7th May 2026
Written by Caroline Lievesley
TASS is widely recognised for supporting athletes at the top of the talent pathway, but developing future sporting success is about more than athletes alone.
Coaches, practitioners, National Governing Body staff and university sport professionals all play a vital role in shaping the environments in which athletes grow, perform and thrive. Recognising the importance of strong leadership throughout the talent system, TASS, through their TASS Learning, launched The Leading Culture Programme – an initiative designed to help those working within the pathway develop the leadership and wider holistic skills needed to create positive, high-performing cultures.
Photo (right): Cohort 3 taking aim at teamwork during a team-building laser challenge
Now entering its third cohort, the year-long programme continues to support a growing network of emerging leaders from across the sector with some specific refinements, content and interactions to reflect feedback from the previous cohorts.
Guy Taylor, TASS National Director, identified the issue:
‘In the sport talent space, the NGBs and other delivery partners vary considerably in terms of resource and strategy. We want to support these system partners to thrive.’
This cohort includes a number of participants who work in roles within the community, passionate about enriching lives through sport, and about inclusion and diversity.
Led by Olympic hockey medallists David Faulkner and Jill Atkins-Mackley, the programme combines leadership theory with practical experiences, self-reflection and peer learning. Across the year, participants explore themes including building insight to improve self-awareness, communication, team dynamics and cultural leadership.
The programme is built around three broad aims:
• understanding yourself, other people and how you are perceived by others
• exploring what makes teams function effectively
• developing the skills required to shape and sustain culture
Building Leadership Capability
Before the programme begins, participants complete a series of scientifically validated assessments designed to evaluate personality, behavioural style and emotional intelligence. Feedback is also gathered from colleagues to provide a 360-degree perspective.
This process gives participants a greater understanding of both their strengths and their areas for development, while also helping them recognise how different communication and leadership styles can influence others.
Faulkner and Atkins-Mackley bring significant credibility to the programme, not only through their achievements in elite sport, but also through their extensive experience in sport, education, business and leadership development. Throughout the programme, they combine theory with honest reflections from their own careers, openly discussing challenges, mistakes and lessons learned along the way.
That openness helps to create an environment in which participants feel comfortable engaging in meaningful discussion and honest self-reflection.
The structure of the programme is designed to support development over time. Alongside larger in-person sessions, participants are placed into smaller ‘pods’ which meet regularly online throughout the year. These smaller groups encourage deeper conversation, collaborative problem-solving and peer support, while also helping strong professional relationships to develop across the network.
Across the year, the programme includes 12 touchpoints, including individual sessions with either David or Jill, helping participants maintain momentum and continue applying their learning within their own environments.
Photo (right): Jill Atkins-Mackley and David Faulkner
Impact of the programme beyond the cohort itself.
Representatives from the first two cohorts are currently in North America attending the Professional Association of Athlete Development Specialists (PAADS) Conference. Participants will also be visiting and learning from local sporting organisations including NASCAR Trackhouse, NFL’s Carolina Panthers, NBA Team Charlotte Hornets and Major League Soccer’s Charlotte FC.
Jill explains:
‘We are delighted to be part of this exciting programme working alongside TASS Learning and Sport England. The work we do with elite sport, the corporate world and education always focuses on an organisation’s greatest asset, its people and our approach for this programme is the same. We believe that a greater level of self-awareness and agility are crucial to roles in leadership, developing high performing teams and ultimately defining culture.’
For this programme, TASS Learning and Sport England have selected 18 individuals, each representing a different sport or organisation. Although each of the individuals work in the talent space, they all have different experiences of leadership. Over 12 months they will be taking part in self-reflection, deep dive one-2-ones, learning ‘pods’ and interactive full day sessions, in order to enhance and develop their leadership potential.
Photo (left): Representatives from cohorts 1 and 2 visit Charlotte Panthers FC, at the Bank of America Stadium
Reflections from cohort 3:
‘I’ve really enjoyed taking the time to reflect on my own approach and build a better awareness of high performing teams. It’s also been great connecting with others from cohort three – there’s loads to take from those conversations, especially around how NGBs and other universities are working and sharing best practice. I’m looking forward to putting this into action over the coming months and continuing to develop how we work together at Leeds Beckett University.’ Gary Beaumont, Performance Sport Coordinator
‘The TASS Learning Leadership Programme is putting me on the right trajectory to build a high-performing team. This is vital for our work in Inner London with underrepresented groups. The course has opened new ways of thinking and unlocked techniques that help me understand my leadership limitations and strengths. It has allowed me to better understand and support people’s growth, both as employees and individuals. A quote that has stayed with me recently is, ‘Is what you’re working on making a difference?’’ Josh Warburton, Chief Operating Officer, The Badu Way
‘It’s been a privilege to learn from two individuals who have achieved great success in their fields. The impact of the training has already extended far beyond the classroom. It’s refreshing to take part in training that provides practical, usable skills, alongside a wealth of resources and structured follow-up work to support ongoing development and success.’ Jenny McLaren, World Class Performance Pathways Coordinator, British Equestrian
TASS Learning manage a portfolio of nationally recognised qualifications, developed for those who provide personal development support to talented athletes. Beyond this, TASS Learning provide a wealth of CPD opportunities for practitioners and staff working within the talent pathway. TASS Learning view the Leading Culture Programme as an excellent way to develop essential leaders within this pathway.
TASS is part of the SportsAid Family
