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An innovative free programme of career support for female footballers returns for a second year thanks to Women in Football, global human resources organisation The Adecco Group (TAG) and its talent solutions brand LHH.

Players taking part in The Next Goal will work with a team of expert facilitators to discover more about their own skills and characteristics and how these can be invaluable in the next stage of their careers, both on and off the pitch, in the sports industry and beyond.

The knowledge and connections of the facilitators will also give the players insights into a broad range of career options and help to extend their professional networks.

Year one of The Next Goal programme was a huge success with Women in Football welcoming professional footballers from a host of top clubs including Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Lewes and Southampton. The inaugural programme had brilliant global reach as international stars from Canada, Northern Ireland, Switzerland, Scotland and Wales were involved.

Women in Football CEO Yvonne Harrison said: "As elite players from across the world prepare for the start of a new season, many other players are coming to the end of their careers – but how many are truly prepared for this? This is why we're running The Next Goal programme with LHH and The Adecco Group once again."

The Adecco Group is entering into a second year as partner of The Next Goal programme as they are passionate about supporting players in their careers beyond the field. They help to develop the skills and knowledge that could be game changers for football and truly understand the importance of the industry retaining the talent it holds.

Professional and semi-professional female players at any stage of their careers are welcome to apply for a free place on The Next Goal programme now.

 

Tailored career support

The second year of The Next Goal follows on from Champion Your Future – a 2022 joint initiative between WIF and LHH in a single-day workshop format, created as a pledge for Women in Football's #GetOnside campaign. Leadership and development sessions in The Next Goal build on the successes of the earlier project as well as drawing on WIF’s hugely successful Leadership Course in partnership with Barclays.

Players taking part in The Next Goal receive free bespoke support over an extended period of time which includes personal mentoring, helping them to recognise their own potential and how to build upon it.

Among the participants at Champion Your Future was former England, Brighton & Hove Albion and Everton star Fern Whelan, who received support from LHH as her playing days drew to a close and is now EDI Women's Football Executive with the Professional Footballers' Association.

She said: "I learned a lot about myself as a person, not just as a footballer and as a player. I learnt a lot about CV writing, job interview skills, transferable skills to go into the working world today – so it made that transition a lot smoother."

Places on The Next Goal programme are fully funded but strictly limited to 12. This year's programme will start on 30 September 2024. Players who are interested in joining or would like to know more can email info@womeninfootball.co.uk for more info.

• Check out the programme's promo video
• Apply by Sunday 1 September 2024 using the programme application form

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