Press release

5 Feb 2018 London, GB

EY supports Premier League Enterprise Challenge

Year 9 and 10 students representing their local football clubs at the Premier League Enterprise Challenge last week, undertook a future skills workshop delivered by professional services firm EY. The workshop was aimed at improving the students’ awareness and understanding of business, enterprise and entrepreneurship.

Related topics Entrepreneurship

Year 9 and 10 students representing their local football clubs at the Premier League Enterprise Challenge last week, undertook a future skills workshop delivered by professional services firm EY. The workshop was aimed at improving the students’ awareness and understanding of business, enterprise and entrepreneurship.

The Premier League Enterprise Challenge is a national competition that uses business models of professional football clubs to engage young people in business education and activities. Over 11,000 13-15-year-olds have taken part in educational sessions with Premier League clubs since the Challenge’s launch in 2009, with partner Sport Relief.

31 Premier League and English Football League clubs entered this year’s Challenge and have competed across six Play-Off events being held at three stadiums: the King Power Stadium, home of Leicester City FC; Liverpool FC’s Stadium, Anfield; and St. Mary’s Stadium, Southampton FC’s ground.

The Challenge involves students being set a football business-related task by Premier League Executive Chairman Richard Scudamore This season, groups were asked to come up with initiatives to encourage diversity and to make going to a match the most enjoyable experience.

EY’s David Paul, Associate Partner at EY in the Midlands was part of the judging panel at the Play-Off event at Leicester City’s King Power Stadium on Monday 15 January, where five finalist clubs pitched their ideas. The panel of judges included:

  • Alex Eckhout, Planning and Projects Manager, Premier League (Chair of Judges)
  • David Paul, Associate Partner at EY in the Midlands
  • Vivienne Aiyela, Managing Consultant, First Stop HR
  • Sue Wicks, Strategic Lead – Sport for Change, Sport Relief

David Paul, Judge and Associate Partner at EY in the Midlands, says: “The Premier League Enterprise Challenge is a fantastic competition to be involved in and we get really positive feedback from the students who take part. The event stretches students, out of their comfort zone, and aims to inspire young people to display their entrepreneurial skills. EY is committed to supporting entrepreneurship and through the work of our UK charity, the EY Foundation, we work with young people to foster entrepreneurial talent and raise funds to help them find alternative routes into work and education.”

The winners from the Play-Off events in Leicester, Liverpool and Southampton will head to the EY offices in London to compete in the Premier League Enterprise Challenge Final on 23 April 2018.

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Notes to Editors:

About the Premier League

The Premier League is home to some of the most competitive and compelling football in the world. The League and its clubs use the power and popularity of the competition to inspire fans, communities, and partners in the UK and across the world. The Premier League brings people together from all backgrounds. It is a competition for everyone, everywhere and is available to watch in 1 billion homes in 189 countries.

About Sport Relief

Sport Relief brings the entire nation together to get active, raise cash and change lives. The money raised by the public is spent by Comic Relief to help people living incredibly tough lives, across the UK and the world’s poorest communities.

About EY:

EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over.

We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

This news release has been issued by EYGM Limited, a member of the global EY organization that also does not provide any services to clients.

Premier League Enterprise Challenge 2017/18

Clubs are at the heart of their communities.

You work at a professional football club and have been tasked by your Board to ensure matches are enjoyed by everyone. The Board will support initiatives that encourage diversity and make going to a match the most enjoyable experience.

You have been asked to generate ideas that result in greater inclusion within your fanbase and a significant improvement in match attendance from new fans.

Your proposal should include analysis of who currently comes to matches, who lives in your club’s local community, the groups you intend to reach and what might incentivise them to attend matches. The plan should be part of your club’s work to achieve the Premier League Equality Standard or the EFL Code of Practice.

The Board is prepared to invest in strategies that promote and deliver diversity, but want to see a business plan with measurable targets and a return on any investment. They are particularly interested in fresh, creative ideas using club assets to appeal to those who have not considered attending before.

It is up to you to research your community and your club and develop a plan to make this happen.