You can't be what you can't see - Justin Coleman & Rudro Sen, Alliance of Sport in Criminal Justice

Who is our guest?

With over 40 years of experience in marketing communications and customer relationship management, Richard is the director at Customer Plus, a leading consultancy that helps businesses improve their customer experience and loyalty. He is also a certified NPS practitioner and an accredited C-me colour profiling activator, which enables him to deliver effective and engaging workshops and training sessions for clients across various sectors.

What do we discuss?

• Career Journey and Business Ventures
• Role and Services of Customer Plus
• Passion for Sports and Physical Activity
• Introduction to Customer Journey Mapping
• Understanding Customer Satisfaction Surveys and Net Promoter Score
• Importance of Prioritising Customer Experience
• The Discrepancy Between Promotion and Delivery
• Common Mistakes in Customer Experience
• The Fitness Analogy: Long-term Commitment in Customer Experience
• The Importance of Consistency in Customer Experience
• The Role of Customer Experience in Brand Perception
• The Challenge of Enhancing Customer Experience
• The Power of Choice in Customer Experience
• The Role of Enjoyment in Customer Experience

Who’s our guest?

Kay Batkin is the Network Director at Youth Sport Trust. Inspired from an early age to work in sports education, her professional journey began with the aspiration of becoming a PE teacher. However, after a chance conversation with her own PE teacher, she decided to broaden her horizons and studied Sport and Recreation Development at Leeds Beckett University. After graduation, she found herself thrown into local authority roles managing school improvement and sports development. Within her career, her leadership roles have taken her from managing pivotal sports programmes and competitions to building communities and networks within educational landscapes. 

In her 14 years at Youth Sport Trust, she has contributed significantly to programmes, where she shares her passion for transforming children's lives through sports and talks about Youth Sport Trust's long-term strategy for using physical activity as a key facet of child education. 

Beyond her role as an executive, she is also a fierce advocate for the benefits of physical activity and good health. She strongly supports the idea of schools leading the way in instilling a culture of physical health through initiatives like fitness-based after-school programmes. She believes in the power of sport not just as a competitive platform, but also as a tool for positive social change.

Stay tuned for more such engaging conversations on the Active Code Podcast!

What do we chat about? 

Kay Batkin's Professional Journey

Kay's Role at Youth Sport Trust

The Current Landscape for Children and Young People

The Impact of Physical Activity on Kay's Life

The Future of Youth Sport Trust

The Evolution of Health Issues and the Role of Physical Activity

The Long-term Goal: Daily Physical Activity for All

The Challenge: How to Implement the Goal

The Collaborative Approach to Policy Making

The Manifesto: Key Asks for Youth Wellbeing

The Importance of Physical Education in Schools

The Need for Accessible Play Opportunities for Young People

The Role of Activity Providers in the Strategy

The Importance of Collaboration in the Sector

The Impact of School Games on Youth Engagement

The Upcoming YST Conference: Change Their Score, Change Their Future

Our latest Active Code Podcast had the pleasure of hosting CMXSC’s Founder and Director, Chris Michaelides, a passionate entrepreneur with a deep-seated love for sports.

Chris shared insights on his personal and professional journey, revealing how he navigates the challenges of being a business owner while emphasising the transferable skills he absorbed from his passion – sports.

Who is our guest?

Chris is a passionate director who strives to positively impact and engage as many children as possible through physical activity. He is the founder and director of CMXSC Ltd, a company that provides specialist primary physical education, Ofsted registered childcare in the form of wraparound care provision and active holiday camps for children and consulting services in sports and education.

Stay tuned for more such engaging conversations on the Active Code Podcast!

What do we chat about?

During the episode, we dive into:

• Chris’ professional journey and love for sports
• Importance of physical activity and sports
• Balancing family life and physical activity
• Chris’ fitness routine
• Lessons from sports translated into business leadership
• The competitive nature of leadership
• Inspirational leaders and their impact
• Rapid growth and challenges in business
• Understanding the power of saying ‘Yes’ and ‘No’
• Self-reflection and improvement as a leader
• The importance of communication and presence
• The art of listening and understanding
• Developing leaders within your organisation
• Overcoming challenges as a business owner
• Proudest moments in life and business
• Recommendations for enhancing leadership skills

Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

The Active Code: “Invest in people that put children’s needs first and business needs second”.

We’re excited to welcome Matt Ogle, Founder and Director of S4A, to The Active Code. 

Matt set up S4A when he was just 15 years old and has sent led his passionate team to help inspire children through creativity, sports, and play. As a leading provider in the Buckingham, Northampton and Oxfordshire regions, Matt is perfectly positioned to offer advice and support to leaders during this episode. 

Matt Grew up being predominantly sports centred at the start of his journey and has evolved over the years into an Ofsted-accredited, trusted, well-established care provider offering a range of services, including wraparound care in many schools, PE lessons, holiday clubs, the HAF programme, SEN support, our football development centre. 

Who is Matt Ogle? 

