The first activity focuses on improving the training and development of 16-18 yr old (male) apprentice footballers whilst they are undertaking the Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (ASE) programme at professional Football League clubs throughout England and Wales. The second activity focuses on 18/19 yr old apprentice footballers (male) who have recently graduated (within 12 months) from the ASE programme and who were RELEASED (i.e. not offered a professional football contract of employment) upon graduation from the ASE programme by the professional Football League clubs throughout England and Wales they were training with.A series of interlinking issues and factors underpin the above areas of focus and activity. Crucially, each year 60% (390) of ASE graduates DO NOT receive a professional contract upon immediate completion of the programme. Of the 40% (260) that get a contract immediately only HALF (130) will secure a second contract the following year. This means that each year 520 young players (18/19 years old) are removed from the game, many of whom have been striving to achieve a career in it since the age of 8. Figures via Football League registrations department.There continues to be a large inward migration of players to the UK from Europe and coupled with poor national level performances/results there is strong evidence indicating that young home grown players are underdeveloped and overlooked for older more experienced foreign players. A career in football will allow only a minority to "retire for life" once their career comes to an end and individual investment in achieving a single goal, which will end at some point, also raises personal development and identity issues as Miller and Kerr attest in their 2010 article “Conceptualising Excellence”. Counterbalancing these issues with the acquisition of transferable skills being essential.ACTIVITY 1 (aimed at apprentices currently undertaking ASE) has the following participant level objectives:1. To achieve both quantitative and qualitative improvements in the development of the participants as footballers 2. To improve the knowledge, understanding and acquisition of Lifelong Learning principles and transferable skills within Apprentices 3. To improve the knowledge and understanding of the European opportunities in football and other careers 4. To deliver a high quality social and cultural programme including exposure to the language within the host country 5. To ascertain if participants are more willing to travel to Europe to take advantage of the opportunities as a result of the trip 6. To achieve migration from England/Wales to Europe as a footballer and/or in alternative career paths in August 2016 and beyond.In order to address these aims and provide added value to the participants across these aims, LFE will deliver a two week pre-season training programme in The Netherlands/Spain for seven Football League under 18 Academy teams. This will mean that 168 participants will benefit and will be facilitated by top tier Dutch and Spanish host clubs. ACTIVITY 2 (aimed at RELEASED apprentices who are recent graduates from ASE) has very similar participant aims as the individuals are trying to establish themselves in the labour market having now graduated from the apprenticeship but still face the same context and backdrop and a greater need to broaden their horizons and career direction:1. To achieve both quantitative and qualitative improvements in the development of the participants as footballers2. To improve the knowledge, understanding and acquisition of Lifelong Learning principles and transferable skills3. To improve the participants knowledge and understanding of the European opportunities in football and other careers4. To deliver a high quality social and cultural programme including the use of the host language to a basic level5. To achieve a professional football contract at a European club and/or as an employee/trainee in Europe in an alternative careerIn this instance the aims and added value will be addressed by an individual 12 week player placement programme at one of six host clubs in Sweden. This opportunity will be afforded to 30 individuals.The main activities to be undertaken across the two projects will be as follows:1. Daily Training Schedule2. Competitive Games Schedule3. Daily/Weekly Log4. Social and Cultural programmeAll of which will be personalised to the participant and the particular host via a planning matrix document.We expect to see the introduction of new techniques and philosophies into English/Welsh development programmes, greater transition from the UK into Europe in playing and alternative careers and better engagement between clubs at all levels across Europe as a result of these pioneering projects. Better people, not just better players!