PRESS RELEASE: A-Star Sports goes head-to-head with UK’s top newcomers with listing in Startups 100

Award-winning young company A-Star Sports has confirmed its status as a British rising star by being included in the prestigious Startups 100 list, the most coveted accolade for the UK’s business newcomers.

Established only in November last year by three couples – Gary and Sharon Bassett, Kevin and Caroline Key, Alister and Lorna Ramm – A-Star Sports, a franchise providing multi-sports coaching for children as young as two years old and up to 10 years old, has already won a clutch of awards.

However, Gary Bassett said: “The Startups 100 list seeks out the companies with real potential, businesses which are likely to go on to be major providers of jobs, growth and business innovation in the future.

“It is a great honour to be included in this select band and to have the approbation of your peers in the business world, especially after such a short time in full-scale operation.”

The company now has 11 territories throughout Scotland and England, and is on target for 40 within three years. Kevin Key added: “It’s a really engaging proposition for people from all sorts of backgrounds. In our founding team and amongst our franchisees, we have former HR and marketing directors, banking and insurance specialists and those that have come through a more traditional coaching route. With the right training and support this is a really fulfilling career option.”

Launched in 2008, the Startups 100 was the first and bar-setting countdown of the top 100 new companies in the country. The criteria for listing include innovation, impressive achievements, a viable business model and growth potential.

Steph Welstead, of Startups, said: “Previous winners have gone on to phenomenal successes. Huddle, Shortlist Media, Naked Wines, Wonga and Zoopla are just a few of our alumni, and we have equally high hopes for the companies on our latest list.”

She said that A-Star Sports’ franchise business is designed to make sport fun and accessible for children, and its peer-reviewed programme includes weekly classes, parties and holiday club places, as well as regular sessions in nurseries, playgroups and schools, which are attracting more than 3000 attendees per week.

A-Star Sports franchisees are offered a full training package to get them started and ongoing coaching- and business-orientated support, including help with finance, marketing, general management, health and safety, HR and the benefit of a regularly reviewed coaching programme.

Sharon Bassett said: “We obviously are looking for franchisees who have a passionate interest in sport, but it’s every bit as important that they have a real affinity with children and an energetic view of how to encourage a healthy, active lifestyle from a young age. At all times, the kids come first.”

For further information, contact Sharon Bassett at A-Star Sports. T: 07932 182148 E: sharon.bassett@a-starsports.co.uk W: www.a-starsports.co.uk

Issued by Michael Crawford at BPM (UK), 0141 353 1515.

Date: July 2012.