A “talented” rugby union player from Bury has been awarded a scholarship to pursue his education while continuing to thrive in the sport.
Adam Hinchliffe, a third-year student at the University of Salford’s Business School, was awarded the scholarship due to his “hard work, passion and commitment to the local sporting community”.
He is now set to graduate this summer with a degree in business management with sport.
Raised in Bury, Adam has been playing rugby since he was four years old.
He currently plays for Blackburn RUFC and has ambitions to continue his career in the commercial division of Salford Red Devils, where he already works.
Adam said: “After college, I really wasn’t sure what to do and was stuck at a bit of a crossroads.
“I love playing rugby so to be able to be fully integrated into other areas of the industry with my role at Salford Red Devils, while being able to apply the sector knowledge I’m building on my course in real-time, is invaluable.”
The scholarship, which covers his tuition fees, has provided Adam with a “huge opportunity”.
He said: “I’ve had so much support from the university and I’ll graduate with extensive experience in an amazing workplace, as well as a degree, and without the financial worry as my scholarship covers my tuition fees.”
Adam currently plays for Blackburn RUFC and has ambitions to continue his career in the commercial division (Image: Supplied)
Adam’s role at Salford Red Devils has allowed him to gain experience in various aspects of the industry, beyond the rugby field.
The University of Salford, which has been the club’s front-of-shirt sponsor for more than 15 years, recognised Adam’s potential.
Lynne Barrow, director of recruitment at Salford Business School, said: “As a civic university, fulfilling our pledge to driving social and economic change, while enriching lives and building prosperity across the region, are central priorities for us here at Salford.
“For this reason, we jumped at the opportunity to support a rising star in our local sporting community.
“To give Adam the chance to further his education here at the university, while enabling a local talented athlete to continue playing the sport he loves, in tandem with earning a degree and being fully immersed into the management side of the sector, was incredibly important to us.”
Adam’s course has equipped him with the necessary skills to become a “future leader in the global sports industry”.
He has gained “extensive” knowledge in areas such as event management, marketing, digital technologies, globalisation, and sport media.
Combined with his industry experience at Salford Red Devils, this could set him up for a successful graduate career.
Adam said: “I couldn’t have asked for a better university experience.
“Having access to academic learning and being able to apply this knowledge to my role in real-time has motivated me to continue pursuing my dream career in the industry.
“The experience and confidence I now have, have enabled me to see that I really can achieve great things in this competitive yet exciting sector, and I cannot thank the university, as well as the team at Salford Red Devils enough for giving me this opportunity to set myself up for a successful career in the industry I care so much about.”