Featured Apprentice Story

As part of Jordan Whitehurst's role as a HR Apprentice, he has helped Premiership Rugby Club to recruit and rebuild enabling it to re-open following the lifting of Covid restrictions in July 2021.

Former youth rugby player Jordan is combining his passion for the sport with a full-time job working for premiership rugby club Leicester Tigers. In the six months since he started his HR apprenticeship, Jordan has already attended Twickenham to watch the team’s match against Montpellier and is looking forward to spectating at premiership fixtures as the new season gets underway.

Jordan, from Elmesthorpe in Leicestershire, joined the club after completing a Level 3 diploma in business at NWSLC’s Nuneaton Campus. He said, “My business qualification opened doors to a number of disciplines including HR and I was interested when I saw the vacancy at Leicester Tigers. Rugby is a passion of mine; I played for Hinckley Rugby Club for ten years up until the age of 15. I started my job during lockdown but have gradually spent more and more time in the office at our Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium and expect to be based there full-time in the future. I am following a CIPD qualification as part of my apprenticeship and look forward to building my skills and adding to my qualifications.”

Matt Johnson, Head of HR for Leicester Tigers said, “Jordan has really hit the ground running since he joined us last April and has been a real asset. This has been especially impactful during such a busy period of recruitment and selection as the Club returns to unrestricted crowds and more normal operations.

“Jordan’s role covers a wide range of areas and requires him to interact with people at all levels across the Club. We hope that the experience gained within our environment will support a successful start to Jordan’s career in HR. The Club has taken on a number of apprentices in recent months, and we see this as an excellent way to grow our own talent”.

Leicester Tigers employ roughly 185 staff including its playing squad, a total that increases to around 500 with match day casuals included. The club’s Oval Park training facility in Oadby is the location for the players, trainers, strength and conditioning coaches, physiotherapists, and sports scientists. The club’s commercial teams including sales and marketing, community programmes, HR, ticketing, ground maintenance and facilities are based at Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium.