"Hi, I’m Cassie, and I’ve been a Sportily Apprentice since September 2025, primarily working across the North Zone. Although I’ve been part of Sportily for over five years in a variety of roles, my apprenticeship has given me new skills, experiences and opportunities that I wouldn’t have found anywhere else.

A big part of my apprenticeship has been working with young people in lots of different settings, including primary school PE, youth groups and pop-up sports sessions. These experiences have helped me develop my skills both as a coach and as someone working within the community. I’ve learned how to bring sport into the everyday lives of young people, helping them grow in confidence, develop their knowledge and, most importantly, discover a love of being active that they can hopefully carry with them into the future.

My role has also given me opportunities to work with people of all ages. From toddlers at our Active Tots sessions to members of the community at Community Café, I’ve had some really uplifting conversations with people about their lives, experiences and faith.

Another part of my apprenticeship that I’ve really enjoyed is learning about the marketing side of Sportily. I’ve started getting involved in promoting and advertising sessions through our social media channels, which has been a particular passion of mine. It’s given me the chance to understand more about how Sportily works behind the scenes, beyond the coaching side of my role.

One of the things I really value about the apprenticeship is the balance between theory and practical experience. Each month, I work through a new module, which helps me develop my knowledge while giving me the opportunity to put what I’m learning into practice. Having time to prioritise my work and gather evidence throughout each module helps me produce work to the best standard I can.

My apprenticeship tutor, Gill, has also been a huge support throughout the journey. Her time, guidance and feedback have helped me continue to develop and improve my work.

The wider Sportily team has been fantastic too. Working alongside senior coaches and other apprentices has given me so many opportunities to learn. Whether it’s through team meetings, conversations or simply observing other coaches, I’m constantly picking up new ideas, knowledge and practical skills.

Being part of Sportily has also given me the opportunity to explore my own faith journey and discover more about Christianity through sport and ‘Talk Life’ conversations. Being able to share these experiences with young people and the wider community can create some really special moments, where we can talk about what we believe, learn from one another and, if they want to, explore what taking the next step in their own faith journey might look like.

That could mean getting involved in a youth group, joining regular Sportily sessions, visiting a church or simply coming along to our annual TRAC residentials, where we play games, explore faith and build long-lasting connections.

For me, the Sportily apprenticeship is about so much more than gaining a qualification. It has opened doors to new opportunities, helped me build friendships and connections, developed my skills and given me the chance to become part of the Sportily family.

If you’re considering an apprenticeship, I’d definitely encourage you to look at where it could take you. You never know what opportunities might be waiting for you."

Could a Sportily apprenticeship be your next step?

If Cassie’s story has inspired you to find out more, take a look at our current apprenticeship opportunities and discover where an apprenticeship with Sportily could take you.

Click here to find out more and start your Sportily journey.