League Football Education has announced a new partnership with training provider The Fitness Group (TFG) to support its members in gaining training qualifications and packages.

TFG offers internationally-recognised qualifications regulated by Active IQ and meets CIMSPA and UK Active standards. It provides qualification and training packages for athletes across professional sports with its partnerships.

More specifically, it supports professional footballers through its partnership with The PFA, The Scottish PFA and Life After Professional Sport (LAPs).

This new partnership will see the two organisations work closely together to support young footballers to continue their education and provide them with a supported pathway to gain The Fitness Group’s internationally recognised qualifications in the health and fitness sector.

Players can use their qualifications as a secondary career alongside football or a transition career.

TFG says both options are a perfect fit for footballers to grow a new career that draws on transferrable skills and experience from football; “through education, footballers can grow their knowledge in key areas such as nutrition and their fitness training”.

“Having seen the great work TFG has done with the likes of the PFA and LAPS, it’s exciting to have this partnership up and running,” says Anthony Cato, transition officer at Football League Education.

“The fitness world is an ever-growing industry and many of our apprentices have gone on to forge successful careers in it, ranging from fully qualified personal trainers to yoga instructors.

“We now look forward to working closely with TFG and helping LFE apprentices up and down the country gain the necessary qualifications and tools to be successful within this competitive but rewarding industry.”

With over 25,000 personal trainers in the UK, competition in the industry is fierce. TFG aims to equip its graduates with the skills needed to be stand-out trainers and sports massage therapists.

By delivering qualifications including entry-level fitness instructor, Level 3 personal training courses, sports massage courses, and accredited CPD and utilising both in-person and online study methods, TFG wants to make getting qualified accessible.

With 5-star support from its team of expert tutors, students are promised an unrivalled study experience.

Steven Dick, TFG director, says: “We’re passionate about supporting footballers to develop their education and build future careers around football. My business partner, Scott, has been in the game for 20 years, so we understand footballers’ demands and needs to plan studying and education around the game.”