SMART Way Forward were appointed by England Athletics, one of the leading sport’s National Governing Bodies for coach development in the UK, to deliver a series of CPD coach development training workshops around Hertfordshire to develop the skills of athletics coaches specialising in endurance.

Working with the England Athletics Coaching Development Officer for Hertfordshire, SMART Way Forward delivered a series of 3 hours practical and theory based CPD workshops to hep coaches develop their skills. CPD training workshop were delivered from venues such as Lee Valley Athletics Centre in Edmonton, Wodson Sports and Leisure Centre in Ware, as well as Allianz Park, Barnet North London.

CPD training workshops delivered included:

• How to deliver engaging training sessions {no link}

• Observation and analysis in coaching

• Effective communication skills for sports coaches

• The importance of coaching and volunteering in sport

• Stretching, warming up and dynamic drills {no link}

• Training for performance endurance running {no link}

SMART Way Forward were appointed by Active Essex, one of the leading County Sports Partnerships (CSP) in the UK, to deliver a series of coach development modules to develop the skills of sports coaches around the county of Essex. In conjunction with Active Essex and Essex County Council, SMART Way Forward successfully delivered a programme of workshops which helped develop the skills of sports coaches from a variety of sports. It also helped raise the profile of the CSP, along with raising participation figures for both men/women of various age groups being involved in sport around the County. Each coach development workshop was for 3 hours in the evening, one per month, over a period of 6 months.

SMART Way Forward were appointed by Jordan Fitness, one of the leading suppliers of functional fitness equipment in the UK and Europe, to deliver a 12 x module sales training programme for all their internal/external staff. In order to deliver the programme successfully, SMART Way Forward delivered 1 x half day training workshops per month. The programme was bespoke and tailored specifically for Jordan Fitness

SMART Way Forward were appointed by Tiger Turf UK, one of the leading manufacturers and suppliers of synthetic sports surfaces, to deliver a 12 x module customer service training programme for all their internal/external staff based in the UK, over a period of 6 months. In order to deliver this programme successfully, SMART Way Forward delivered 2 x half day training workshops per month. The programme was bespoke and tailored specifically for Tiger Turf. At the end of the programme, all the staff would need to complete a written test to show their full understanding and competency for every module covered.

In addition, all 6 of their senior Management team were also put through the SMART 3 Day Intensive Management and leadership programme. In total there were 3 x Intensive courses run by SMART Way Forward, each placing 2 x managers in any one session, over a 3 day intensive block of consecutive management training.

The work delivered by SMART Way Forward included:

• SMART Way Forward successfully delivered a 12 x module customer service training programme to 9 x internal/external staff at Tiger Turf UK.
• The team were randomly monitored every month with a serious of ‘mystery shop’ style calls to gauge how well the sales/customer service team were putting theory into practice.
• All of the customer service team passed their end of programme tests with flying colours
• All 6 x senior managers successfully completed the SMART 3 day Intensive Management and Leadership training programme.
• Framed SMART Certificates of attendance and completion were given to all the Tiger Turf UK staff who successfully completed their training with SMART Way Forward

• Consistently delivering excellent customer service

• Understanding your company USPs

• Effective telesales skills {no link}

• Professional management /organisational skills {no link}

• Delivering the perfect sales pitch {no link}

• Using the right communication at the right time

• Balancing your workload

• New business development/cold calling

• Body language/Q4 customer behaviours

• Managing your sales database

• Using social media for business

• Standing out from your competitors

• Identifying individual learning styles and personality types

• People Management

• Strategic man-management {no link}

• Managing change within your team/business {no link}

• Organisational skills/time management

• Prioritising your workload

• Conflict management

• Understanding individual & team boundaries {no link}

• Developing a focused team with the right skill set

• Leading from the front, managing by example

• Performance management {no link}

SMART Way Forward were asked by a local authority to present a proposal listing different options on how the sport and recreation department could reduce their overhead costs and begin implementing a strategy for lean management.