S4A (Sports4All) are specialists in active and creative childcare, providing wrap-around care and clubs as well as holiday clubs. Their aim is to provide an environment for children that allows them to pursue their interests, with a key focus on sport. The company works with the county council to provide support for schools, as well as directly with parents, where they operate primarily as an e-commerce business, relying on online bookings to take on new customers. 

Matt Ogle is the founder and director of S4A, and is one of the creative, business minds behind S4A’s success, having created the organisation at the young age of 15. Matt has grown the company from humble beginnings, with the primary focus always being on giving the best care out there. Over the years, Matt has been presented with a range of huge growth opportunities for the business since 2007 which has allowed him to keep investing in his business for long-term growth and reward.

What do we chat about in the episode? 

During the episode, we dive into:

·       How Matt started his business at the young of 15.

·       The impact flexible working hours and timetables can have.

·       How to employ and develop the right people.

·       The struggles and solutions to running a successful childcare service.

·       How to differentiate yourself from the competition. 

Listen wherever you get your podcasts. 

We’re excited to welcome Rafe Turner, Partnership Executive at CIMPSA, to The Active Code. 

As the sector’s chartered professional body, CIMSPA works on behalf of the whole sport and physical activity sector – supporting, developing, and enabling professionals to succeed and, as a result, inspiring our nation to be more active.

CIMSPA helps to nurture talent, develop careers, inspire professionalism, and set clear regulatory standards for success, continuing the development of a modern, prosperous and respected sport and physical activity sector. 

Who is Rafe Turner? 

Rafe Turner has more than enough experience as he is a Partnership Executive and Skills Hub Manager, with prior experience fostering relationships with partner organisations. Additionally, Rafe has over 10 years in the Sport and Fitness sector, making him a knowledgeable individual. 

Rafe is an evolving leader, driven to enhance society and develop personally to make a positive difference for individuals, groups and communities.

Rafe’s role with CIMSPA has been instrumental in supporting thousands of coaches receive training, guidance and support to succeed in a sector that has previously struggled to keep it’s best people.

Rafe isn’t a stranger to strategic operations within organisations. He led a national team of 15 to design and deliver projects that contributed to organisational strategic objectives while serving out a national network of youth volunteers, using the diversity of strengths and perspectives in the group to drive high performance.

Since his recent promotion to Skills Hub Manager, Rafe has been organising and creating Sport & Physical Activity Skills Hub in Worcestershire, Staffordshire, and Cheshire. 

What do we chat about in the episode? 

As an avid reader of personal development books, Rafe not only recommends some top reads on this episode, he also shares top tips and vulnerabilities on:

·       Work-life balance

·       Traits of a great leader

·       Supporting team development pathways

·       The struggles during his career so far

·       How CIMSPA are putting the workforce and sector on the map

Listen wherever you get your podcasts. 

We’re excited to welcome both Dave Thomas, Director of Business Development at Fox Cycling, to The Active Code. 

Since 2010, Fox Cycling has taught thousands of children to cycle so families can ride together; the fun, progressive instruction has been further refined and developed over time.

We all know that the current generation of kids spends way too much time indoors, leading sedentary lifestyles, and cycling is the perfect antidote to this problem. But, as we all know, learning to ride a bike can be tough, especially when the bikes are too heavy, or those pesky stabilisers are involved. Luckily, Fox Cycling is here to save the day, offering a brilliant license program that enables sports coaching companies to deliver top-quality cycling provisions to children all over the country.

Who is Dave Thomas? 

Dave Thomas has more than enough experience as he is the Director of Business Developments, with prior experience driving sales and performance of the group of franchisees under his leadership. Coaching, motivating, and developing his team to achieve and exceed set quarterly targets, which includes supporting his team through close and frequent communication to drive success.

Fox Cycling recognises there are three main barriers to children not cycling, so they designed a fun activity-based methodology to get kids cycling safely in an hour.  Utilising this gap in the child development and family health sector, Dave manages and organises Fox Cycling’s licensees and franchisees. 

Since 2010, Fox Cycling has taught thousands of children to cycle so many more families can ride together; the fun, progressive learning system has been further refined and developed over time.

What do we chat about in the episode? 

During the episode, Dave discusses:  

·       Why is learning to ride vital for children?

·       The current barriers to children learning to ride

·       How organisations can help children develop a life-long love for cycling

·       The different licencing opportunities available for coaching providers around the UK

·       How sports coaching providers can make up to £450 per coach, per day with Fox Cycling

We’re excited to welcome both Karl Andrade and Adam Hampton, Directors at Essex Professional Coaching, to The Active Code. 

Karl Andrade and Adam Hampson hold Director positions at Essex Professional Coaching and are recognised for their immense passion within the AAP network. Essex Professional Coaching is committed to fostering personal development, motivation, and inspiration through sports and physical education. Their core values of enthusiasm, passion, and care are deeply ingrained in their approach to coaching. 

Who are Karl and Adam? 

