Next Gen – Manchester

Next Gen is not your typical educational experience.

Next Gen aims to connect the next generation of leaders with the sport industry and give them their first experience of what a future career in the sector could look like. This unique summer residential programme takes students inside the world of Manchester City and offers a hands-on immersion into the business of sport.

Course leaders will guide students through interactive workshops and group activities that will bring programme topics to life. Our learning framework is designed to enhance both business and personal development, to support with excelling in any future environment. Students will experience:

• Immersive Learning: experience the sports industry first-hand, with interactive workshops and unique behind the scenes access
• Industry Experts: meet a wide range of innovative experts, covering a wide range of industry topics
• Career Development: understand opportunities within the sport industry and start developing your network
• Leadership Skills: develop skill-sets that can be applied in both sport and business

​​​​​Next Gen will be an experience of a lifetime, from the friends you meet to the learnings you’ll be able to apply to your ongoing education, career, and interest in sport.​​​​

Next Gen 2024 Interest

The 2023 programme ran this past July. More information about our Next Gen 2024 programme will be released in October and applications will open in December.

To be the first to hear updates about Next Gen 2024, sign up now and select that you are interested in ‘Teen Programmes.’

Who Should Attend

We invite students, aged between 14-17, from all backgrounds and countries to apply for Next Gen. The programme is designed for those interested in:

• Studying sports management / business at university
• A future career in the sport industry
• Developing an entrepreneurial business
• Wanting to develop their leadership skills

Outcomes

Upon completion of Next Gen, students will have:

• A certificate, presented at our closing ceremony
• Been inspired, increasing their educational and emotional horizons
• Built an international peer network with shared interests
• Strengthened their CV and university applications
• Had fun and made new connections, which can support health and wellbeing

Key Highlights

Next Gen is organised around the key pillars of sport, business and personal growth. Each day will focus on a theme, from leadership to entrepreneurship, or a deep dive into psychology or branding. Interactive workshops include:

• E-Sports Session: Meet professional e-sport players and learn how they crafted their skills and careers. Develop your own skills and challenge them and your peers to a match in the e-sports arena.
• Kit Design: Hear about design, branding, and marketing from the experts at Manchester City and PUMA who create the first-team kits. You’ll then put that learning into action as you design your own sports kit.
• Social Media Content: Learn how to produce engaging content from the team behind Manchester City’s social media channels. Absorb their knowledge and test your new skills by creating your own social media content for a football club.

Students will also enjoy various group activities* outside of the classroom making this summer programme truly an experience of a lifetime. Highlights include:

• VIP Etihad Stadium Tour: Go behind-the-scenes at the home of Manchester City with a VIP tour of the Etihad Stadium. Visit the Home Team dressing room, walk out of players’ tunnel and go pitch-side.
• National Football Museum: After hours visit to the National Football Museum, get up close to historic memorabilia, and access their cutting-edge interactive football games.
• Football Training: Train with coaching staff from Manchester City at the club’s training ground complex.

Previous years

Below the Next Gen class of 2022 are enjoying their exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the Etihad Stadium, home to Manchester City.

Here the Next Gen class of 2023 are enjoying their day of immersive learning at Media City in Manchester, home to some of the world’s most exciting creative, tech and media brands, which involved an esports competition and Q&A with a professional esports player.