SPORTS BASED SYSTEM GOVERNING BODY ENDORSEMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR BRITISH TRIATHLON STAFF

SPORTS BASED SYSTEM GOVERNING BODY ENDORSEMENT REQUIREMENTS
                           FOR BRITISH TRIATHLON STAFF

UKBA points based system

Migrants outside of the European Economic Area have to pass a points-based assessment before
they are eligible to apply to enter or stay in the UK to work. This system consists of 5 tiers. These
endorsements will apply to tier 2 (Sport) and tier 5 (Creative and Sporting). Organisations wishing to
employ people under these tiers must apply for a sponsors licence. Before they can do this,
however, they need an endorsement from the appropriate recognised governing body for the sport.
The British Triathlon Federation has been recognised as the National Governing Body for setting the
endorsement requirements and issuing endorsements for individuals within the sport of triathlon in
consultation with Triathlon England, Welsh Triathlon and Triathlon Scotland. The purpose of an
endorsement for a prospective sponsor is to confirm to the UK Border Agency that the application is
from a bona fide sports organisation, accredited through the recognised governing body, that has a
legitimate requirement to bring migrants to the UK as sportspeople. Once licensed, the sponsor can
issue certificates of sponsorship to migrants providing they have obtained a governing body
endorsement for each before they do. A certificate of sponsorship is required by the migrant so that
they can apply to enter or stay in the UK. However, the issue of one does not guarantee that their
application will succeed as the final decision is made by the UK Border Agency.

Details of the relevant tiers

Tier 2 (Skilled Tier)

The sportspersons category of Skilled Tier 2 (Sportspeople) of the Points Based System is for elite
sports people and coaches who are internationally established at the highest level and whose
employment will make a significant contribution to the development of the sport at the highest
level. They should intend to base themselves in the UK and this category is for the length of the
contract or up to 3 years maximum, whichever is the shorter period.

Tier 5 (Temporary Tier)

The sportspersons category of Temporary Tier 5 (sporting) of the Points Based System is for
internationally established sportspeople at the highest level in their sport and/or whose
employment will make a significant contribution to the development and operation of that particular
sport in the UK. This also applies to coaches who must be suitably qualified. This category is for
temporary workers who come to the UK for the length of the contract or up to 12 months maximum,
whichever is the shorter period.

Endorsements for sponsors

Governing Body Endorsements as sponsors will be issued for employees of British Triathlon,
Triathlon England, Welsh Triathlon and Triathlon Scotland only.

Endorsements for migrants

Tier 2 (Skilled)

National Performance Director

The Performance Director is charged with leading all aspects of the British Triathlon performance
programme. The objective of the programme, in line with all British Lottery and Government funded
sport is to win Olympic medals. This means that the programme and its leadership must be amongst
the top three in the world. The Performance Director must combine world-beating leadership,
business and communication skills with knowledge, years of experience, repeated success and a
worldwide reputation in elite and Olympic triathlon.

Requirements for National Performance Director:

       Minimum five years experience with evidence of directing or contributing to programme
        athletes reaching major events such as World Championships and/or Olympics and gaining
        medal success within them.
       Evidence of setting a strategy to deliver an elite programme at World Level which can be
        discussed in detail at interview.
       Excellent organisation, leadership and decision making skills as proved in a similar role and
        backed up by independent references. The applicant should have led a full programme cycle
        leading up to a major international competition such as Olympics, Commonwealth Games or
        World Championships.
       Ability to communicate effectively in both written and spoken English as proved by interview
        process and by a face-to-face presentation. Any foreign migrant should be assessed against
        resident applicants and judged to the same standard.

Head Coaches

The objective of the British Triathlon Performance Programme is to win Olympic medals. This means
that every aspect of the athletes’ preparation and coaching must be the best in the world.
Responsibility for developing, leading and maintaining the coaching network lies with the Head
Coach.

The Head Coach must be a world authority on all aspects of coaching, training and racing with long
experience of international elite success. The Head Coach must be an excellent and charismatic
communicator capable of inspiring the world’s best coaches and athletes to perform to their
maximum potential.

