Mayor and Premier League launch first-of-its-kind Stewarding Academy to raise standards and create jobs

• Ground-breaking £1.2m partnership will create a first-of-its-kind Stewarding Academy to train and support football stewards across London, improving safety, raising standards and creating new career pathways
• Building on the success of the Mayor's Skills Academies Programme, the partnership delivers on his manifesto commitment to support football clubs across the city and consolidate London as the sporting capital of the world
• Following the launch of the Inclusive Talent Strategy last year, the Mayor is delivering on his commitment to put employers at the centre of driving inclusive growth and ensuring Londoners can find quality training and careers.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and the Premier League have announced a ground-breaking new £1.2 million partnership which will establish a first-of-its-kind Stewarding Academy, training thousands of football stewards in the capital – raising standards, improving safety and creating jobs for Londoners.

The Mayor's partnership with the Premier League – the most-watched domestic football league in the world – will establish a new jointly-funded Stewarding Academy, delivered by Capital City College. The pioneering Academy will provide training and create career pathways for stewards working at football clubs in London and those wanting to get into the industry. It will further raise standards and improve safety, ultimately enhancing the matchday experience and the broader live events sector in the capital. It will also connect Londoners to work in an important sector for London.

The stewarding sector in London's football industry faces several distinct challenges, highlighted by high demand and a decline in available stewarding staff. With around 5,000 active stewards currently working across multiple live events, the sector faces a yearly need for about 1,500 new stewards. This partnership aims to help meet this demand, supporting 1,500 Londoners to achieve spectator safety qualifications and 1,000 into employment opportunities within the sector.

The Stewarding Academy will get underway this summer and be delivered by Capital City College, London's largest further education college, which will provide industry-focused training that equips students with the practical skills, confidence and qualifications needed to succeed in stewarding and spectator safety roles.

An initial roll-out in London will create a local model for steward recruitment, training and career progression, with many elements mirroring the Mayor's Skills Academies that have successfully been rolled out across the capital, supporting more than 24,000 Londoners into good work that pays at least the London Living Wage. The Academy has the potential to become a model for steward training and career development across the football industry.

Beyond the Stewarding Academy, the partnership will reinforce London's status as the sporting capital of the world by collaborating to create safe and welcoming environments for all fans. This will include measures focused on tackling discrimination.

In addition, the partnership intends to support Premier League clubs in the capital to move towards net-zero carbon emissions by promoting environmentally sustainable practices.

There are currently six Premier League teams based in London: Arsenal, Brentford, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur. The long-term aspiration is for this partnership to run across all of London's professional clubs.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: "Football is at the heart of life in London and, with fans across the capital gripped by the game, I am delighted to partner with the Premier League, the most-watched domestic football league in the world, to launch this ground-breaking, first-of-its-kind Stewarding Academy as we look to create good jobs and raise standards for thousands of Londoners working in the football sector.

"Our new Stewarding Academy and wider partnership will deliver on my commitment to support football clubs and create good jobs and opportunities in London.

"London is the sporting capital of the world and a global leader in major events and we are proud to work with the Premier League and our partners as we continue to build a better, fairer London for everyone."

Premier League Chief Policy and Social Impact Officer, Clare Sumner, said: “There are more than 15 million visits to Premier League stadiums each season, and we work alongside partners and the police to deliver safe and inclusive matchdays across the country.

“Our partnership with the Mayor will further develop the fan experience as part of our nationwide work to elevate the stewarding profession.

“Through this partnership, we are providing new employment and training opportunities for thousands of people, contributing to the safe and welcoming environment provided at 380 matches each season.”

Debbie Houghton, Group Principal Apprenticeships, Partnerships & Innovation at Capital City College, said: “We are proud to be delivering the Mayor and Premier League's Stewarding Academy, and I am positive that this new cohort will play a vital role in creating safe, positive matchday experiences.

“Through our training courses, our students develop the skills and confidence to succeed as stewards at Premier League clubs across the country, and this year will be no different.

“From managing crowds to supporting football fans with ticket queries, directions and de-escalating situations, our stewards will be highly trained and ready for kick-off.”

This partnership will build on Sadiq's manifesto commitment to continue working with the Premier League and the English Football League on developing a skills academy for those working with football clubs in London, giving these important workers a route to career progression and raising standards in the sector.

It also forms part of the Premier League's contribution to training and employment across the United Kingdom. The competition supported 104,500 full-time equivalent jobs in the 2023/24 season alone, and League-funded community programmes have helped tens of thousands of young people through employability-focused projects.