Plymouth Marjon–Argyle partnership recognised nationally for developing the future sport workforce

Released: 19.05.26

Plymouth Marjon University, in partnership with Argyle Community Trust, has won a national workforce development award at the BUCS Football & Futsal Awards 2026, recognising its outstanding contribution to developing the future sport workforce.

The partnership was named winner of the “Workforce Development Award - Outstanding Initiative or Institution Contribution to Developing a Workforce in Sport”, presented as part of the BUCS Football Development Network Day & Awards, hosted at the University of Warwick. It recognises initiatives making a lasting impact across higher education sport and highlights the role of strong partnerships in creating meaningful pathways from study into employment.

Dan Tyler, Head of Sport and Physical Activity at Plymouth Marjon University, said: “This award is a powerful recognition of what can be achieved when higher education and community sport work together with a shared purpose. Our partnership with Argyle Community Trust is built around giving students authentic, high-quality experiences that prepare them for careers in sport, not just in theory but in practice.”

He added: “Creating a full-time performance environment that integrates academic study with applied professional experience has been central to our approach. We are incredibly proud of the way our students step into meaningful roles, supported by staff and alumni who have progressed through the same pathway. This recognition reflects the collective commitment of Marjon Sport, our academic teams and Argyle Community Trust to developing the next generation of sport professionals.”

Darrel Harris, Higher Education Coordinator and Head of Football at Argyle Community Trust, said: “We’re incredibly proud to receive this recognition from BUCS. The partnership between Argyle Community Trust and Plymouth Marjon University has always been about creating something that bridges the gap between higher education and careers in sport. To see the impact the partnership has already had on the future workforce is a huge positive and something we believe will continue to grow even further moving forward.

“What’s been really pleasing is seeing the impact the model is now having across both the men’s and women’s programme. Students are contributing across coaching, strength and conditioning, sports therapy, education, community delivery and wider operational areas, while also developing as people and practitioners within the game.

“Alongside that, it creates opportunities for full-time employment after university, allowing students to be part of the programme’s future and use their experiences to shape it. This award is recognition of a huge collective effort from staff, students and partners who continue to buy into the vision and drive the programme forward every single day.”

The partnership between Plymouth Marjon University and Argyle Community Trust provides students with access to a full-time environment that combines academic study, performance football and applied professional experience. Together, the organisations have developed a full-time performance model that extends beyond football provision, acting as a real-world workforce development pathway for both men’s and women’s football and the wider sport and physical activity sector.

At the centre of the model is a dedicated staffing structure primarily made up of former Plymouth Marjon students, allowing current participants to see a clear progression route from student experience into professional responsibility. Alongside training and competition, students access placement opportunities across Argyle Community Trust and Plymouth Argyle Football Club, gaining hands-on experience in coaching, community delivery, strength and conditioning, sports therapy, education support, and wider organisational roles such as finance and marketing. Currently, 28 students are undertaking placements across the Trust and the Club, developing professional skills alongside their academic studies.

The impact of the partnership is reflected in the Trust’s workforce, where 77 per cent of full-time staff (185 of 240 employees) are Plymouth Marjon University alumni, demonstrating the effectiveness of the programme as a long-term talent pipeline. The performance programme itself also functions as a workforce platform, with students supporting the BUCS football programme through placement roles in coaching, analysis, football operations and wider team delivery.

The BUCS Football Development Network Day & Awards bring together universities, students and partners from across the UK to share best practice, celebrate innovation and recognise impact within higher education football and futsal. The award highlights the collective efforts of Plymouth Marjon University academic staff, Marjon Sport and Argyle Community Trust, and underlines the power of collaboration between higher education and community sport in developing the next generation of sport professionals.