Somerset Cricket Foundation are celebrating employing their first member of staff on the new Level 4 Sports Coach Apprenticeship Standard.

The Apprenticeship was only launched in March 2021, and is already proving popular with a variety of sports related employers. The apprenticeship has three distinct pathways; High Performance Coach, Community Coach and School Sports Coach. At the same academic level as the first year of a degree this apprenticeship supports coaches who are looking to further their skills and understanding of coaching within a particular setting.

Somerset Cricket Foundation are delighted that Tilly Bond has joined them and started her apprenticeship on 26 April 2021. Specialising in School Sports Coach, Tilly will be delivering cricket to children across Somerset from 4 years old upwards.

Scott Chappell, Schools & Coaching Manager at Somerset Cricket Foundation explained why this apprenticeship was important to them:

Adding Tilly to our team will enable us to inspire more children across Somerset to say that cricket ‘is a game for me’. Not only will Tilly’s appointment have a huge impact on cricket across Somerset but it will also allow her to develop her coaching and give her the best opportunity of achieving a role within cricket at the end of the apprenticeship.

Tilly explained that her job role will involve ‘delivering cricket lessons within primary, secondary and SEN schools as well as running competitions, festivals and much more’. She says,

I will work with the existing team of Community Coaches to shadow and support them. I am excited about the apprenticeship because it will give me a great opportunity to do something that I love, and will help to develop my skills further, as well as helping spread the power of cricket.

Paul Bennet, Tilly’s Trainer Assessor, based at Bridgwater & Taunton College, will be providing the support and learning for her apprenticeship. Paul said,

We are thrilled that our first Level 4 Sports Coach will be based at the Somerset Cricket Foundation. Cricket is a key sport for the County and Tilly will be able to teach a new generation of children how to enjoy and take part in this game. I look forward to working with her on her apprenticeship journey.

If you are interested in finding out more about our Level 4 Sports Coach apprenticeship, click here. Alternatively, contact us at business@btc.ac.uk.