Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment she has made of potential barriers to access to UEFA coaching licence courses.

Access to UEFA coaching licences is crucial to developing high-quality coaches and ensuring players across all levels of English football receive excellent training.

The Football Association (FA) sets the criteria for course access and fees. It is important to strike the right balance between maintaining coaching standards and broadening access. The FA, supported by Sport England, offers initiatives such as the Partially Funded Places Programme, which provides up to 85% discounts for underrepresented groups, including women, disabled people, those from minority ethnic backgrounds, and individuals from disadvantaged communities.

In May 2024, the FA, in partnership with UEFA and the PFA, launched the first all-female UEFA A Licence course, fully funded to support 17 current and former women's professional players. This initiative reflects a long-term commitment to providing tailored, accessible coaching development opportunities for women in the professional game. The Government welcomes these efforts and encourages ongoing assessment to identify and address any remaining barriers to participation.