Partnerships
Partnerships are central to the mission of Keele University’s Institute of Sport, enabling the delivery of high-quality, applied learning experiences that prepare students for real-world careers in sport, exercise and rehabilitation. By collaborating with professional clubs, community organisations, healthcare providers, and national governing bodies, the Institute is creating opportunities for students to engage directly with industry challenges, contribute to live projects, and develop practical skills in authentic settings.
These partnerships enrich the curriculum by embedding employability, innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration into the student experience. Whether through internships, dissertation placements, outreach initiatives, or co-created resources, students gain valuable insights into professional practice while making meaningful contributions to partner organisations. In turn, partners benefit from access to evidence-informed approaches and a pipeline of future-ready graduates.
This collaborative ethos reflects University’s broader commitment to impactful, real-world, civic engagement - ensuring that Keele students don’t just learn about sport, exercise and rehabilitation - they actively shape its future!
These partnerships are just a few examples of how the Institute of Sport integrates professional experience into your degree.
Port Vale FC
Following a competitive selection process, four final-year students from Keele University's Institute of Sport have begun working with Port Vale Football Club to complete their undergraduate dissertations. This exciting initiative marks the beginning of a broader programme of collaborative activities between the university and the club. The partnership is designed to provide real-world, applied experience for students while delivering meaningful support to Port Vale FC. By embedding academic research within a professional football environment, the initiative enhances student employability and fosters innovation in sport science and performance analysis.
Shrewsbury Town FC
Shrewsbury Town Football Club and Keele University’s Institute of Sport have launched a partnership for the 2025–26 season. This partnership is focused on providing tailored support to Shrewsbury Town FC, while offering Keele students the opportunity to build applied skills in a real-world, high-performance environment. By embedding students in professional practice, the collaboration enhances their employability and readiness for careers in sport and exercise science.
Collaborations between Keele University’s Institute of Sport and professional teams offer students immersive, hands-on learning experiences while providing clubs with access to emerging talent and evidence-informed practice. These partnerships demonstrate the powerful impact that academic and sporting institutions can have when working together to drive innovation, boost employability, and support the wider sporting community.
Keele’s Institute of Sport is always open to exploring new partnerships. To start a conversation, please contact Dr Clare Pheasey at c.pheasey@keele.ac.uk.
British Wheelchair Basketball
Our education partnership with British Wheelchair Basketball enables Institute of Sport students to complete the Community Activators course, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to promote physical activity across diverse communities.
Breathe Easy North Staffordshire
Keele University has partnered with Breathe Easy North Staffordshire, a patient-led community organisation committed to supporting individuals with pulmonary conditions through lifestyle guidance and tailored exercise programmes. This collaboration provides meaningful work experience placements for Keele Institute of Sport students, enabling them to develop practical skills in community-based respiratory care.
Through this partnership, undergraduate students contribute to the co-creation of new resources and the development of innovative care pathways, while the charity benefits from fresh perspectives and academic insight. Together, they are advancing inclusive, community-driven approaches to respiratory health and education.
Pumping Marvellous
Pumping Marvellous, a heart failure charity, partners with Keele University to deliver health screenings to the local community. This initiative not only promotes early detection and awareness but also provides students with a safe and supportive environment to develop essential conversational and assessment skills. Through real-world engagement, students gain valuable experience while contributing to improved community health outcomes.
Loomer Road Medical Centre
Loomer Road Medical Centre partners with Keele University to offer innovative student placements, providing hands-on experience alongside a multidisciplinary healthcare team. This collaboration enhances students’ clinical skills and understanding of integrated care. Many placements have led to employment, highlighting the programme’s success in bridging academic learning with real-world practice and workforce development, while supporting the next generation of healthcare professionals.
CASES Outreach Hub
Keele University is proud to be part of the CASES Outreach Hub network, a UK-wide initiative led by the Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (CASES). The scheme aims to engage 14–19-year-olds in applied sport and exercise science through interactive workshops, school visits, and public engagement activities. As an Outreach Hub, the Institute of Sport delivers a wide-range of activities designed to enrich understanding, promote scientific thinking, and showcase the real-world impact of the discipline.
As Student Ambassadors, Keele students contribute to this work supporting outreach events and helping to deliver engaging, evidence-informed content to schools and colleges across the region. Through this collaboration, the Institute of Sport is playing a key role in widening participation and strengthening public engagement with sport and exercise science.
Carbon Literacy training
We’re proud to embed Carbon Literacy training into our degree programmes, giving students the opportunity to gain an internationally recognised certification in climate awareness and action. Delivered as part of your academic journey, this training equips you with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to understand the carbon impacts of everyday decisions and to take meaningful steps toward sustainability, both personally and professionally. By becoming Carbon Literate, our students join a growing network of climate-conscious graduates ready to lead change in their communities and careers.
CIMSPA 3*accredited
The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) is the professional development body for the UK’s sport and physical activity sector. It sets the standards for excellence across the industry and works closely with employers, training providers, and universities to ensure that qualifications meet real-world needs. CIMSPA’s endorsement is a mark of quality and relevance. It signals that a qualification or programme aligns with the professional standards required by employers across the sector—from gyms and leisure centres to elite sports organisations and community health initiatives.
Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Science at Keele is recognised for its applied practical skills by the CIMSPA. This accreditation allows students to gather gym instructor and personal trainer awards during years 1 and 2.
Our clinical partners
The University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust, and Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, are clinical partners of Keele University, providing Institute of Sport students with valuable opportunities for clinical placements and hands-on experience in real-world healthcare and sporting environments.
Partnerships between Keele University’s Institute of Sport and clinical organisations provide students with immersive, real-world learning opportunities while enabling partners to benefit from fresh perspectives and evidence-led approaches. These collaborations showcase how academic institutions and healthcare providers can work together to drive innovation, strengthen workforce development, and create meaningful impact for communities.
Keele’s Institute of Sport actively welcomes new collaborations across the clinical sectors. To explore partnership opportunities, please contact Mr Sam Jones at s.jones3@keele.ac.uk.
