Southampton Solent students making the most of placements at top UK sports clubs

With Fulham FC, Bristol Bears RFC and Hampshire Country Cricket Club amongst the teams hosting Solent students, the opportunity to learn from industry leading professionals, whilst working with high-performance athletes, is ensuring that the students are prepared to smoothly transition to the workplace after they graduate.

Whilst on placements, students work as part of their team’s sports therapy setup. This gives them the opportunity to work alongside experienced professionals and immerse themselves in the day-to-day operations of leading sports teams, enhancing their clinical and performance support skills.

Stan Wright, on placement at Bristol Bears, is enjoying the chance to put his university education into practice:

“I’m absolutely loving the opportunity to work at Bristol this year. As part of my placement, I’ve travelled around the UK and Europe to support the team, all whilst applying the skills I’ve been taught at Solent.”

Stan has been joined by 18 of his fellow second year students on placements as part of this year’s allocations. The majority of which are with football clubs at varying levels of the English football pyramid, including the likes of Bristol Rovers, Southampton Women’s FC and Portsmouth. As well as providing experience for the students, the placements also ensure that the university continues to share and gain knowledge from clubs at the forefront of their sports.

Course lead, Dr Lynsey Northeast, has been supporting the students with regular check ins:

“A key part of any Solent students’ education experience is real-world learning, which is why the chance to work with some of the most prominent sports clubs in the country is fantastic.

“Every year we see our students return with new skills and a fresh perspective of the workplace environment, which stands them in good stead for the rest of their time with us and their future careers.”

All students who study Sports and Exercise Therapy at Solent can undertake a placement, with other shorter experience opportunities also available at different points of the course.

The course is accredited by The Society of Sport Therapists (SST), ensuring the program meets the highest standards of professional practice. This accreditation provides students with the assurance that their studies are recognised within the industry, helping to open doors to exciting career prospects upon graduation.

Any student studying on a sports related course can also benefit from the use of a state-of-the-art sports complex, which offers a range of advanced facilities designed to enhance both learning and practical experience. The complex includes two sports halls, dedicated strength and conditioning and teaching gyms, and a specialised sport and exercise therapy floor. The therapy floor is equipped with three bespoke clinic spaces, providing an ideal environment for students to practice their skills in a real-world setting, treating athletes and clients under the supervision of experienced faculty members.