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World Class Sports Stars Cruise to Success with Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust

Dame Kelly Holmes hosts networking event with elite sports performers and leading business entrepreneurs

Tuesday 17th November Dixie Queen Cruiser, River Thames

At a time when many people are finding it harder than ever to find employment, world class sports stars were given a head start in their race to new careers last night. They were hoping to make the most of their talents gained competing at an elite level in new employment opportunities at a business networking event on the Thames, organised by Sport2Business and hosted by Dame Kelly Holmes, Double Olympic Champion and Chair of her charity the DKH Legacy Trust (http://www.dkhlegacytrust.org/)

The event, sponsored by leading construction services provider ISG plc, was hosted by Dame Kelly in partnership with the British Athletes Commission and Sport2Business.  It was designed to help over 150 potential employers find the future stars of the business world from an impressive array of 80 elite sports performers from Athletics, Cricket, Rugby, Rowing, Swimming, Diving and many more Olympic and Paralympic Sports.

Dame Kelly was launching the event as part of the DKH Legacy Trust's Harnessing Talent programme, which aims to support the workforce of elite sports performers who give back to sport and young people as they transition to new post competition careers. The athletes that attended were from all areas of the sporting scene such as England Rugby Union Star, Martin Corry, Olympic Triple Jumper, Larry Achike and Isa Guha from the England Women's Cricket winning World Cup and Ashes team.

The relationship that the DKH Legacy Trust has with both Sport2Business and British Athletes Commission is crucial in helping elite athletes add value back to sport and help them develop commercially in their chosen post sport career. Attending the event were key representatives from BT, CB Richard Ellis, T-Mobile, ISG, the Mark Group, Esporta, Maximuscle, Baker Tilly Revas Limited, the BOA, London Wasps, West Ham Football Club, Fitness Industry Association and SkillsActive.

As well as networking with potential employers, two lucky athletes also got the chance to pitch new business ideas to a Dragon's Den of leading business entrepreneurs that included Jamie Constable Managing Director of a successful Private Equity firm RCapital. Since its formation in 2004, RCapital has built a successful track record in the turnaround industry. Their most recent acquisitions include FreshFayre and Little Chef, the roadside restaurant chain that it rescued from administration in 2007 which then featured in Heston Blumenthal's: Big Chef Takes on Little Chef.

Dame Kelly Holmes, said:  "Making the transition from being a fulltime athlete to a new career is not always easy, and that's why it's great that we have partners like The British Athletes Commission, Sport2Business, and employers like ISG. These organisations recognise the support that elite sports performers need as they transition to other careers and the incredible value and contribution a world class performer can make to a business."

Mike Prettyman from ISG which has been appointed to build the Olympic Velodrome said:  "We are delighted to be partnering with Sport2Business and the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust. We have seen firsthand, through our own recruitment, the difference an elite sports performer can make in the workplace.  By providing practical support to the elite sports performers through events like this, we are playing our role in ensuring that these world class sport stars start to make their mark not only on the track, in the pool, or on the pitch, but in the world of business as well."

Pete Gardner from BAC said: "The relationship that the DKH Legacy Trust and Sport2Business have with BAC is crucial in helping elite athletes add value back to sport and help them develop commercially in their chosen post sport career. We are happy to be here to help. Events like these are crucial to the development of high class sports people when they retire."

Russell Yeomans, Managing Director of Sport2Business said: "In a climate where businesses are facing more challenges than ever, we believe that making the most of high achievers in sport in the competitive world of business makes perfect sense. We are delighted to be working with the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust to help retiring performers make the most of the skills and experience they have gained in elite sport, and transfer these as they transition into their new careers. Our business partners we have brought along today tell us this event has been invaluable. We have already seen several follow up meetings arranged between the athletes and the businesses exhibiting so we already know that the night was ultimately a huge success."