In January, sports students from Colchester Institute were invited to the JobServe Community Stadium to explore careers opportunities with the club and the wider sports sector.
Fifteen sports students and staff were invited to the JobServe Community Stadium to meet staff and get a behind the scenes experience into operations at their local professional football club.
Students met with staff from the football club, ranging from hospitality, events, catering, retail, ticketing, health & safety, coaching, community engagement and ground staff.
Steve Downey, Lecturer and Course manager @ Colchester Institute shared; “We recently had the privilege of participating in a career talk at Colchester United FC, and we can't help but express our gratitude to Rick and Colchester United for the enriching experience. The careers talk exceeded our expectations, providing valuable insights into the diverse career opportunities within the football industry. Rick was passionate about sharing his journey and insight. His enthusiasm was contagious and left a lasting impression on my students. The exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the stadium added an extra layer of excitement, showcasing the inner workings of a professional football club. Colchester United FC and Colchester United Foundation stands out for its commitment to nurturing future talent. The careers talk demonstrated the club's dedication to providing valuable resources for career development within the sports industry.”
Rick Goldsbrough, Chief Operating Officer at Colchester United Community Foundation detailed; “It’s important to showcase what is available at our local professional football club to young people in further education to inspire them to engage in the next step of their lives as they prepare for their future workplace. To show students what opportunities the sports industry has available on a local level will support knowledge of the pathways available to these young people and provide them with a space to ask questions and share how they can indeed access these opportunities.”
Colchester United would like to thank the students and staff from Colchester Institute for their visit and we look forward to welcoming a new cohort of students in 2025!
If your 6th form or education provider would like to engage in careers enrichment with Colchester United, please contact CUCF@colchesterunited.net to express an interest.