Greater London Enterprise Awards 2020

16 | Greater London Awards 2020 Greater London Awards 2020 | 17 Gmax Trackstars Athletics Academy Mark explains further. “People were encouraged to get involved in sport, but the lack of funding has made it unsustainable and as a result, Gmax created a unique model with Dragonfly Yoga studio as our trading fundraising arm to achieve long term sustainability.” The outbreak of COVID-19 earlier this year brought a halt to grassroots sports, meaning youngsters were unable to participate in the sports they love the most. Moreover, as Mark goes on to explain, during these uncertain times the firm have taken the opportunity to bridge the communication gap created by mobile technology. “Mobile technology creates distraction and is responsible for the decline in youth sports participation. To prevent video games and social media becoming the preference for children, we intercepted with the Gmax App. Allowing us to engage on a digital level to inspire change, our aim was to support wellness and bring a competitive drive to reduce the burden on the NHS by the emerging adult community.” Additionally, the pandemic has resulted in many feeling isolated and struggling with their mental health. Moreover, as Mark points out, in response the firm have helped address the mental health issues caused by lockdown. “The extended periods of lockdown did of course have a huge impact on the mental wellbeing of children, so through our technology expertise and the Gmax App we have helped them stay connected.” Regarding the internal culture in place at Gmax, the firm are keen to promote individuality and its diverse workforce is one of the factors which contributes towards this, as Mark explains further. “As a company, we are proud to have representations of various races, genders and religious backgrounds alongside considerations also made on personality, age, cognitive style, skillset, education, background and more. While acknowledging that every person can bring something different to the table, we aim to harness a team of individuals with unique qualities, ensuring this combination of differences create potential for growth with the intention to nurture and develop the potential of each individual’s strengths. “Typically, we recruit employees with different backgrounds and experiences that will bring together a variety of perspectives to evoke innovative alternative solutions when considering a project or solution to elevate productivity and deliver better results from strategic planning and execution. This amalgamation of diverse individuals from the current environment of global citizens also sets the stage for creativity as different ideas from different cultures helps with the ability to adapt to different circumstances in a diverse environment.” Bringing the interview to a close, Mark signs off by commenting on the future of Gmax, kindly sharing with us one or two of the exciting plans the firm have in store for the years to come. “Athletics is currently facing major challenges with the financial sustainability and our vision for how we can work together for social, economic, and technological changes taking place. To stay at the head of the pack, we need to grow the commercial value of our grassroots programme, broaden our offer of services to society and address the increasing struggle for attention and resources. “Gmax will modify Athletics internal culture, communication, and appeal by modernising its current structure to entice participation by incentivisation and target driven participation objectives. Additionally, we plan to deliver coordinated marketing of our athletics brand to create value at local and national level. Through customised programmes based on the best practices from other sports, we are hopeful this will result in further on-going development opportunities in coaching. Heading forward, we plan to provide services for joggers, recreational runners and serious club runners making them feel part of our sport, while aiming to create new corporate strategic partners and reinforce our importance to society in providing a prevention opportunity for young people to avoid illness.” Company: Gmax Trackstars Athletics Academy Web Address: www.gmaxtrackstars.com Oct20293 Best Olympic Athlete Development NPO 2020 Established in 2010, Gmax Trackstars Athletics Academy is an athletics development not-for-profit solutions centred organisation. Following the firm’s well-deserved success in the Greater London Enterprise Awards, we got in touch with its Founder Mark Lancaster to find out more this well-accomplished organisation. From the outset the aim of Gmax Trackstars Athletics Academy has been to create provision for young people to experience enriching after-school, summer camp and youth sports development in a safe environment through mentoring, education, physical and creative athletics activities. To start, Mark gives us a brief overview of the firm and offers more insight into some of its values. “Gmax Trackstars Athletics Academy seeks to meet the needs of our diverse community of 20th century club members. Both male and female, people of all ages and abilities benefit from our programmes across all athletics disciplines. Whether its competitive success, athletics performance, recreational running, or just looking to keep yourself fit while making new friends, we seek to help members achieve their goals. In youth sports the art of winning and competing is always the narrative. Similarly, we think along those lines believing it is a golden opportunity to teach character that will impact young athletes for life. “Naturally, our innovative unique model makes athletics development visible by operating in High Street premises alongside the destructive and unhealthy fast-food takeaways young people frequently visit. By making our services available as a retail option, we help to divert them and offer sports as a choice. Through sport, our model promotes integration which leads to acceleration of excellence in sport and competition. With direct efforts to improve opportunities, engage, inspire, and involve young athletes of all abilities and backgrounds, the journey from playground to podium will detract participants away from current gang & knife youth culture within communities. By helping develop skills that will be transferable to any job in the future, we can assist young people in making the transition from school into the workplace. Regardless of ethnicity, economic status, or ability, if a child wants to play, Gmax will find a way for that happen.” In the Greater London region, there are several organisations who are committed to helping young people avoid knife and gang culture. However, as Mark goes on to explain, in its attempt to offer a unique selling point the firm do not limit themselves to a specific geographical area. “As a unique and scalable community sports brand, Gmax Trackstars Athletics Academy provide a direct route for young people from all locations and backgrounds to acquire the fundamentals of athletics excellence, sportsmanship, and teamwork by creating an inspiring mix of social and athletic opportunities and in an inclusive learning-friendly environment. The community space creates social bonding, offering opportunities where the participants can integrate with professional customers and volunteers from society who can mentor and advise them through experience. “Naturally, our aim is to stimulate a social movement as a recovery programme to overcome the inherent challenges for young people to avoid the current impact of knife and gang culture, obesity, and inactivity through attraction to technology. With the Gmax programme all the necessary macro-social changes are achieved, helping to achieve a ‘desistance-informed’ future. Through sport and technology, we have established a unique alternative to accessing sport by putting sports on the High Street and making it visible, accessible, and optional as a product/brand alongside unhealthy fast-food outlets.” The London 2012 Olympics created a sporting legacy with lots of interest generated in sport. However, currently there are a number of sporting initiatives in place which attempted to capitalise on the interest but lack the funding as From the outset the aim of Gmax Trackstars Athletics Academy has been to create provision for young people to experience enriching after-school, summer camp and youth sports development in a safe environment through mentoring, education, physical and creative athletics activities.