Karl and Adam are the Directors of Essex Professional Coaching, which is an independent sports coaching company that offers a wide range of coaching services. 

Their main objective is to provide expert guidance and support to individuals, helping them achieve their sporting goals while fostering personal growth and development. Their experienced coaches are dedicated to delivering the highest quality coaching across a variety of sporting activities. 

Karl and Adam believe in tailoring their services to meet the specific needs of each individual, and they are committed to promoting an environment that inspires and motivates their clients to reach their full potential. Their passion for sports coaching is reflected in their comprehensive approach, and they take pride in helping individuals achieve success both on and off the field.

What do we chat about in the episode? 

During the episode, Karl and Adam open up in an honest and transparent way about: 

·       Their journey from childhood friends to owning a business, and the steep learning curves throughout the process.

·       The importance of offering a wide variety of opportunities to children.

·       How a customer care focus has helped their business grow.

·       EPC’s mission, vision, and values.

·       How being accountable owners drive successful teams.

·       The amazing highs, and tough lows of being business owners.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts. 

Watch on YouTube [link to YouTube video] 

We’re excited to welcome Tom Trout, an expert in Nursery, Childcare, Wraparound care, and Sports Coaching Recruitment, to The Active Code. 

Tom is the Managing Director of Love Recruitment, which specialises in recruiting care staff for companies across the UK. They recruit for all departments within the childcare sector, from senior operations to front-line teams. Their services include providing staff for wrap-around care, sports camps, and childcare environments. Love Care Recruitment's focus is on providing outstanding service and delivery while continuously innovating to ensure their clients make the right decisions.
 


Who is Tom Trout? 
 
As the Recruitment Director of a specialist fitness recruitment agency based in Southeast London, Tom leads a team of consultants to deliver exceptional service to both clients and candidates. 
His agency recruits for health and fitness jobs across various sectors, including franchise, private, public, and commercial. We aim to save our clients time and act as their agents to find the best candidates, resulting in a long-term and effective return on investment. Their approach is focused on building strong partnerships with our clients and becoming their account managers. 
Tom and his team have supported over a thousand candidates to find their perfect roles, and are specialists in nursery, child, and adult care.
A few of his achievements involve successfully account managing his client’s business to become one of the most profitable accounts since taking over as Recruitment Director. Additionally, he is sharing this extensive expertise with the new generation of workers as he’s recruited and trained new consultants to achieve their targets.

 
What do we chat about in the episode? 
 
During the episode, Tom shares: 
 
• How Love Care do things differently.
• Why putting their clients and applicants at the heart of everything builds trust and leads to better results.
• The current recruitment trends in the children’s activity sector.
• Why so many job adverts don’t work.
• Since the pandemic, what people look for in a job advert.
• How employers must adapt to a new generation of applicants.
• The results of an industry-wide survey of applicants.

We’re excited to welcome Stuart Armstrong, a strategic sports development professional, to The Active Code. 

Stuart has been involved with some of the biggest names in the industry.  Some of which include The Golf Foundation, UK Coaching, The RFU as Head of Player Pathways, and Development & Rugby Growth. Stuart’s most recent role with Sport England as Head of Coaching & Strategic Lead for Workforce Transformation. Using his extensive experience within the industry, Stuart shares the current challenges with physical activity initiatives. 

Who is Stuart Armstrong? 

Stuart Armstrong is a dynamic, and innovative sports development professional with a proven track record of leading transformational change initiatives across multiple sporting domains. He is currently developing the sport and physical activity workforce to better meet the needs of a broader range of participants. 

His specialities include but aren’t limited to Coach Development, Coach Education, Talent Academies, apprenticeships, and Sourcing External Funding. 

What do we chat about in the episode? 

During the episode, Stuart shares: 

·       The challenges with current physical activity initiatives. 

·       Lack of autonomy in the delivery of physical activity. 

·       Why children’s activity levels are low.

·       The vital role people play in engaging children and young people. 

·       Ideas on developing the sector’s workforce.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts. 

Last week we  welcomed Craig Brennan, founder and CEO of The Little Sports Group, to The Active Code.

This episode is the best bits!

Drawing on his extensive experience in the sports, education, and childcare industries, Craig shared his expertise and insights in this must-listen episode.

Who is Craig Brennan?

Craig Brennan is an experienced CEO with a demonstrated history of working in sports,
education and childcare. Craig is founder and CEO of The Little Sports Group, a group of companies that provide education, childcare and physical activity programmes across the UK to schools and families.

Craig is skilled in strategy, innovation, operations and leadership, and has a proven track record in acquisitions, start-ups and scaling businesses.

What do we chat about in the episode?

During the episode, Craig shares:

·       His experiences of acquisitions

·       Employing over 230 people and the challenges that brings

·       What LSC’s people strategy includes and why it’s vital for success

·       How his views on physical activity and what it means have changed over time

Listen wherever you get your podcasts or watch on YouTube  @AspireActiveEducation