Barnsley FC Community Trust is using its University of South Wales degree programme partnership as a practical route into the sports industry, helping students move from education into meaningful work while strengthening the Trust’s future workforce.

The USW programme gives learners access to real roles across the Trust while they study. Students can test different career routes, build confidence through live projects and develop the behaviours expected in professional environments. For the Trust, that creates a clear talent pipeline: students contribute capacity during their studies and, where the right opportunity exists, can progress into internships, casual work or permanent roles.

Ross Wood, Shadow Scholarship Coach and Higher Education Mentor, says this exposure is central to the programme’s value: “They get opportunities to see different sides of the club and Trust, and that helps them understand where they want to go.”

Macy Lunn joined the degree after studying BTEC Sport Science at Barnsley College and wanting a career in sport. She developed her coaching knowledge in a practical football environment, completed her UEFA C qualification and graduated in 2024 with a 2:1. Macy has since progressed into a full-time tutor role with the Trust, supporting English, maths and sport. She said the course helped her grow in confidence, particularly through practical experiences such as the residential trip to Wales, where she coached different clubs and learned from other coaches and students.

Building Careers, Developing Futures: How Barnsley FC Community Trust Turns Students into Sport Industry Professionals

Building Careers, Developing Futures: How Barnsley FC Community Trust Turns Students into Sport Industry Professionals