Graduating Preston North End Community and Education Trust student Ben Etchells was delighted to have the opportunity to host an education discussion among fellow students and goalkeeper Declan Rudd last month.
Rudd was invited to join a selection of PNECET students to share his experiences of his own education pathway while providing advice for their future careers, and it was Ben who led the discussion and posed the questions to the North End No.1.
Ben began studying a Level 3 diploma in sport with PNECET two years ago with the desire to pursue a career in the sports media industry, and in keeping with his area of interest, he has now successfully completed the Level 3 diploma, and is hoping to achieve the highest grade of D*D*D*.
Ben also won the students’ Sir Tom Finney Trophy award at their recent students’ awards ceremony to mark his outstanding achievements and commitment on the course over the past two years, and he will now go onto study Sports Journalism at UCFB (University College Football Business) in Manchester from September.
Reflecting on the experience of interviewing the Preston North End goalkeeper, Ben wrote: “I really enjoyed the interview with Declan Rudd and personally I felt it went well. I was nervous just as the interview started because I am not the best when it comes to pressure and talking, especially with people I don’t really know and when it is being recorded.
“But I feel like my two years with PNECET has helped me grow my confidence where I can now do tasks like this to a good standard. It was nice to be given a framework but also the freedom to add deeper levels to the questions as well and I really enjoyed moving the conversation on and being in control of the meeting.
“Overall, I enjoyed the responsibility of hosting the event and I think everything went according to plan.”
PNECET has joined forces with Preston’s College to form the Preston Centre of Sporting Excellence, which will provide high quality, technical education programmes from levels one to three for 16 to 19-year-olds in Preston and the surrounding areas.
Through the partnership, young people enrolling at the Centre of Sporting Excellence will have the opportunity to undertake a variety of work placements in a range of sporting disciplines, improving students’ academic attainment, developing their life skills and increasing their employment opportunities.
Students will represent both organisations by training and competing in the EFL Community and Education Alliance League alongside their studies, while benefitting from the excellent facilities and experienced tutors at both Preston’s College and PNECET.
If you would like to follow a similar path to Ben’s or follow a career path in another discipline of the sports industry, please fill in our online form to register your interest in studying with at the Preston Centre of Sporting Excellence from September.
A member of the education team from PNECET will then be in touch to discuss your options with us from this September. Alternatively you can email graeme@pne.com to learn more.
Watch highlights from Ben's discussion with Declan Rudd and his fellow students by clicking the video at the top of this page!