Interview for www.ifwecanyoucan.co.uk 27/4/2010

UKAllSports – the journey so far…
Having grown up through school playing football with Nick or ‘Smithy’ as we used to call him, it was always obvious he was driven in nature. The first one out to training and the last one back in at the end. Equally in his studies, Nick stood out as having the best work ethic, he always seemed to be willing to put in that extra hour of revision, and churn out another page of notes.
Not having seen Nick for a good few months, I was greeted with the same beaming grin as always, and as he sat down, he exuded the same confidence he’d always had but with a slightly more professional air about him. Reclining in his chair for a moment he mentioned being tired after a morning of meetings with clients, “always happy to help out a friend though” he smiled, and so we began.
After graduating with a BA Honours in Sport Science from Loughborough, Nick wasted no time in starting up his own coaching company with fellow graduate and close friend Chris Bryant-Mansell.
Initially UK All Sports was set up directly as a coaching company, but it quickly became clear to both Nick and Chris that there was a gap in the recruitment sector of the market. They realised there was an abundance of institutions, schools and colleges as well as a large number of coaches looking for work. “No one had put the two together, so that’s where we come in.”
With very little personal capital of his own to invest in the start up of the company, Nick sought the assistance of his father Mike. Being of an entrepreneurial background himself, Mike was more than willing to pass on valuable contacts, as well as offering the necessary investment needed to get UK All Sports off the ground. “We just had to pull in a lot of favours,” Nick remarked.
When asked what his aspirations were for the company when they started, Nick responded; “we want to become the first place people come if they need a coach, and the first place coaches come if they need a job”. Having changed the original concept behind the company, UK All Sports now had a specific direction, attempting to fill a gap in the coaching recruitment market. “we have been learning as we go along really, it’s the same with anything” Nick continued, “initially it was harder, but now we have got to grasps with what we’re doing and the route we are taking it’s been going from strength to strength”.
UK All Sports now boasts an impressive spectrum of representatives ranging from the current badminton commonwealth gold medallist, to an Olympic Judo bronze medallist. “It’s just an ongoing process now”, whilst having to look after all their current clients it is important that UK All Sports continue to expand their database of coaches. “The more top level coaches we can obtain, the more attractive our company looks to potential clients”. By continually increasing their range of clients and maintaining the high level of coaches they offer, UK All Sports will continue to attract better coaches, and in turn will gain improved business from clients.
“It’s all about our reputation and continuing to improve it and built on our relations with our coaches and clients.” Nick speaks with an excitable tone in his voice, and in doing so conveys a real belief in his company and what they are trying to achieve. “As our service is judged by the coaches we provide it is of paramount importance they do not let us down.” It is obvious this has become an imperative function of operations for UK All Sports, their coaches are essentially their brand image, and must therefore give an impeccable reflection on UK All Sports as a company. “We constantly overcome this by screening our coaches to ensure they are up to standard. This is time consuming as we do now have over 2000 coaches but the process is essential.”
It has not all been plain sailing for Nick and Chris, coming up to their first full year in business. With over 2000 coaches on their constantly expanding database and some more substantial contracts materializing more frequently, Nick reminds me it has been hard work, and a lot of time and effort has got them where they are today. “There were times when we thought where are going with this?” He spoke of days on end where it had seemed they were going in circles without any reward. “In the first few months it was difficult to see things getting moving, we weren’t sure where the money was going to come from!” he exclaimed.
It is obvious that the help of his family and friends has helped Nick to continue to believe that he could make this a success. “It could be hard to keep morale up, but that’s where I have to thank my family, my parents for continuing to believe in what I was doing, you definitely need that to keep you going when times get tough.”
So what does the future hold for UK All Sports? Nearing the end of their first year, it seems as though Nick and Chris have really managed to assert themselves on the company and in turn the market they are entering. It is obvious they have built a clear and distinct understanding of what it is they are trying to achieve, and what it is they can offer the coaching recruitment world. Nick’s confidence is infectious, and this will inevitably be emanated when he approaches future prospective clients. By staying positive and keeping themselves grounded amid their early successes, UK All Sports seem to be heading at a good pace down the road to success.
For more information about UK All Sports please visit the website http://www.ukallsports.com/
By Jonathan Stevenson