Over 30,000 young people work on ideas to increase female participation in football as part of UK’s largest enterprise initiative!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
With women’s football in England currently in the spotlight due to the Lionesses’ recent success at The World Cup in France, ideas centred around maintaining the positivity for female participation in football have been developed across the country.
The UK's largest enterprise challenge for young people, The Ryman National Enterprise Challenge have partnered with University Campus of Football Business (UCFB) to develop this year’s Key Stage 4 challenge asking the students to plan an event or competition to support The FA’s initiative to double female participation in football in England by 2020.
Former dragon Theo Paphitis and his company Ryman is the challenge’s main sponsor, with Theo also the main ambassador for the challenge, a role that he has held since 2013 when he replaced Lord Sugar. Of the initiative, Paphitis said: “I have been an ambassador for the Ryman National Enterprise Challenge over the last five years and it is a fantastic skills initiative that has given thousands of young people an unrivalled opportunity to experience what the world of work is going to be like. This is so important in giving them the skills and insight into how they can be part of the Great British or even global workforce.”
Each school who have taken part in the initiative, will see their winning team get the opportunity of a lifetime to attend the National Finals taking place at Wembley Stadium, which is the heart of UCFB’s Wembley campus, on 10th July.
By the end of this year over 250,000 young people would have taken part in the challenge (since 2013), which is now the largest in the UK. The challenge was set up by cousins Ben and Michael Dyer whilst in a coffee shop at Staffordshire University and is part of The Inspirational Learning Group.
The finals will be judged by a high-profile panel consisting of Theo Paphitis, Kick it Out CEO Roisin Wood and Brendan Flood, the founder of UCFB and director of Burnley FC. Hosted by Britain’s Got Talent dance troupe, Diversity’s Perri Kiely and Jordan Banjo, the event will also be attended by football freestyler Liv Cooke, the current world champion and 4 x world record holder.
Commenting on this year’s challenge, National Enterprise Challenge Co-Founder Ben Dyer said: “We are delighted to have been able to work with UCFB to create such a fantastic challenge. Taking the finals to Wembley will be incredible and it will create a once in a lifetime experience for the students involved. We look forward to seeing everyone’s ideas.”
UCFB Chairman and Chief Executive Brendan Flood added: “At UCFB we are dedicated to encouraging young entrepreneurs, and so the National Enterprise Challenge has been a perfect fit to allow the leaders of tomorrow the opportunity to influence the UK’s sporting landscape.”
Notes to editors
- The Ryman National Enterprise Challenge is a trading name of The Inspirational Learning Group, a leading provider of enterprise and employability workshops across the UK.
- Ryman are the main sponsor of the challenge with Theo Paphitis (Formerly Dragons Den the main ambassador).
- University Campus of Football Business (UCFB) provides university degrees in the football and sports industry at campuses in London and Manchester, which have the iconic Wembley and Etihad stadiums at their heart.
- UCFB are main partners of the challenge and have also set this years Key Stage 4 Challenge. This years Key Stage 3 Challenge has been set by Ryman.
- Press invites for this year’s finals are available upon request.
- Ahead of the finals on the 10th July interviews with Ben and Michael Dyer, Theo Paphitis and Brendan Flood can be arranged on request.
- Interviews with Perri and Jordan and Liv Cooke as well as those listed above can be made available on the day of the finals.
Upon request, we can also arrange for members of the press to visit one of school heats between now and the 10th July. Please contact Ben Dyer 01785 550160 for more information.
Key Contacts:
National Enterprise Challenge – Ben Dyer, Co-Founder 01785 550160/07809484733
UCFB – Ray Boggiano, Assistant Head of Global Marketing & Communications
Mobile: 07572 595 608; Email: r.boggiano@ucfb.com