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Performance Lifestyle supports constructing a career from cycling

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EIS 24 June 2008

Olympic cycling medallist Paul Manning has struck gold with a contract following his retirement post-Beijing, with leading construction services provider ISG plc, the company recently appointed to build the Olympic Velodrome.

Manning’s World gold medal earlier this year - in world record time - was picked up at the Manchester Velodrome, a site recently refurbished by ISG plc. Having also picked up bronze and silver medals from the Sydney and Athens Games for track cycling team pursuit, Manning knew Beijing would be his last Olympic opportunity and wanted to explore his career prospects.

Since Athens, Manning has worked with English Institute of Sport (EIS) Performance Lifestyle Advisor Joanna Harrison, at Sports City, Manchester and it was soon apparent that a career in construction would best suit his qualifications and interests.

“As an athlete it’s important to think about your next steps in your career and your personal development whilst you’re training and competing,” said Manning.

ISG is no stranger to innovative recruitment, having sourced staff from other professional sports and ex-military backgrounds. The skills shortage in the construction industry led the company to look for alternative means of recruitment and in December 2006, ISG began working with Sport2Business, one of several external organisations the EIS liaises with on opportunities for athletes moving from a sporting career to a corporate environment.

“Having worked so closely with Paul through a process of generating his absolute ideal future options, I knew straight away I had the perfect candidate in Paul Manning,” said Harrison.

Harrison and Manning researched the opportunity and attended the first meeting with ISG together. Manning then went on to tour various construction sites and the partnership was soon established.

“It’s hard to know where you’ll fit in an organisation when you’ve been a professional athlete,” said Manning. “ISG was really encouraging and supportive. I’ve been given a contract starting in 2009 and I’ll be working regionally as an Assistant Construction Manager,” he added.

To ensure Paul’s transition to the construction industry is as smooth as possible, ISG will be working closely with him to help define his career aspirations so that a training programme can be devised to enable him to reach his goals.

Speaking of Paul’s appointment to the company, ISG’s Craig Tatton says:

“The transition from professional sport to another career is a steep learning curve so the help that UK Sport and the EIS provide to assist this process is immensely beneficial. Sports professionals have a great deal to offer the commercial sector and we have no doubt that the skills Paul brings to ISG will add real value to the service the business provides.

“Performance Lifestyle supports most things; taking up a hobby, courses to improve career prospects, languages - anything which helps keep you going” says Manning. “It’s not just for older athletes either, I’d say even the youngest athletes should consider taking it on as it helps you to keep learning and developing,” he added.

“For maximising this opportunity credit must go to all parties involved but especially Paul,” said Performance Lifestyle Advisor Joanna Harrison. “His commitment to develop his post-sport career prospects over the last few years has been impressive and he deserves this fantastic opportunity.”

Performance Lifestyle works with athletes to provide lifestyle management and personal development solutions to support their current performance and future potential.

“It’s great to see examples of Performance Lifestyle making a real difference to our athletes, especially at this crucial time in the build up to Beijing,” said UK Sport’s Performance Lifestyle Consultant, Phil Gallagher. “Paul will now prepare for Beijing focusing on the task at hand, not having to think about his retirement from cycling when he returns home.”

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