HITZ programme expands partnership with SCL

By Mark Stevens
19/8/19

Premiership Rugby and Exeter Chiefs are today delighted to announce that SCL Education & Training will become the exclusive education provider for its award-winning education and employability programme HITZ.

Having delivered at seven of the 13 Premiership Rugby clubs over recent years, and together achieving positive learner outcomes, leading providers of education through sport, SCL, will expand their partnership with Premiership Rugby to deliver at a further six clubs from September 2019.

Aligned perfectly with SCL’s vision to positively impact on the future prospects of one million children and young people, Premiership Rugby’s HITZ programme uses rugby’s core values of teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship to get young people not in education, training or employment (NEET) back into education, training, apprenticeships and/or employment.

Delivered nationally by Premiership Rugby’s 13 shareholder clubs, and funded by partners Land Rover and Wooden Spoon, the award-winning education and employability programme currently works with over 2,000 14-24-year olds across the country each year.

Premiership Rugby’s core offer, the HITZ Learning Academy, offers a relaxed environment targeted at 16-24-year olds to improve their functional maths and English, develop valuable life skills and gain important qualifications alongside experience from work placements and employer-led sessions.

The programme also offers essential enrichment and sporting activities, which supports the development of the whole individual through not only improving their mental but physical well-being as well.

Managing all educational aspects of the Premiership Rugby HITZ programme, leading providers of education through sport, SCL, have over 15 years’ experience in delivering a range of forward thinking and successful education and sports development programmes for young adults.

Following the announcement to expand their partnership to a further six clubs, Brad Rushton, Managing Director, SCL Education & Training said: “We are extremely proud to now be expanding what has already proven to be a successful partnership with Premiership Rugby HITZ.

“As the programme’s exclusive education provider, now delivering at all thirteen Premiership Rugby clubs, SCL now have the invaluable opportunity to reach, inspire and educate even more young learners through the power of sport.

“This new and exciting chapter will allow us to work closely with Premiership Rugby HITZ, as we take one step closer towards achieving our joint mission of impacting the lives of 1 million young people.”

All HITZ programme participants will get the opportunity to study a variety of nationally recognised qualifications within sport, coaching and fitness, to improve their employability.

Participants regularly report an increase in resilience, self-confidence and aspirations as a result of their involvement, and over 70% go on to achieve a positive progression into further education, training or employment.

“We are delighted to expand our partnership with such an impressive education provider, and fully welcome SCL into the HITZ family for the new season,” said Wayne Morris, Premiership Rugby’s Community & CSR Director at Premiership Rugby.

“HITZ goes from strength to strength, engaging more than 15,000 11 to 19-year-olds over the past decade, providing vital qualifications and employability skills to facilitate a transition back into education or full-time employment. HITZ is a vital part of our strategy to Improve One Million Lives through rugby.

“Working exclusively with SCL to deliver all education elements of the HITZ programme will have a big impact as all programme participants will get the opportunity to study a variety of nationally recognised qualifications within sport, coaching and fitness, to improve their employability.”

For more information about the Premiership Rugby HITZ programme, in partnership with SCL Education & Training, visit www.wearescl.co.uk/premiership-rugby-hitz.