Loughborough Sport Placements

Loughborough Sport is committed to the development of aspiring coaches and practitioners through elite sport in the UK. Supporting around 750 funded athletes, scholars, and first team athletes across a range of sports and athletic disciplines, we provide a unique environment to develop a range of skills within an interdisciplinary sports programme. 

The successful applicant will gain practical applied experience in an elite sporting environment by supporting race day operation of the Loughborough Lightning Elite Women’s Team, as well as co-ordinating a breadth of coaching and sporting activities across the performance, development and AU cycling clubs. During the 1-year placement, there is an opportunity to build a portfolio of Continued Professional Development (CPD) and practical expertise, enhancing your employability within the sports development field. 

What would I be doing? 

Assistant DS at Race Days (Lightning & BUCS squads) 

• Assist with race planning, logistics and operations. 
• Driving team vehicles and riders to race locations / feed zones 
• Set-up and pack-down of race infrastructure (gazebo, warm-up stations, food, timings) 
• Support riders pre-race and post-race 
• In-race support at feedzone and/or team car  
• Support with race day media 

 Loughborough Cycling Academy Operations 

• Plan and deliver squad nights alongside the team manager and coaching staff (IDT specific work-shops, team building activities) 
• Oversee squad e-training sessions in the cycling performance hub, with opportunities to develop and manage an LU based e-racing team. 
• Support with group based delivery of technical sessions (Derby velodrome track training, Leicester Cycle Circuit road training, multi-story car park skill training) 

 AU / Development Squad Operations 

Support the AU committee and development captain to plan, co-ordinate, and deliver development training sessions (Leicester Cycle Circuit, which integrate with the performance cycling programme to facilitate a pathway between the two squads.   

 For the right candidate, there may be opportunities to lead on some squad-based coached training sessions on the road and track. This role does not include 1:1 based coaching and training prescription.  

 What will I get out of this opportunity? 

• Exposure to working within a high-performance cycling environment and landscape. 
• Exposure to working with coaches and practitioners in an elite sporting environment. 
• Exposure to a range of cycling disciplines and levels 
• Opportunity to attend several sporting events as an ambassador of Loughborough Sport 
• Mentoring from the cycling programme manager and coaches 
• Portfolio of CPD and practical expertise. 
• Enhance your employability. 
• Development of soft skills. 

What is Loughborough Sport looking for? 

• To undertake this role, you must be a current student at Loughborough University. 
• An interest in working in cycle sport, with some prior experience is required as either a rider or supporting role. 
• An interest or experience in handling and processing data, with a keen sense of attention to detail. 
• The ability to use programmes such as Microsoft Excel to collect and analyse data. 
• The ability to communicate well, share knowledge simply and effectively. 
• Innovative thinking and willingness to try things. 
• Professional attitude and approach, respect for others. 
• Flexibility to work during evenings and weekends when required. 

Additional Details 

• Paid stipend of £6,000 over 12 months 
• Start date between 1st July – 15th August. 
• Minimum of 35 hours per week for 45 weeks 
• Extensive evening and weekend work required. 
• Diploma of Professional Studies running alongside placement year. 
• Full, clean UK driving licence required (you do not require your own car) 

 How can I apply? 

Please send a CV & Video Application to One Drive via the file request link below. It’s up to you how you choose to produce the video, the only stipulations are that it is no longer than 5 minutes and you answer all questions (with relevant detail) set out below: 

 Tell us about yourself: 

• Name 
• Your experiences in cycling 
• Personal sporting interests  
• Your career aspirations 
• What do you think you are like as a person, how would others describe you? 

 Tell us why you would like to join us: 

• Why you? Why Loughborough? 
• Why are you interested in this role and what do you think you could bring to it?  
• What skills do you have, or would like to develop, that make you a good candidate for the role? 

The deadline for applications is Friday 6 March 2026 at 23:59 and interviews will take place week commencing 11th March 2026.

For any informal Enquiries about the role, please contact Dave Nichols, Cycling Programme Manager.