In time for National Apprenticeship Week 2022 we wanted to shine the spotlight on a fantastic partner, the Harlequins Foundation. Their brand new Impact Level 4 programme on our Impact Directory focuses on delivering paid apprenticeship programmes to young people who want to work in sports. The programme embeds essential skills training throughout via the Essential Skills Academy, using Benchmark to measure apprentices' progress.
We asked a few questions to get to know their work better – and both Harlequins and their apprentices, Maddie and Matheus, delivered!
Tell us a bit about what the Harlequins Foundation does?
Harlequins: The Harlequins Foundation is the charitable arm of the Harlequins Rugby Club. We envision a world where the power of sport is used to drive positive change, and we want to positively impact the lives of individuals by 2030.
Our community is at the heart of everything we do. Our focus is on inspirational, sustainable and transformative solutions that tackle inequality, poor health and the challenges facing the most vulnerable in society using education and skills development.
What are some highlights from doing an apprenticeship with the Harlequins Foundation?
Maddie: It’s very fun and exciting, you learn loads of new things every day. I really like the coaching side and planning and doing the warmups, and just making the kids smile.
Matheus: Some of the highlights of my apprenticeship so far are being able to set up boxing clubs at the school I’m based at and at other schools - seeing the positive impact it is having on the kids is amazing. Also coaching the football team during their games – I always looked up to my coaches and I now can be that positive influence in another kid's life.
How is the Harlequins Foundation embedding the Skills Builder approach into apprenticeships and outreach?
Harlequins: Two in five employers reported that they are dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with wider characters, behaviours, and skills when recruiting school or college leavers (Pearson/CBI, 2019).
Here at the Harlequins Foundation, we believe the 8 essential skills are fundamental to the development of young people who are ready for work. We are determined to provide those on our Apprenticeship programme the opportunity to develop the skills needed, while also providing a platform for them to evidence their growth.
What do you believe needs to change in education/work/community outreach today?
Harlequins: We passionately believe that employers should be looking at employees, whether current or prospective, through a different lens than appears to be the norm.
We are more interested in the skillset that a person has developed, which enables them to apply any job-related technical skills or translate their academic achievements into the workplace more effectively.
That’s not to say knowledge, experience and skill in a particular area isn’t important, but rather that a more holistic approach to looking at whether a candidate could thrive and succeed in a job because of the skills they possess could be a better measure for future success – for both parties.
What does your next chapter look like?
Harlequins: Our next chapter is to scale our impact. We are working on our ‘Rugby in a Box’ concept which provides the physical equipment needed to deliver a high-quality rugby session, accompanied by a coaching handbook with ideas and the tools needed to embed the 8 essential skills in the session.
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Maddie: I would like to be able to transfer my skills to different sports, not just rugby, but to football and elsewhere, and to get a better idea of different coaching styles and techniques.
Matheus: I would potentially like to go into Sports Psychology. I also want to get my level 2 boxing coaching qualification where I can take my classes to the next level. I run a community boxing club so I’d really try to build that into something bigger.
Are there sector events that you can’t afford to miss each year and why?
Harlequins: Our focus is really on our ‘Harlequin Heartlands’ – the boroughs surrounding our stadium. Key events are therefore locally based as they are more relevant for our development. One of the key events is the PE subject leaders’ conference, which is attended by the majority of schools in the three boroughs we work in.
What’s the best piece of skills/work advice you’ve ever been given?
Matheus: Don’t quit, be resilient. Do something you love rather than just show up.
If someone was thinking of applying to the apprenticeship, what would you say to them?
Maddie: It’s really fun and exciting, and it’s different!
Matheus: In order to be successful as an apprentice you need to have a can-do attitude. You’ve got to be eager to learn and willing to put in the work by showing up, no matter how you feel.
About the Harlequins Foundation
Established in 2015, the Harlequins Foundation is the embodiment of the Club’s belief to put our communities at the heart of everything we do. As the charitable arm of Harlequin FC, our focus is on inspirational, sustainable and transformative solutions that tackle inequality, poor health and the challenges facing the most vulnerable in society using education, skills development and entrepreneurship. Recently, the Harlequins Foundation's Apprenticeship Programme gained a Skills Builder Impact Level 4.
