PLAYING SPORT REGULARLY ADDS £11,000 TO AVERAGE EARNINGS

PLAYING SPORT REGULARLY ADDS £11,000 TO AVERAGE EARNINGS

– Skills Developed Through Sport Improve Employability and Earnings Potential –
– Employers Value ‘Soft Skills’ Gained Through Sport over Technical Knowledge held by Graduates –
– CBRE Launches Partnership with England Rugby to Encourage More Young People to Take Part in Sport –

London, 27 November 2014 – UK employees who have regularly participated in organised sport since childhood earn over £11,000 more per year than those who haven’t, according to research from CBRE, the leading commercial property and real estate services advisor.

The research of over 2,000 employed UK adults[i] was commissioned as part of CBRE’s partnership with England Rugby’s All Schools Programme which aims to give one million children in secondary state schools across the UK access to rugby. The findings show that those who have participated in organised sport at least two to four times per month since childhood earn an average of £34,960 per year. Those who have not regularly been active in sports activities earn an average of £23,850 per annum.

Average earnings decrease depending on how late in life employees began regularly participating in organised sport. Those who began participating in their teenage years earn an average of £32,565 per year while those who began in adult life earn £28,300 per year on average. Over a an entire career, those who have regularly participated in organised sport since childhood can expect to earn over £522,170 more than those who haven’t been active at all[ii].

Increased employability and accelerated earning potential can be attributed to having soft skills such as good communication, teamwork, confidence and focus which can enhance academic achievement as well as technical knowledge and experience. In fact, research from Kaplan and the CBI shows that nine in ten (89%) British firms rate ‘soft skills’ as more important than technical knowledge when recruiting graduates[iii] and these attributes can all be developed through regular participation in sport.

Table 1. Average earnings by participation in organised sport (source: CBRE research)

Table 1. Average earnings by participation in organised sport (source: CBRE research)

Have you regularly taken part in organised sport?
Average earnings (per annum)

Yes, since childhood
£34,962

Yes, since my teenage years
£32,565

Yes, since the start of adult life
£28,306

No
£23,854

Source: CBRE

Ciaran Bird, Managing Director, CBRE UK, commented:

“There’s no doubt that sport has a tremendous impact on overall health and well-being but this research shows that the skills developed through sport can help increase employability and earnings over your career. This is why it’s vital that the ability to participate in sport is available to all. To help play our part in this, we are proud to be the principal partner of England Rugby’s All Schools Programme, which gives one million children from a diverse range of backgrounds access to rugby.”

Maggie Alphonsi, England Womens rugby player, said:

“The benefits of taking part in regular sport are well known in health terms but this research proves that the skills gained from participation have a far broader benefit. It is so important we do all we can to encourage people to take part in sport and why I’m so passionate to share my experience and support the All Schools Programme to inspire the next generation to take part in rugby.”

The research also shows the average earners of those who regularly participate in specific sports. Triathletes earn the most on average at £44,375 per year, followed by cycling and rowing at £39,635 and £38,125 a year.

Table 2. Average earnings by specific sport (source: CBRE research)

Skills for Work a Bonus But Not a Motivator for Sports Participation

While sport has a definite impact on achievement and earnings potential, this is not the primary motivator for participants.

Nearly three quarters (72%) of employees state that achieving a healthier lifestyle is a key benefit of participation in sport. Over half of employees who regularly engage in sports activity (56%) say that a good social life is a key motivation for them. While two fifths (41%) say that the psychological well-being that sport offers and the chance to de-stress is also an important factor in choosing to get involved.

While people don’t explicitly play sport to boost their career prospects, those who do take part recognise the skills they gain from their activity does help in the workplace. Teamwork (61%), discipline (53%), determination (51%) and focus (49%) are the top skills that sporty employees feel they gain from regularly participating in sport. While responsibility to others (27%) and leadership (23%) were also traits that they feel they have developed.

Nearly half of sporty employees (45%) say these skills have made them better able to deal with pressure at work. While nearly a third (32%) say they are better able to manage people as a result of the experience they have acquired through sport. A quarter are better able to deal with criticism while a fifth feel they have a much more disciplined approach to work as a result of their activity.

CBRE, Principal Partner of the England Rugby All Schools Programme

Launched in September 2012, England Rugby’s, All Schools Programme will increase the number of secondary state schools playing rugby union. The aim is to have 750 schools enrolled by 2019.

100 new schools have joined the programme so far in 2014 taking the total number of schools in All Schools to 300. After two years of delivery there have been over 300 teachers trained as coaches and match officials now delivering rugby union to their students. More than 2,000 students have been trained as rugby sports leaders and over 26,400 hours of specialist rugby coaching has been delivered.