Members attend ‘Mind your business’ seminar

11 PCA members travelled to Edgbaston on Wednesday 29 January in order to attend a bespoke ‘Mind your business’ seminar, a workshop aimed at delivering expertise on launching a start-up or consultancy.

The session, which ran for two hours, was organised by the PCA and presented by Chris Danes and Sunil Tailor of MHA MacIntyre Hudson, a UK top 15 accountancy firm which specialises in audit, tax, advisory, business planning and more.

The players were given an overview of how to make the most of their transition out of professional cricket by maximising any potential business opportunities that might come their way. Within that, Danes and Tailor focussed on three practical case studies, including starting a company, going into coaching and going on the conference circuit.

Upon retirement from the professional game, or even during their playing career, many cricketers opt to go down one of these routes, with Ben Cox, Tim Linley and Tom Parsons providing three recent examples of PCA members who have gone on to launch their own start-ups.

The PCA’s Personal Development and Welfare Programme (PDWP) is designed to aid players through transitions such as these, either through one-on-one support or putting on events such as the ‘Mind your business’ seminar.

England Women international and ‘Mind your business’ seminar attendee Alice Davidson-Richards said:

“I decided to do the workshop because I just wanted to explore the options that are out there that can work alongside cricket or after cricket. 

“As the landscape of women’s cricket widens, it’s really important to keep developing yourself so that you have more to you than just cricket by taking advantage of the help that’s on offer.” 

Former Worcestershire seamer Jack Shantry, who retired due to injury in 2017, said:

“The PCA has offered invaluable support to me to assist in my transition from a professional cricketer to a new career.

“It’s important to keep your options open as you’re not necessarily sure which roles will best suit you when you leave the game. It’s also healthy to experience different working environments after years in what can be a cosseted atmosphere inside a dressing room.”

Lynsey Williams, Lead Personal Development Manager at the PCA, said:

“We’ve enjoyed a great session with MHA at Edgbaston, educating our members on the topic of starting a business.

“Inside the room, we had players who were at many different stages of their personal development, and it was great to see everyone take something away from the session, especially during the Q&A towards the end.

“Entrepreneurship/setting up a business is a very popular route to go down for a number of current and ex-players, so it’s important for the PCA to be able to provide sessions like these to aid its members in that particular transition.”

Find out more about the PCA’s Personal Development and Welfare Programme.