The work SMART Way Forward delivered included:

• SMART Way Forward reviewed their existing overhead costs and presented a number of workable options on how the department could reduce their overhead costs, yet still effectively deliver their commitments and hit their performance targets
• A number of strategies were discussed, including those for streamlining their internal procedures, as well as stationery costs, planning of staff rotas and reviewing their existing maintenance contracts and external supplier agreements.
• The local authority went on to successfully implement one of the proposals presented. The outcome resulted in streamlining staffing costs, negotiation of supplier maintenance contracts and reduced overhead across the department.

SMART Way Forward were appointed by Speed Freq, one of the most creative suppliers of Dorsiflexion equipment, to look at an effective marketing strategy for the UK launch of their unique product, The Freq Reflex. The Freq Reflex had been specifically designed to help athletes and players run faster, jump higher and feel stronger. Speed Freq needed a way to position the product successfully and introduce it to sports clubs around the UK, mainly athletics clubs, rugby clubs, football clubs and for those which sports which require effective power/speed ratio.

The work SMART Way Forward delivered included:

• SMART Way Forward worked in association with Speed Freq to help raise the profile of The Freq Reflex to sports National Governing Bodies (NGBs), athletics clubs, premiership rugby clubs and premiership football clubs in the UK
• The SMART team also helped to design and produce the product brochure for The Freq Reflex
• We also supported Speed Freq / The Freq Reflex at exhibitions and trade shows such as Elite Sports Performance at London Excel
• Meetings were arranged by SMART Way Forward with various clubs around the UK which resulted in numerous orders being placed for the The Freq Reflex
• The team at SMART Way Forward continue to offer consultancy and support to the team at Speed Freq who are continuing to grow from strength to strength

SMART Way Forward were asked by Annemount School, one of the most successful independent primary schools for boys and girls aged 2-7 in London. We were asked to organise a special motivational activity morning for their young students and their parents to coincide with Sport Relief. The team at SMART Way Forward successfully organised a special Sport Relief Activity Day.

The work SMART Way Forward delivered included:

• SMART Way Forward arranged the hiring of Allianz Park athletics /rugby stadium, home of Saracens Rugby and Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers athletics club.
• The team also arranged for British Cycling Olympic medallist Bryan Steel to be at the event to inspire the young students, so they could meet/greet an Olympian and have their photos taken wearing an Olympic medal.
• We also arranged for international elite endurance athletes Michael Callegari and Daniel Davies from Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers to join in and help with all the activities and share their experiences as successful athletes.
• There were plenty of activities arranged on the day, as well as some motivation talks by all the special guests/athletes which really inspired the children.
• As part of Sport Relief, we also organised a mile relay race around the athletics for students, parents and teachers – which was great fun and a huge success.
• Every child who participated was given Sport Relief medal, along with a goodie bag from SMART Way Forward.
• The motivational day was a tremendous success for the children, the school and parents.

SMART Way Forward were appointed by Plan4Sport for Fitness Trails UK, one of the leading suppliers of static outdoor fitness equipment, to develop the sales, advertising & marketing strategy for the launch of their equipment into the UK market. We worked in conjunction with Plan4Sport, who are the sole distributor for Fitness Trails in the UK. This meant researching the outdoor health, recreation and leisure sector, then developing an effective focused strategy which would help Fitness Trails UK generate more opportunities and sales for their products Nationwide.

The work SMART Way Forward delivered included:

• SMART Way Forward provided Fitness Trails with a dedicated interim UK Sales Director
• The UK Sales Director worked full time, 3 days per week, for a contract term of 6 months, to help successfully launch Fitness Trails into the UK
• We then helped introduce Fitness Trails to the UK sport, leisure, health and fitness market
• The team at SMART Way Forward successfully raised the profile of Fitness Trails and introduced their outdoor fitness solutions to local authorities, parish councils, county sports partnerships, schools, universities, leisure trusts, parks and green spaces, along with many caravan parks and outdoor centres.