Over 100 women gathered at UCFB Wembley to attend the Kick It Out Women’s Raise Your Game conference.

Hosted by the higher education institution, and in partnership with the Premier League, the conference featured talks and workshops designed to give advice and guidance to females wanting to work in the football industry.

The event featured talks from the likes of Kick It Out chief executive Rosin Wood, QPR academy coach Manish Tailor and Rupinder Bains, who sits on the board of The Football Association. The day also featured talks from UCFB’s chief marketing officer Sharona Friedman, as well as UCFB student Sarah Makki and graduate Amy O’Connor, who now works for Watford FC in the business development team.

The Raise Your Game conference also announced the launch of ‘The Next 25’ scholarship programme, a joint UCFB and Kick It Out initiative. The fund, named in recognition of Kick It Out’s 25th anniversary, will give 25 recipients full tuition fee scholarships – worth up to £54,000 – on an undergraduate or postgraduate university degree at UCFB Etihad Campus, based inside and around Etihad Stadium in Manchester.

Speaking after the event, Sharona said: “What a fantastic day for all who attended the Women’s Raise Your Game conference. It was a privilege to be surrounded by so many talented females and to hear incredible stories of leadership and success.

“UCFB is committed to inclusion and opportunity for all in the football industry, and this conference helped to showcase some of the best talent in the industry. With The Next 25 scholarship about to launch too, we can’t wait to help unearth the next generation of brilliant sports professionals.”

Troy Townsend, education manager at Kick It Out, added: “It was an amazing day at Wembley and I have to thank UCFB and the Premier League for allowing us to develop and grow this wonderful event.

“It was a day to be truly inspired with the backdrop of Wembley Stadium. I saw so many inspirational women providing the perfect advice and guidance for the mentees here today, who will hopefully start to begin their journeys into the football industry following this event.

“This event proves Kick It Out is empowering and enabling the next generation to create change in the sport by creating fair representation for all across the game.”