The UK Sports Institute (UKSI) delivers outstanding support that enables sports and athletes to excel. As the largest single provider of performance and health services, technology, and data to Olympic and Paralympic sports in the United Kingdom, we have played a crucial role in contributing to the success of thousands of athletes since our inception in 2002.
We passionately believe that people are at the heart of extraordinary performance and first and foremost, we support people.
We are home to almost 400 exceptional employees who are based right across the UK. Approximately 50% of our people at any given time are working in front-line roles for the national governing bodies of sports, in disciplines ranging from physiotherapy to psychology and nutrition to innovation.
Through our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, we are striving to build and nurture a culture of openness, belonging, inclusivity and pride, where potential and talent are harnessed and flourish irrespective of background, thought and experience. It is vitally important to us that we look after the person, not just the professional or the performer.
As we enter our third decade, we are focused on supporting even more sports and athletes with our holistic, people-first approach. We will continue to work alongside our colleagues at the other home nations institutes to help grow and maintain a thriving sporting system. We will also do our upmost to inspire positive change through the power of sport, acting as a thought leader whilst acknowledging that we can learn from others too.
Our values are: We Care, We Collaborate, We Innovate and We Excel. We would welcome an apprentice who shares these values and would feel supported to positively challenge our thinking and encourage us to be bold and innovative.
We were formerly known as the English Institute of Sport before changing our name in April 2023.
Why the UKSI is supporting Boardroom Apprentice
People are at the heart of what we do so it feels very natural to be joining a scheme which helps develop people in a different way – this time as future board members.
Like many boards we are continually thinking about ensuring there is a diverse range of voices, not only by characteristic but by thought and perspective, reflected around the Board table as we think this will enable us to deliver the best results. We hope that the addition of a Boardroom Apprentice will be another way in which we can continue to build a diverse Board.
Whilst you don’t need to be an athlete to apply to join our Board as a Boardroom Apprentice, we think people who have an interest in sport, or sport related disciplines, will get the most out of an apprenticeship with UKSI, considering, specifically, the role that we can play in inspiring positive change.
You will join the Board in a year when we will be working on our strategy for the future so we want you to come with an inquiring mind which will help ensure we set an ambitious and forward-looking direction for the years ahead. We also think this means it is a great year for someone to join us and be at the heart of our strategy development which is such an important role for any Board.
Finally, in terms of our motivation for joining the scheme, we have had two members of UKSI benefit from being part of the first UK pilot year and based on their positive feedback we hope that more of our people will be able to benefit in the future as well. We recognise that in order to create the opportunities for our people other organisations have to volunteer to be host boards so we want to provide an opportunity for others in return.
Location of Board and Committee Meetings
For the most part, Board meetings will be held from one of our sites: Bath, Bisham, Lilleshall, London, Loughborough, Manchester & Sheffield. On occasion, the meetings are held at Silverstone in Northamptonshire. The location of the meetings normally provides an opportunity to meet some of our people and see them working with the sports and athletes we support. Committee meetings are sometimes face to face and sometimes virtual.
Frequency and timing of board/committee meetings
Board meetings: The Board meets quarterly for full day meetings, starting at 9am, finishing at 4pm. There is usually an opportunity to meet up late afternoon the day before to visit some of our facilities and have some informal networking time. This is not compulsory but is encouraged if at all possible.
Strategy/Away days: In addition the Board usually gets together for 1-2 away days per year
Sprint calls: During the course of the year the Board usually has a number of sprint calls (60mins via Teams) to pick up on specific issues as required.
Date of Board Meetings (January 2024 – December 2024)
Not yet confirmed, these will be arranged c. September 2023 but usually take place in March, June, September and December.
Committee of the Boards and meeting dates (January 2024 – December 2024)
Not yet confirmed, these will be arranged c. September 2023.
