Middlesbrough Football Club Stewards

No fewer than 20 stewards who keep fans safe at Middlesbrough Football Club have successfully completed training with the help of training support funded by the Combined Authority.

Training provider Orangebox offered the squad a step up by offering Level 2 and 3 Courses in Spectator Safety – with a dozen of the team going on to progress into Supervisor roles.

Devolved funding from the UK Government’s Adult Skills Fund and Skills Bootcamps helped fund the training through the TVCA.

The Skills Bootcamps allowed existing stewards to move into more senior roles, while funding through the devolved Adult Skills Fund allowed the club to take on new staff who were previously unemployed.

The purpose of the qualification was to confirm occupational competence and provide learners with the knowledge, skills and understanding required to take up roles within the stewarding and the spectator safety sector.

It was delivered using a blend of classroom-based theory alongside observational activities carried out at the Riverside Stadium on match days.

What did learners have to say?

Middlesbrough’s own Leo Marshall, 19, took on a course, enjoyed the challenge and clinched his first job with the club.

He said: “I’m working and feel less anxiety than I did – I feel good about my future now.”

Mark Robinson, from Hartlepool, was struggling to get work in the type of job he wanted.

But the course helped his add to his CV and get a job close to home

The 59-year-old said: “The tutor was really good and the course was simple to follow.”

‘Exactly what he was looking for’

Nicola Hubble, Director of Career Development at Orangebox, said: “We were delighted when Middlesbrough FC approached us to support their recruitment drive for the new season.

“We had already delivered the qualification to stewards working for the club, but they really wanted to help local unemployed people into sustainable jobs.

“Leo is part of our third cohort of Spectator Safety candidates we have upskilled and supported into employment with the club.

“You never forget your first job and we certainly won’t forget Leo, either.

“Mark is from the first cohort to take part in the pre-employment delivery for the club and is one of nine candidates who were offered the job.

“We are very honoured to be a part of this and really thrilled that Mark found exactly what he was looking for.”

Skills Bootcamps are funded by the Department for Education, as part of the Government’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee, and provided locally through the Combined Authority.