Fundamental Coaching wins Northern Lights’ Business of the Month Award
UCLan’s business support programme, Northern Lights, has announced former Lancashire Business School student Kieran Fletcher, as Business of the Month winner, for his rapidly growing company Fundamental Coaching. Kieran was presented with the prestigious award and a cheque for £250.
Northern Lights, a grant funded programme for new business start ups and young SME’s, has mentored Fundamental Coaching from its inception.
When Kieran graduated last summer with a BA Hons in Sports Coaching, he turned down two dream job offers; coaching at Bolton Wanderers FC Academy and lecturing in sports and football at Myerscough College. Instead he developed his own ideas for teaching primary school children healthy eating and physical activity messages through sport, art, drama, music, play and hands on experience with food.
With a base at UCLan’s business incubation unit at the Media Factory, Fundamental Coaching work across the region in conjunction with health professionals. Sessions are based around the School Curriculum and the Healthy Schools Programme.
Commenting on his business idea Kieran said “I really enjoyed coaching basic movement skills to children and so I started to devise a series of games that include hopping, balance, speed, agility and co-ordination. They then put those skills to test on an inflatable obstacle course which I designed myself and then had manufactured.
“I’ve worked really closely with DOLE nutrition and Asics to tailor the programmes to meet national curriculum needs. We then go into schools and teach a healthy way of life through food and activity, backed by a light hearted message, with the emphasis on ‘fun’.”
Keiran is extremely proud of his award and feels he is finally getting real recognition for the hard work, research and business development. He plans to use his prize money for advertising. He said “Making Fundamental Coaching a success is challenging but something I relish with a passion. The Northern Lights programme, the hot desk service in the Media Factory and utilising their boardroom facility is excellent as it gives us a professional face when meeting new clients."
Julia Stickley, Northern Lights’ Incubation and Mentoring Co-ordinator added: “The growth of Fundamental Coaching has been quite exceptional. Their work with the community has helped meet many government objectives and shown no social boundaries. Their future looks very bright after their recent contract successes with schools, nurseries and community centres based within the region.”
Not only does Fundamental Coaching provide programmes during school hours, they’ve also teamed up with after school clubs, which has led to them winning contracts providing childrens’ parties in leisure centres.
Despite tough economic conditions ahead, Kieran has found a solution to a problem which is high on the government’s agenda and will surely see Fundamental Coaching go from strength to strength.
