Thanks to funding and support from the British Golf Industry Association, towards the end of 2022, the Golf Foundation was delighted to work with careers specialists, Navigate, to deliver guidance to school pupils at two golf clubs in the UK.
Navigate are a work placement specialist, who support young people to make a successful transition from education to the work place. They are always seeking new and exciting ways to speak to young people about the opportunities ahead of them, and the chance to share the Golf Foundation’s ideas and examples was a great trial initiative for both.
Two sessions were delivered, at Elsham Golf Club and The Bristol, with staff from the Golf Foundation and Navigate talking the attending youngsters through the opportunities that lie ahead both inside and outside of golf. The emphasis of the day was around supporting schools with their wider careers offer, promoting wider career opportunities in the golf industry, emphasising non-linear approaches to careers, and all the while changing young people’s perception of golf.
Chairman of the BGIA, Martin Wild, said about the pilot project:
“The BGIA is delighted to support this initiative, giving access to youngsters who may not ordinarily have the chance to see what golf has to offer. Working together, we hope to provide young people with an education in the careers available in our great sport.
“This pilot project is an excellent chance to encourage children and young people from all walks of life into the industry. Golf has so much to offer them and our hope is that this is just the beginning. The more young people that the industry can attract from diverse backgrounds the better.”
The workshops were received well by students and teachers alike. The students enjoyed being in the golf club environment and hearing about the wide array of roles within the golf industry, as well as hearing from various industry members.
“Today was so valuable for the students to open their eyes to different avenues into the golf industry,” said Pete, a Golf Academy Tutor for SGS College. “To hear about the different careers in the industry and the importance of a golf network around you. Today was key to opening the minds of the students to consider future back up career options.”
“The students found it more memorable than other careers events,” added Chris Wright from Baysgarth School, “partly due to the setting, but also it opened quite a few students’ eyes to other opportunities that they’ve never considered. Traditionally the careers offer across schools is very similar, and this level of diversification definitely had impact.”
The next step, subject to funding, is to expand the concept of the careers workshop being delivered for schools at local golf clubs to more golf facilities across the country, helping to attract more young people into the industry from wider diverse backgrounds.
