In this Voices of Leadership episode of Unleash Your Impact, Unlock Others, Dave talks to Becky Brannigan, Head of Sport at Warwickshire College Group, about the powerful role sport plays in developing leadership skills in young people, long before they enter the workplace.

Becky shares the vision behind the new WCG Sports Academy, launching in 2025 at Pershore College, offering a pathway for students to combine elite sport and academic ambition, whether their passion is football, rugby, tennis, netball or even eSports.

But this isn’t just about physical development. It’s about confidence, communication, emotional intelligence, and learning how to perform under pressure. Becky explains how students are learning to coach, mentor, collaborate, lead teams, and even design and deliver community sports sessions, developing well-rounded, employable young leaders in the process.

Not every student will turn pro. But every student can develop the skills to thrive in adult life, and sport gives us a powerful platform to make that happen.

🎧 Listen in to hear how WCG is building a bold, integrated model for leadership and life and why the courts and playing fields might be the best leadership classrooms we’ve got.

📌 Key Topics Covered:

• Leadership development through sport and competition
• Confidence, communication and resilience as key outcomes
• The role of elite and grassroots sport in inclusive education
• Mentoring, emotional intelligence and role modelling
• Collaboration with clubs like Pershore Tennis and local football academies
• Supporting both curriculum and personal growth
• How sport is bridging the leadership readiness gap in young people