Professional Cricketers' Association Work Experience And Placement Programme Bolstered By Recent Success - 06/03/2008

The Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA), the representative body for past and present first class cricketers, has revealed the recent success of its Placement and Learning Access Network (PLAN). Cricketers who sign up to PLAN, of which there were 20 in 2007, are provided with meaningful work experience, training and coaching with one of a number of leading companies.

It has long been recognised that many cricketers have sacrificed academic study and personal development in favour of their playing career. On retirement this often meant some difficulty in them finding appropriate alternative employment. To help alleviate the situation, PLAN was jointly established by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the PCA in 2003.

The placements can lead to offers of permanent employment, such as in the case of opening batsman Phil Weston who retired recently from Derbyshire. Last month he joined National Australia Bank subsidiary, Yorkshire Bank, as a Business Partner [confirm title].

Jason Ratcliffe, PCA assistant chief executive, said: "The PCA and ECB have been working hard to improve the support offered to players, especially in respect of assisting them to find a new career after cricket. The players all now benefit from consultations with the ECB's performance lifestyle advisers and PLAN has become a well-established, practical way in which the PCA can help ensure the welfare of its members."

Plan is managed on behalf of the PCA by Mulraine Sport, a specialist careers agency for professional sportspeople, which was founded by former professional cricket and rugby player, Charlie Mulraine. Mulraine said: "I know from first hand experience how challenging life can be when retiring from professional sport. Overnight you can feel very much out in the cold, and the prospect of having to start over in a new career can be terrifying.

"Over the last few years we have built up excellent contacts with employers in a wide range of sectors, including financial services, sports marketing, broadcasting, brewing and property. National Australia Bank, which was new to the scheme last year, has just taken five players on placement, including Phil Weston who was offered a position as a direct result."

Tim Bostock, divisional manager for National Australia Bank, said: "We've been greatly encouraged at how well this first round of placement worked. As a result, we are creating a formal internship programme that will be used with the players we hope will join us next winter."