1. Julie Swann
A committed sports development professional with extensive experience working throughout the
sports sector including Education, NGB settings and community, volunteer-led organisations. I
possess the professional experience and personal skills to excel as a part of your organisation.
Relevant Employment History :
Rugby Football Union
Rugby Development Officer (Somerset)
Aug 2010-Present
The role involves providing a range of high quality sports consultancy support across the rugby
landscape by developing relationships with volunteer and professional networks. Responsibilities
and achievements:
Lead NGB officer responsible for delivering an outcome driven and needs based
consultancy service to 34 Somerset rugby clubs. Day to day I build relationships across
multiple agencies, identify priorities, design and manage projects and report on success
and other learning’s
Promoted Clubmark and engaged over two thirds of my area to complete the process and
put in place improved infrastructure that directly improves participants experience and
increases sustainability
Worked intensively with priority clubs around Whole Club Development, resulting in facility
investment, a streamlined approach to administration and volunteer recruitment in the
local game
Supported clubs to gain funding from multiple agencies such as Sport England ‘Protecting
Playing Fields’ and develop sound business plan’s to execute the development of their sites
Developed innovative solutions to address challenges with the Schools Union including a
focus school approach to ensure institutions were receiving support and opportunities to
participate in multi-format variants of the game from 15 aside to mixed touch
Targeted Safeguarding as an area of concern in Somerset and re-trained 22 Club
Safeguarding Officer’s in 2014 through the provision of subsidised courses after securing
county board funding
Initiated a volunteer working group to review current competition structure and facilitated
the drafting of a proposal signed by all Bath clubs making recommendations to the county
for change
Wesport CSP NGB representative 2014/15 on School Games steering group, tasked to
represent priorities of multiple NGB officers across Bath, Bristol, Gloucestershire and
Somerset
South West Social Media lead 2014 which involved upskilling colleagues, providing
workshops to train volunteers and support the development of new practice on a national
scale
Supported the delivery of the Student Leadership Academy in Somerset & Gloucestershire
and facilitated workshops at the National Students Conference and Colleges Conference
Led on a University of Bristol Touch program, utilising social media to engage the student
population and resulting in a trained Student Management Team setting up a new Union
society
Selected to represent all national field staff on the Touch Strategy Group Sep 11-March 12
Line management responsibilities for a field-based team including performance
management
University of Bristol Students Union
Sports Development Co-ordinator
Sep 2009 – Aug
2010
2. Following organisational re-structuring the role was created to review and implement the
development and direction of the 56 sports clubs governed by UBU: Sport & Health.
Responsibilities and achievements:
Engage with the network of partners who work with student sports clubs and report on the
current successes and failings with a view to developing a joined-up approach to club
development
Following consultation with partners and students I found a lack of direction in club
development and a misuse of funding totaling approx. 60K and other resources as a result
To correct these failings a new approach was created with the aim to link performance
within 4 development areas to funding. The objective was to help clubs help themselves by
indicating what direction they should be striving for in their 3-5 year ‘Vision’. The structure
has been developed and implemented within one academic year and all partners have
been brought on board.
I developed a healthy living initiative for female students ‘Fit and Fabulous’ which has
engaged over 900 women and gained national recognition in the media and with industry
partners
I introduced the AU Membership fee to all members of sports clubs in line with other
institutions in the sector, leading to revenue gain of approx. 70K to be invested back into
club development
I represented the Student Union in collaboratively writing a successful Active Universities
bid
University of Bristol Students Union
Sports Administrator
Sep 2008 – Sep
2009
Ensure 56 sports clubs governed by the AU (Athletic Union) maintain a high level of competition,
financial, security, health and safety protocol and administrative good practice. Responsibilities
and achievements:
To maintain and develop the BUCS sporting program, from entry to competition, hosting
fixtures, arranging cost-effective travel and maintaining good relationships with other
institutions
Lead on the planning and delivery of events including BUCS 7’s and EUSA 7’s Rugby
Championships
The Clifton Hotel Group
Restaurant and Conference Manager
Jan 2008 – Sep
2008
Responsibility for the entire operation of the business unit, from day-to-day running, recruitment,
training and management of staff, marketing, finance and budget control. Responsibilities and
achievements:
The position allowed me to undertake a huge amount of responsibility at a 2 AA Rosette
winning restaurant in the first stage of my career and gain knowledge and experience of a
variety of transferable business and management skills
Relevant Experience:
Bristol Ladies Rugby Director Sep 2009-Present
In my volunteer capacity I am proud to have played an instrumental role in making the club
England’s first independent women’s club recognised by the RFU
I led on the re-structuring of the club to meet the requirements of Companies House and
in summer 2015 we became an Incorporated company with a Board of Directors
Other successes include 1) gaining funding from the CSP to support 4 players through their
Level 2 coaching award, 2) organising and delivering a girls only Leadership Camp
3. 2015cand 3) a girls schools tournament May 2012, attended by 90 children across 6 schools
Currently working towards starting U13, U15, U18 girls teams to make the club sustainable
and to promote the benefits of rugby on and off the pitch for young women
IRB Media Press Officer 2010
After a successful application to the IRB I volunteered at all 5 of the Women’s Rugby World
Cup 2010 match days including the Final at the Twickenham Stoop
Gained experience of the intense environment at an elite international tournament and
media skills
Relevant Skills and Qualifications:
Rugby Ready, Scrum Factory, Performance Profiling, Level 1, Level 2 qualified coach
Entry Level Referee Award & FIT Touch Level 1 referee
Community Sports Leaders Award Level 2 Certificate
RFU Safeguarding Tutor
BCT qualified Minibus Driver
First Aid at Work 3 day Certificate & Acorn Risk Assessment Certificate
RFU Leadership Silver Award & Top 100 RFUW Women and Girls volunteer 2011
Education:
2004-2007 University of East Anglia
English Literature BA 2:1
1997-2004 Truro School, Cornwall
A-Levels: English Literature (A) History (B) Philosophy and Ethics (B)
AS-Levels: French (C)
GCSE’s: 9 at A*-B including English (A) and Mathematics (B)
Interests:
I enjoy family days out with my 18 month old daughter Ysella and my husband Dom, particularly
the zoo! I go to the gym three times a week and enjoy the occasional game of tennis or touch
rugby. I enjoy the theatre, particularly Shakespeare in the open air and I am trying to write a
children’s book.