AoC Sport recruits apprentices for new-look FA Women’s Football apprenticeship programme

The new cohort of FA Women’s Football Development Officer apprentices have been recruited and will start in post this month. The programme is run by AoC Sport, in partnership with the FA and new training provider Weston College. Ten colleges will be employing an apprentice until 2022 as part of the FA’s new women’s strategy to grow the game and develop the future workforce. This year the apprentices were recruited via three selection events, which were designed so that candidates could experience a “day in the life of” a women’s football development officer. Candidates undertook a variety of activities including a group task, 1-1 with a line manager and a mock county FA call. [table id=80 /] Weston College will be delivering the Level 3 Community Sport and Health Officer apprenticeship in a blended learning approach through a series of national training events and via the award-winning Jisc virtual classroom. The FA Women’s Football Development Officer (apprentices) role will have a key focus on inclusion. They will be working on key objectives around BAME participants and leaders, making football ‘for all’ within the FE environment and local community. Chelsea Mulheir, National Women’s Football Development Officer, said: "Despite all the setbacks and constant changes relating to COVID-19 we are really pleased to be able to run the FA Women’s apprenticeship programme, in partnership with the FA. "Congratulations to all the chosen apprentices, who were put through a gruelling set of tasks to get to this stage. For the first time our new cohort will be on a 22-month programme working in their individual college to increase the number of females aged 16-19 participating in football as well as completing their Level 3 apprenticeship. "We are all very excited to get the new-look programme started and work with the apprentices to have the biggest possible impact on women’s football."