LAPS: Life After Professional Sport

Athletes make exceptional hires because they bring a unique combination of skills and mindset shaped by their sporting career. Athletes want to win at everything, sport or business and their dedication to success makes them a great asset to any organisation. Joe Simpson shares what excites and motivates him in his career after sport. #LifeAfterProfessionalSport #CareerTransition #Motivation

Our featured candidate is an international swimmer and national record holder who possesses a solid academic background and a track record of leadership and effective communication. If you're #hiring in the East Midlands, they're looking for opportunities in #sales and #events! #LifeAfterProfessionalSport #CareerTransition

Thursday thoughts with our Member Support Manager, Ronnie Wells. "After attending an athlete transition event yesterday morning and then speaking to an incredibly talented individual balancing their elite sporting career and working in the civil service in the afternoon (interview coming soon), I've been reflecting on the language and culture around planning for life outside of sport. During my time in elite sport, I always viewed the term 'plan B' with a negative connotation, as if having a backup plan meant I was preparing to fail. Looking back, I realise this perception came from how it was framed to me... "What are you going to do if you don't succeed? What if you get injured? What if it all ends tomorrow? You're going to need a backup because sport isn't guaranteed." These are all negative questions and statements and it got me thinking, what if we flip this mindset and turn these into positives? "Yes, you're a professional/elite athlete, footballer, golfer, rugby player etc. first. Let's maximise your potential both in and out of the game. Pursuing different goals means you're diversifying your skill set and maximising your opportunities." To make a real impact, the language we use has to reflect this positive outlook. Let's make having other interests outside of sport part of the plan - not a 'plan B'". At LAPS, some of our work includes: - Conducting workshops with Premier League and EFL under 18s and under 21s, as well as with other NGBs - Hosting our series of networking and careers events, Ahead of The Game - Sharing real stories from current and transitioned athletes on their journey - Providing real opportunities for current and transitioned athletes Our focus is always on the individual as a talented person - not just as a sports person - and what they can achieve outside of sport, just as much as within it. #LifeAfterProfessionalSport #AthleteTransition

Life After Professional Sport The Ultimate resource platform for current and former elite athletes🏆 We provide bespoke career transition support tailored to each member's needs🛠️ Explore a wide range of opportunities, from jobs 💼 to franchises 🏢, as well as educational pathways 🎓 to further your development Check our our weekly content 🗓️, where we share inspiring stories from athletes navigating their career transition, balancing dual careers ⚖️, and embarking on new journeys. Gain free access to webinars 🎤 covering a variety of topics and join us at Ahead of the Game, our annual careers and networking event 🤝! Meet up with fellow members and our partners to discover firsthand what life looks like after sport at their organisation 🏢. The best part? It's completely free for all athletes, past and present. Just register to become a member of the LAPS community today! #LifeAfterProfessionalSport #CareerTransition #AthleteSupport #CareersPlatform #EliteAthletes

📢 LAPS member of the week 📢\ If you're #hiring in #London, you will want to read on... Our featured candidate is a former GB sprinter, European Championships medallist & Commonwealth Games finalist! Not only are they an accomplished athlete, they're a law graduate and have a strong track record in project management and stakeholder engagement! #LifeAfterProfessionalSport #ProjectManagement #Consultant #Recruitment

LAPS members - winning competitions doesn’t have to finish with sport! 🏆 ServiceMaster Clean® showing how it’s done! Congratulations! Head to the LAPS franchise gateway to check them out! 👀 #Franchise #LifeAfterProfessionalSport

Today is World Mental Health Day and we want to remind our athlete community just how important it is to take care of your mental well-being. Whether you're competing or navigating life after sport, the pressures can sometimes feel overwhelming. While we’re not mental health professionals, we encourage anyone who is struggling to seek support. Charities like Mind and Samaritans, along with services from the NHS are there to help when things get tough. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health, so take the time to care for it. 💚 #WorldMentalHealthDay #MentalHealthMatters

📣 Athlete Support Webinar 📣 Join us for an insightful webinar on the menstrual cycle in elite sport: What you need to know with Dr. Natalie Brown, research associate at the Welsh Institute of Performance Science at Swansea University. Spaces are limited so please contact Ronnie Wells at ronnie.wells@laps.careers to book your spot!

We recently spoke with Joe Simpson, former Premiership Rugby player and England international. Joe shared the story of his 17 year career in rugby, his retirement, and his transition away from professional sport. Now thriving as a Business Development Manager at Walker Crips, Joe highlights the importance of recognising your strengths and how transferable skills from sport can open doors to new career paths. Joe's story is a great example of showcasing how an athlete's purpose continues beyond sport. The full interview is available on the LAPS platform now. #LifeAfterProfessionalSport #CareerTransition #BusinessDevelopment

Our featured candidate of the week is a former professional cricket player, and a business development and commercial specialist with over 20 years' experience! If you're #hiring in the #London area, he is looking for business development opportunities in #SaaS, #Property, #Tech or #FinancialServices!