Graduate of the Year – Coach Core Awards 2025
This award celebrates a graduated Coach Core apprentice who has gone on to achieve remarkable things since their programme finished.
The Coach Core apprenticeship is just the first step! Whether they stay with their employer, move jobs or change sector entirely doesn’t matter – the Coach Core programme is about equipping people with the skills they’ll need to thrive for the rest of their careers. We love hearing about what Coach Core apprentices go on to after their programme – and their success stories comes in all shapes and sizes. Every year we invite nominations for our Graduate of the Year in order to celebrate their triumphs.
Aaron Bishop
Sussex
Since graduating his apprenticeship, Aaron has become a key part of the team at Defiant Sports. He works with their regular users as well as delivering on bespoke sessions for organisations like Mencap, Memory Lane Dementia Group, care homes, community centres, schools and more. He has also helped to develop and run new ventures for Defiant Sports like HAF sessions for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) youngsters. A highlight of Aaron’s recent work has been helping one regular adult attendees come off his diabetes medication by getting active, losing weight, and improving his test results.
Aaron also remains engaged with Coach Core, delivering high quality inclusion training to our apprentices, designed to increase confidence and competence delivering inclusive activities to participants with SEND.
“Aaron is also always ready to go that extra mile, if they ever need last minute cover, he is there, a new session to be run – he will plan and deliver it, a staff member struggling with an aspect of delivery – he will support them. He inspires all those he works with!”
Dan Hurle
Leeds
Dan progressed from a Level 2 apprenticeship with LS14 Trust, straight into a Level 3 which he completed with a distinction. He continues his excellent work at LS14, particularly in developing leadership qualities and experiences in the young people he works with. He has developed, sourced funding for, and run programmes at LS14 since starting there, as well as putting himself through as much continuing profession development (CPD) as possible. Additional to his work with LS14, Dan has also set up his own football coaching sessions which take place at the weekend, in order to provide additional opportunities for the community. Dan has been doing all this whilst becoming a father and learning how to juggle home life with his other responsibilities.
“He was a role model apprentice – volunteering to help others and providing opportunities for apprentices to come to his workplace and help with sessions that he was delivering so they could develop as well.”
Kobi Ghasemi
Sussex
Kobi has overcome many challenges in his life and has demonstrated remarkable commitment, talent, and leadership that distinguishes him as a future leader in the field. Since he completed his apprenticeship, Kobi has become an assistant coach for the Fun Football Factory in Crawley. He supports the delivery of sessions, coaching children from ages 2-12. He leads groups at every session, delivering high quality, fun, engaging games tailored to the group and age he is given. He has stepped up to act as head coach when needed, leading 3 other coaches to run large group sessions. His technical coaching knowledge is superb and he is able to cater and change sessions depending on children’s needs or even mood on any given day. He is diligent with this first aid responsibilities and is very aware of safeguarding regulations associated with looking after children. His professionalism and performance seem beyond his 19 years and will stand him in good stead for the rest of his career.
“Kobi is very gifted at making connections with children in minutes; finding common interests and making children feel at ease in a potentially new environment; he’s a fantastic role model.”
Our Sponsor
Lifetime is one of the UK’s leading training providers delivering innovative learning strategies through industry experienced trainers curriculum experts and leading edge technology.
Lifetime works in partnership with employers to upskill, reskill, and recruit future workforce to unlock people’s potential and harnesses competitive advantage.
Lifetime Training and Coach Core Foundation have shared a strong 9-year partnership focused on empowering young people into community coaching and mentorship. This strong relationship helps build essential skills to pave the way for the next generation of community coaches and leaders.