Member Article

Paul Barrett, from Gatley set to head up EdStart UK roll out programme

EdStart – the children’s sports education provider – has added to its senior leadership team, appointing a new Business Development Manager to head up their UK roll out programme. Paul Barrett joins the Manchester based company to support the development and growth of EdStart across all aspects of the business, including their franchisee programme – which has seen numbers double in the last year, extending the company’s reach across the UK. Having worked within the children’s sport and activity sector for over ten years, Paul will be hitting the ground running, working with EdStart’s existing schools, as well as developing relationships across the UK, as part of the company’s ongoing mission to raise the bar in children’s sport. Helping raise awareness of EdStart’s work within schools – the business provides full coverage of the primary P.E. curriculum, as well as a wide range of afterschool sports clubs - Paul will also be introducing schools and local authorities to EdStart’s innovative health and fitness software, specifically designed to suit young people and help teachers deliver government targets in getting children active. Commenting on his new role at EdStart, Paul said: “Having kept a close eye on EdStart’s impressive achievements over the last ten years, it’s great to join the team. I’ve gained hands-on experience of both boosting businesses and developing relations within the community, so I’m looking forward to the challenges ahead, helping spread the word about EdStart and what we can do within communities to help set the correct pathway for children’s fitness.
“With the recent announcement of an increased Sports Premium for primary schools, we’re committed to helping support teachers, to boost participation and help tackle childhood obesity – an issue that is shared nationwide. The challenge as a company is to never stand still and ensure that the delivery to schools is the highest quality, an attitude I know I share with EdStart’s MD.” Commenting on EdStart’s recent appointment, managing director Chris Irwin, said: “We’re thrilled that Paul has joined EdStart. He’ll be a great asset to the team, with years of experience in the industry. His insight into children’s fitness is exactly what we were searching for, as we continue our ambitious growth plans.” The appointment of EdStart’s Business Development Manager marks a new era for the company, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary. This year the company was awarded a gold CAA accreditation: a highly-respected accolade which means that EdStart has been independently verified as having met or exceeded the necessary elements of the CAA Code of Practice, making it the first primary school provider in the country to be awarded the title.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sam Williams .