New career opportunities for athletes in the fitness industry through our partnership launch with The Fitness Group
Posted on: 07 September 2026 by Switch the Play
Switch the Play Foundation and The Fitness Group have joined forces to help athletes explore new career opportunities, build on the skills developed through sport and take their next steps beyond professional competition.
For many athletes, thinking about what comes next can feel daunting. After years of dedicating themselves to sport, stepping into a new career can bring uncertainty - but it can also open the door to exciting new opportunities.
The partnership brings together Switch the Play Foundation’s experience supporting athletes after sport with The Fitness Group’s expertise in fitness education and career development, creating new opportunities for athletes to explore a career in the fitness industry.
From professional football to fitness
The partnership has a particularly personal connection for Scott Agnew, Co-Founder of The Fitness Group, who retired from professional football in 2023 after a 20-year playing career in Scotland. Like many athletes, Scott found himself wondering what life would look like after sport.
With football being “the only world he knew”, Scott initially “fell into the fitness industry”, starting a local gym in Glasgow and learning as he went. That experience ultimately led to the creation of The Fitness Group, which has grown into one of the UK’s leading fitness education providers.
Now, Scott is helping other athletes discover the opportunities that exist within an industry he knows can offer a rewarding second career.
“Having experienced professional football myself, I understand that transitioning into a new career can be both exciting and challenging. That's one of the reasons this partnership with Switch the Play Foundation means so much to us."
At The Fitness Group, we've always believed in creating genuine career opportunities through education, and we're proud to support athletes as they take their next step into the fitness industry. Through this partnership, we hope to equip beneficiaries with the knowledge, qualifications and confidence to build long-term careers beyond sport.
Turning sporting skills into career opportunities
A career in sport gives athletes so many skills that can be valuable beyond the playing field, from resilience and discipline to leadership, communication and performing under pressure. The challenge is often recognising those skills and knowing where they could take you next.
Through this partnership, athletes supported by Switch the Play Foundation will be able to access:
- 45% off The Fitness Group’s education programmes
- Career development, training and professional networking opportunities
- The opportunity for one former elite athlete to access a fully-funded, accredited Level 3 Specialist Pilates Instructor Package
- A guaranteed job interview with David Lloyd Clubs for the successful course participant.
The aim is not simply to provide qualifications, but to give athletes the opportunity to explore whether a career in fitness is right for them, build their knowledge and make valuable connections within the industry.
Playing it forward
As well as creating new career opportunities for athletes, the partnership will go far beyond individual support. As part of their commitment to supporting Switch the Play's work, The Fitness Group will run an annual ‘charity month’, donating a portion of course fees directly to the Foundation. This will help us reach and support even more athletes through our mentoring, mental health and career development services, making a difference both now and for the future.
For Switch the Play Foundation CEO Rob Young MBE, partnerships like this play an important role in helping athletes see what is possible beyond sport.
Our partnership with The Fitness Group is about much more than qualifications; it's about offering athletes the opportunity to explore different career pathways and understand what next steps are right for them.
“Athletes develop exceptional transferable skills through their sporting careers, but too often those skills are overlooked when they step away from sport. By working with organisations like The Fitness Group, we can help athletes recognise the value of what they already bring, while giving them access to the practical support, opportunities and networks they need to build fulfilling careers beyond sport.”
A huge thank you to The Fitness Group for supporting our mission and helping us play it forward to the next generation of athletes.