Girls from Yardleys School, St. John Wall Catholic School and Aston Manor Academy enjoyed a fascinating and inspiring day at Gymshark HQ, exploring the diverse career opportunities available within the sport and physical activity sector.
Held in collaboration with Archon Academy, the day gave the girls a unique opportunity to experience a real-world sports industry workplace and discover the wide range of career pathways available, from personal training and coaching to marketing, management, product design and manufacturing.
Inspiring Talks and Career Insights
Throughout the day, the girls heard from a range of industry professionals who shared their experiences, career journeys and advice on pursuing a future in sport and physical activity.
Speakers included:
- Kate Ford – Director, Archon Academy
- Sam Cubbins – Gymshark Lifting Club Ambassador
- Olivia Heywood – Gymshark Product Development Graduate
- Sylvia Cheng – Gymshark Ethics and Community Manager
- Ellie Cooper – Gymshark Sustainability and Circularity Specialist
- Danielle Higgins – UK Fitness Lead, PureGym
- Sky Elizabeth – Head Coach & Nutritionist at Our Soci.eaty
The sessions explored a variety of topics, including sport and physical activity career pathways, qualifications, sports clothing design and manufacturing. The speakers also covered themes including overcoming and learning from challenges, positive body image, health and self-care, as well as the experiences of women in the workplace.
These conversations helped challenge perceptions of what a career in sport can look like, highlighting the breadth of opportunities available beyond playing or competing in sport for women and girls.
From the Classroom to the Workplace
The visit offered valuable insight into the entrepreneurial, creative and commercial sides of the fitness industry. As a British fitness apparel and accessories brand founded in 2012, Gymshark provided an exciting setting for the girls to see how different roles and specialisms contribute to a successful global business.
The girls also learned about the different routes into the sector, including the qualifications and training available to help them achieve their ambitions. This included insights into the work of Archon Academy, a fitness education provider offering recognised qualifications in gym instructing, personal training and other physical activity-related courses.
To round off the experience, the girls took part in a training session at the Gymshark Lifting Club, run by Sam Cubbins, giving them the opportunity to get active and experience the benefits of a fitness environment first-hand.
Building Confidence and Inspiring Future Ambitions
The day was about much more than exploring careers. It also encouraged the girls to think about the role physical activity can play in their own lives, particularly in supporting their wellbeing, confidence and self-care, rather than focusing solely on competition or performance.
The experience broadened their understanding of the sport and physical activity sector and introduced them to potential career paths they may not previously have considered. For some, it even sparked new ideas about what their own future role in sport could look like.
Overall, it was a fantastic day filled with valuable learning, inspiring conversations and new perspectives. A huge thank you to Archon Academy for delivering the day to the young people, as well as Gymshark for hosting us at their facilities and all the speakers who gave their time to share their knowledge and experiences, helping to inspire the next generation of women in sport and physical activity.