport's recruitment director, Jonathan Mills, said: "Bobby excelled to such an extent that he was offered the opportunity to start his own franchise.
"He has done fantastically well during his six months at Premier under the Future Jobs Fund, and we are confident that with our support he will go on to run a highly professional, successful business while maintaining the standards Premier Sport is renowned for nationally."
Bobby, who started up his own adults football team in 2008 called NM Sports FC, is already delivering afterschool clubs at Shepton Mallet Primary School, Mead Vale, Corpus Christi C of E, St Andrews, Churchfield, Cossington and Hambridge Primary Schools, and is due to start work in two other schools in the area.