Cardiff Met Shortlisted for Two Sport Industry Group Awards

Cardiff Metropolitan University has been shortlisted for two prestigious honours at the 25th Sport Industry Group Awards, one of the premier events in the UK sporting calendar.

The University has been recognised in the following categories:

• Education Award – Cardiff Met Sport TV

• Tessa Jowell Community Award – Cardiff School Swimming Charter

To be shortlisted for the second consecutive year, alongside organisations such as the The Football Association, Lawn Tennis Association, British & Irish Lions, CBS, TNT Sports and McLaren F1, is a significant moment for Cardiff Met Sport and the wider university community.

"As Wales’ Sporting University it is especially heartening to see us not only recognised for the ground-breaking work our academic teams do but also for the life-changing projects our community teams deliver across Wales’ capital city" Ben O’Connell, Head of Sport at Cardiff Metropolitan University

Recognising Excellence in Education

Cardiff Met Sport TV has been shortlisted for its pioneering approach to student sport broadcasting. Built around the philosophy of “Local Stories. Global Impact”, the multi-platform channel produces over 50 live streams annually, alongside podcasts, documentaries, feature content and news coverage.

The channel is entirely student-led, with Sport Broadcast MSc and Sport Media BSc students producing, presenting and directing live output under professional supervision. Live streams regularly exceed 16,000 views, with flagship events such as Varsity delivering multi-stream, multi-sport coverage across campus.

Crucially, 80% of postgraduate broadcast students progress directly into industry roles with major broadcasters and production companies, reflecting the real-world experience embedded within the programme.

Cardiff Met Sport TV continues to elevate BUCS sport to national and international audiences, including the Transatlantic Storytelling documentary which screened on ESPN3 in the United States.

Transforming Access to Life-Saving Skills

The Cardiff School Swimming Charter has been recognised for its citywide impact in removing barriers to aquatic education.

Through a whole-system partnership involving Cardiff Met Sport, Cardiff Council, Swim Wales, leisure providers and primary schools, participation in school swimming has increased from 57% to 85% in just two years, with full participation now within reach.

The programme has introduced:

• The AquaClusters Model to reduce travel time and cost

• Standardised delivery across providers

• SIMS data integration for real-time progress tracking

• Public transport solutions to reduce financial barriers

The result is a more equitable, efficient and sustainable model that ensures thousands more children across Cardiff gain essential water-safety skills.

A Proud Moment for Wales’ Sporting University

Ben O’Connell, Director of Sport at Cardiff Metropolitan University, said:

“Delighted to see Cardiff Metropolitan University shortlisted for not one but two awards at the 25th Sport Industry Group Awards. This event is one of the premier nights on the UK sporting calendar and for Cardiff Met to be shortlisted for the second year in a row amongst global brands like the FA, LTA, British & Irish Lions, CBS, TNT and McLaren F1 is testament to the quality and impact we deliver across our programmes.

As Wales’ Sporting University it is especially heartening to see us not only recognised for the ground-breaking work our academic teams do but also for the life-changing projects our community teams deliver across Wales’ capital city. The School Swimming Project has transformed access to a fundamental life skill for thousands of children across Cardiff, and working with our partners, this impact will be felt for generations.”