EP123: Craig Jones, Andrew Hicks, and Rob Brown - UK Wraparound Childcare
The Drive Phase Podcast
In today's episode, James features an amazing trio with bursting expertise in Wraparound childcare within the sports corporate sphere. Meet Craig Jones, who has over 2 decades of experience working with children and young people within education as well as the sports, and fitness industries and is now serving as the Chief Child Experience Officer at Junior Adventures Group UK, UK's largest provider of Wraparound childcare. Joining him is Rob Brown, who is on a mission to improve the employability of sports students and fast-track them into their ideal careers as the Managing Director of First...
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Episode 122: Graeme Eaglesham - Future Kids
The Drive Phase Podcast
In today's episode, James speaks to Graeme Eaglesham, the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer at Future Kids. Graeme is a former professional soccer player, coach, and youth trainer who has held positions such as Sports Education Manager at Liverpool International Academy and assistant coach at Bellevue University. Additionally, he is an athlete for Gymshark, one of the world's largest fitness apparel companies. Through Future Kids, a non-profit organization based in Omaha, Nebraska, they transform generosity from affluent neighborhoods into providing a variety of sports programs...
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Episode 121: Paul Lawrence - Challenger Sports
The Drive Phase Podcast
In today's episode, James speaks to Paul Lawrence, the CEO at Challenger Sports and Teamwear. Paul is also a sports instructor and women's head coach, having made significant contributions to teams like Indiana State, Florida Southern College, and Knox College. With the goal of increasing the number of soccer campers while positively impacting children's lives through soccer, Challenger Sports was established in 1985. Over the years, they have become the most sought-after soccer camp in the United States, having served hundreds of thousands of soccer players. In addition to soccer...
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Episode 120: Niall Quinn - Team Taca
The Drive Phase Podcast
In today's episode, James speaks with Niall Quinn, an Irish former professional footballer who played top-flight football for Arsenal, Manchester City, and Sunderland. With 92 caps, Niall stands as Ireland's second-highest goalscorer of all time. He has also served as a football manager, sports television pundit at Sky Sports for over a decade, and as an interim Deputy CEO of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI). With many accomplishments to his name, he is also the founder and president of Team Taca, a private podcast that collaborates with youth soccer clubs to produce...
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Episode 119: Business & Acquisitions Panel - Dean Horridge, Chris Irwin, Craig Brennan
The Drive Phase Podcast
In today's episode, James invites back previous guests for an insightful panel discussion, of three business titans from both sides of the Mergers and acquisitions process. Craig Brennan, the founder, and CEO of The Little Sports Group is building a business and growing through acquisition; Dean Horidge, the former founder of Fit for Sports and is now CEO and founder of Thinkably and Chris Irwin, the founder of Ed Start Group and current CCO at Salford Red Devils. Listen in as the quad panel unravels valuable insights delving deep from their experience and positions in business...
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Episode 118: Andrew Busby - Kings Active Foundation
The Drive Phase Podcast
In today’s episode, James engages with Andrew Busby, the CEO of Kings Active Foundation, an organisation that has been driving sustained change in sports and activity for children across the country. Assuming the role of CEO in 2023, he has spent two decades in commercial business development before joining the Kings Active team, to create partnerships for the benefit of children globally. Going back to 1991, The Kings Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation, was established with a mission at its core: to utilise Sport and Activity to enhance the lives of thousands of children annually in...
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Episode 117: Rebecca Hopkins - The STA Group
The Drive Phase Podcast
In today's episode, James speaks to Rebecca Hopkins, the founder, and CEO of The STA Group, a sports tech entrepreneur, award-winning ENS Sports PR, and co-founder of Women's Sports Week. At a time when everybody seemed oblivious to the tech revolution in the sports sector, Rebecca, to shine a spotlight on this unheralded contribution, launched the now leading global tech-led innovation in sports, The STA Group. The STA Group (Sports Technology Awards Group), is a constellation of companies which includes ENS, the UK’s longest-standing independent sports PR agency, and The Sports...
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Episode 116: Paul Gately - Obesity UK
The Drive Phase Podcast
In today's episode, James speaks to Paul Gately, a professor in exercise and obesity at Leeds Beckett University, the Director of MoreLife at Leeds Metropolitan University, and the interim CEO of Obesity UK. He is one of the foremost experts in the area, consistently called upon as a keynote speaker and author in the obesity and physical activity field. Paul's drive to assist people in tackling obesity was sparked by his observations at an American weight loss camp. He established a singular weight loss camp specifically for young individuals as a result. With a professional journey spanning...
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Episode 115: Gabrielle Lixton and Caroline Sparks - Turtle Tots
The Drive Phase Podcast
In today's episode, James speaks to Gabrielle Lixton and Caroline Sparks, the Co-founders, and directors of Turtle Tots. Gaby, who had previously introduced Turtle Tots in two Bristol-based pools, recognized a growing need for swim programmes tailored to children. Both having pursued separate corporate careers before becoming parents, the two entrepreneurs joined forces after having their own children to transform Turtle Tots into a franchise business. Today, it has blossomed into a network comprising more than 50 family-owned Turtle Tots businesses spanning the UK and Ireland. Founded in...
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Episode 114 - Andy Evans - QPR in the Community Trust
The Drive Phase Podcast
In today's episode, James speaks to Andy Evans, the CEO of QPR in the Community Trust and chair of YoungKandC. Andy, a lifelong fan, and dedicated supporter of QPR, embarked on this remarkable journey 25 years ago when he volunteered at Brentford FC, in the hopes of securing a job in sport. Since then, his trajectory has been nothing short of extraordinary, having begun a community initiative football programme known as the Trust. QPR in the Community is the charitable division of QPR, illustrating the profound impact that local football teams can have on addressing needs and producing...
info_outlineIn today's episode, James speaks to Max Webb, the founder and CEO of Rugbytots. Rugbytots is a global play program that was born out of the need for a children's Rugby class. 16 years ago, as Max was looking for engaging activities for his three young sons in a park, he and other dads mused on why there wasn’t a rugby equivalent of the popular soccer programs.
Based on the need to fill this gap, Max founded a play program that has impacted the lives of so many children and toddlers across the world. Rugbytots is now the world's favorite rugby play program that is driven by the company's ethos ‘to make everything more fun'. The program delivers fun and exciting classes to over 85,000 children in 22 countries across 5 continents.
In a nutshell, James and Max speak about:
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The amazing story behind the founding of Rugbytots
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How he moved from one informal class to a global franchise
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Rugbytots operations in terms of recruitment, training, team building, and figures of their growth since inception
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The impact Rugbytots has on children and toddlers around the world
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Max's thought process for the franchising route and the beauty in it
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How they standardize the passion for their programs and the content that comes with it
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The day-to-day challenges and how they overcame them
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The importance of developing a thick skin around rejection and failure
… and so much more!
Check out Rugbytots:
Website: www.rugbytots.co.uk
LinkedIn: Rugbytots Ltd
Instagram: @rugbytotsuk
Connect with Max:
LinkedIn: Max Webb
Twitter: @webbooldcat
Connect with James:
Instagram: @james_ventures
Facebook: Coordinate Sports FB Page
LinkedIn: James Moore
Coordinate cloud: The Drive Phase Podcast