The Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE) scheme, which was launched in 2004 by SkillsActive, will provide training and development for up to 12 ice skaters a year and will cover areas including technical and tactical skills, nutrition, lifestyle management, career planning and coaching.

The programme encourages apprentices to be responsible for their own time management, commitment and skill development, and athletes will also benefit from additional expertise including strength and conditioning experts, physiotherapists, nutritionists and mentors.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for 12 skaters," said chief executive of NISA, Nick Sellwood.

"The AASE programme helps develop and nurture elite athletes and it's the perfect programme for aspiring athletes.

"It also provides opportunities for second career development, should an athlete fall short of their ultimate sporting goal or choose to follow an alternative career path from coaching to sports leadership

"It is something our short track skaters are already benefitting from and we are delighted to be extending it to figure skating."


There are more than 2,500 athletes on the AASE throughout England and more than 20 sports from rugby union and rowing to boxing and tennis are currently involved in the programmme, which can take between six and 24 months to complete, depending on the sport, and supports athletes to achieve a Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Achieving Excellence in Sports Performance.

Athletes who have participated on AASE programmes in the past include 2009 world 10 metre platform diving champion and London 2012 bronze medallist Tom Daley and Beijing 2008 gold medallist and former women's 800m freestyle world record holder Rebecca Adlington.

London 2012 Paralympic table tennis bronze medallist Aaron McKibbin is a current participant on the programme.

Once NISA, which governs all ice skating disciplines including singles, pairs, dance, synchronized and short track speed, has selected the skaters for the AASE programme, they will take part in an induction day in September 2013.

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