Yesterday, Communications Manager Lucy and Community Manager Alex travelled to London to attend the Coach Core Awards 2026, held at City Hall in Newham. Bath Rugby Foundation was shortlisted as a national finalist for Breakthrough Employer of the Year - a remarkable achievement in only our first year of offering an apprenticeship.

Although we didn’t take home the award, reaching the final three nationally is a powerful reminder of the impact we are already making. Being recognised by Coach Core UK for our commitment to developing young talent highlights the strength of our apprenticeship approach and the dedication of the entire Foundation team.

Our apprentice, Harrison, has been at the heart of this journey. Throughout his apprenticeship, he has been supported with tailored mentoring from senior coaches, regular CPD workshops, and opportunities to shadow staff across a wide range of programmes. From school sessions and SEND delivery to large-scale community events, this breadth of experience has rapidly accelerated his learning, confidence, and contribution to the team.

Beyond supporting our own apprentice, Bath Rugby Foundation has also played an active role in strengthening the wider Coach Core Bristol consortium. A standout moment came in the summer when we opened up our professional education space for apprentices across the region. This created a collaborative environment where young people from multiple partners could learn, share experiences, and grow together as part of a wider community.

Coach Core employers are selected for their commitment to giving apprentices the opportunities, support, and development they need to thrive. Reflecting on the nomination, Alex said:

“I feel honoured to be nominated. It came as a complete surprise as the focus hasn’t been on me; it’s been about Harrison and how much he’s grown both personally and professionally.”

Reaching the national final in our first year is something we are immensely proud of - and it motivates us to continue expanding opportunities for young people across our community. Our thanks go to Coach Core UK for recognising the work we are doing, and congratulations to all the finalists and winners who are helping to shape the future of the sector.