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PFA Business School

Postgraduate Certificate

EDI Directorship in Sport Organisations

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) are key components not just in football but across society. Football has always played a part in highlighting inequalities and addressing discriminatory injustices.

Global sports, and football in particular, experiencing growth in all areas from business development, operational management, digital transformation, as well as on-field management. Central to this successful expansion, we have seen the importance of foreign investors, a diverse group of players, supporters, and audience, all of whom have raised awareness and highlighted the need for an exclusive EDI programme that creates an in-depth knowledge for practitioners of the game.

The Directorship will develop and enhance each candidate’s understanding of existing best practice, current UK legislation, understanding of leadership skills, and people management to encourage an industry-standard excellence that is embedded across any sporting environment. The EDI Directorship in Sports Organisation will ensure a high calibre of experts with the necessary knowledge and understanding to implement effective and sustainable programmes within their organisations.

Course Co-Directors: Hope Powell CBE and Simone Pound

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Co-directors

PFA Business School

Hope Powell CBE

Former England International player and England manager

 Simone Pound

Simone Pound

Head of the Equalities and Diversity, the PFA
PFA Business School

Hope Powell CBE

The current game continues to evolve, and today there is greater presence of a diverse group of athletes taking the field. Having been involved in the game for many years as both player, coach and leader it is important to recognise the importance of EDI in the wider context of the game and sports management in general.

I am pleased to be part of the new and revolutionary Postgraduate Certificate in EDI. This is the first of its kind and is designed to meet the needs of the modern game. It will provide high quality training for former and active players who want t develop their career in any Sport arena.

The programme seeks to arm each candidate with the necessary skills, knowledge and understanding so they are able to develop and implement EDI structures, frameworks and plans to ensure that the sports industry they represent has a holistic approach to Equality Diversity and Inclusion.

Hope Powell CBE, Co-Director of the Programme

Former England International player and England manager, former GB 2012 Coach, former Women’s First Team manager and Women’s Pathway Manager at Brighton & Hove Albion FC

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Simone Pound

EDI needs to be central to all pillars of good governance not in order to do the right thing but as a core strategic business decision that will provide better and wider-reaching outputs and outcomes for any industry.

Sport is in a unique position to inspire and address change and the football industry has been led by the players to ensure we are a gold standard product of diversity and inclusion.

The PFA has been at the heart of anti-discrimination initiatives, campaigning and educational strategies to address inequality and discrimination. I am excited to share the knowledge and experience that I have over twenty years of lived experience across the football industry and put to best use across sport.

As current and former players, you have worked in a diverse team and understand the importance of unity and cohesion to get the best results.

You may have been aware of representation on the field not being matched off it whether that is the coaching staff, management team, club executive staff or media teams. To develop your career from playing to administration and beyond, a qualification in EDI will enable you to lead in your chosen field whether that is an executive or coaching pathway.

This course will ensure wider knowledge of frameworks and standards that can become a core part of any business plan or strategy. I look forward to being part of your journey!

Simone Pound, Co-Director of the Programme

Head of the EDI at the PFA

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Course Objectives and Target Audience

Objectives

  • To understand the Equality Act 2010 and protected characteristics and their relevance to football and the wider sports industry.

  • To gain a clear understanding of discrimination, its impact, and how to alleviate it in the workplace.

  • Create best practices to embed EDI policies across an organisation to ensure a far-reaching effect in the game and the industry.

    Target Audience

    • Current and former PFA Members.

    • Professionals from football clubs and sports organisations who are involved in EDI and player care management.

    • Sports and business management professionals who are interested in expanding their knowledge in the area of EDI.

      Course Content

      Module 1.1 - EDI Regulation and its Application to Sport Clubs and Institutions

      Regulatory framework for EDI

      1. Equality Act 2010 and its application to sport organisations

      • Who is protected from discrimination

      • Types of discrimination under the law

      • What action can anyone take have been unfairly discriminated

      2. Code of Sport Clubs Governance

      3. The FA and UEFA

      4. The FA Football Leadership Diversity Code

      5. Premier League EDI Standards

      6. Clubs capability code of conduct

      7. Other sports specific EDI regulations / codes

      Module 1.2 - EDI in Sport Clubs Administration

      EDI in management process

      1. People Management:

      • Selection processes

      • Training Processes

      • Talent development: Promotion, career development and succession planning process

      2. EDI monitoring

      3. Performance management

      4. Employee package

      5. Total compensation process

      6. Internal and external communication

      7. Work Life Balance-Personal and Professional

      8. Labour Management

      • Action policies against harassment and gender violence.

      • Leaving and disengagement process

      9. Leaving and disengagement process

      10. Culture, values, code of conduct of the company

      11. Equality scorecard and KPIs: Reporting of equality practices

      12. Customer attendance: ticketing, accommodation, etc.

      Mobile 2.1 - EDI in Sport Management and On-Field Protocols

      EDI in football and sports management 

      • Coaching

      • Management

      • Players and athletes

      • Club staff - multidisciplinary team (MDT)

      • Trends in leading sports organisations and clubs in managing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

      EDI protocols on-field and in the workplace

      • Behaviours

      • Language

      • Culture

      Sport governance & sanctions

      Module 2.2 - EDI Strategies, Policies and Action plans

      EDI Audit

      1. The diagnosis of the situation

      2. Job evaluation

      3. Remuneration register and remuneration audit

      4. Salary analysis: internal equity, external competitiveness and remuneration policy

      5. Benchmark calculation by level

      6. Objectives of the equality plan

      7. Measures, timeframe, prioritisation and indicators

      8. Bullying prevention protocol

      9. The equality plan agreement

      Communication for EDI

      Online Abuse

      Processes and procedures

      Legal framework

      #Enough

      Course Delivery

      Course Length

      Course Length

      The length of the course is one academic year – 10 months.

      Languages

      Language

      This course is taught in English.                   

      Date of Course

      Schedule

      From January to December

      • One virtual session every two weeks, each lasting two hours

      • Four face-to-face sessions

      Location

      Location

      This course will be taught at our PFA London venue.

      Accreditation

      Accreditation

      On completion of the course you will receive a POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN EDI (EQUALITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION) DIRECTORSHIP IN SPORT ORGANISATIONS awarded by the University of Portsmouth in collaboration with the PFA Business School.

      Fees and Grants

      Fees and Grants

      The programme admission fee is £5,900 per year. Current and former PFA members can apply for a grant of £2,000. PFA Business School Alumni receive a discount off 15% off the full annual course fee.

      PFA Business School

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      Fern Whelan presenting for BBC sport

      Meet the lecturers

       Jason Lee and Ryan Yates of Nottingham Forest

      Practical Approach
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      Get in touch...

      (+44) 020 7236 5148

      businessschool@thepfa.com