Requirements for Head Coaches:

       Minimum of five years experience of elite coaching at World Level with proven ability to
        coach and mentor senior athletes to the highest level. They should provide evidence of
        delivering at least one finalist at World Level for either junior, U23 or senior level.
       Applicant will hold national and/or international coaching qualifications to Level 3 or the
        equivalent in triathlon or other closely related sport.
       Ability to communicate effectively in both written and spoken English as proved by interview
        process and by a face-to-face presentation. Any foreign migrant should be assessed against
        resident applicants and judged to the same standard.

       Leads by example and able to organise both self and others. Applicants should show
        evidence of leading squads at least three major sporting events such as Olympics or other
        international teams and/or training camps of international level athletes.

National Performance Managers

The objective of the British Triathlon Performance Programme is to win Olympic medals. This means
that every aspect of the athletes’ preparation and coaching must be the best in the world and
science and technology must be optimised to gain the maximum possible competitive advantage.
Responsibility for the developing, leading and maintaining the support science and technological
aspects of the programme and integrating them into the athletes’ individual preparation and
coaching lies with the Performance Manager. The Performance Manager must be a world authority
on the physiological and technical demands of triathlon racing and training with a long experience of
international elite success. The Performance Manager must be an excellent communicator, who is
able to inspire both with science and technology experts and athletes and coaches to create a
leading edge programme which maximises athlete performance.

Requirements for National Performance Managers:

       Minimum degree level qualified in sports science or related subject
       Understanding of long term athlete development and the requirements of elite sport at the
        World Class level with evidence of athletes managed through the development process.
        Applicants should show evidence of organising squads at least three major sporting events
        such as Olympics or other international teams and/or training camps of international level
        athletes.
       Minimum three years experience in performance management with proven record of
        athlete success at the World Level for either junior, U23 or senior level.
       Ability to communicate effectively in both written and spoken English as proved by interview
        process and by a face-to-face presentation. Any foreign migrant should be assessed against
        resident applicants and judged to the same standard.

Tier 5

Requirements for Assistant Coaches/Performance Development Coaches:

Sports Coach UK or UK Sport recognised coaching qualification to Level 3 or equivalent in triathlon or
other closely-related sport.
Two years coaching experience of high level domestic athletes and/or athletes of international
potential. Athletes will be of a level to have competed in their country’s National Championships or
be on a National Governing Body Development or Podium Programme.
Ability to communicate effectively in both written and spoken English as proved by interview process
and by a face-to-face presentation. Any foreign migrant should be assessed against resident
applicants and judged to the same standard.

Other Criteria

Advertising

If there are no suitable resident workers for any of the listed roles, the sponsor will need to show
that the job has been advertised in a suitable UK medium (such as the British Triathlon and UK Sport
websites) to confirm there are no suitable resident workers for the role.

Extensions and changes of employment

These requirements also apply to extensions and changes of employment. Where employers are
applying for renewal of a governing body endorsement there is no requirement to prove a
recruitment search.

Agreed length of issue for Tier 2 and Tier 5

Initial application for Tier 2 is for the length of the contract or for 3 years, whichever is the shorter
period. An extension application is for the length of the contract or 2 years maximum, whichever is
shorter.

Tier 5 – for the length of the contact or 12 months, whichever is shorter.

Salary for employees

The salary will usually be agreed as part of the contract between the individual and employing
association. However this and the other terms and conditions should be at least equal to that
normally given to resident workers for this work.

Further information:

Email: mhairibillington@britishtriathlon.org
Postal address: British Triathlon, PO Box 25, Loughborough, LE11 3WX

These endorsements will be available on the British Triathlon website www.britishtriathlon.org.
The endorsement requirements will be reviewed annually and any alterations published on the
website. Any disputes will be dealt with by the British Triathlon Federation Board at the address
above and their decision will be final. Applications and issues should be sent in writing FAO Mhairi
Billington.

August 2013