Member Article

England coach tackles Northampton business leaders

Rugby World Cup winner, former British and Irish Lion and current England coach Mike Catt debated the similarities between the business and sporting worlds at an event in Northamptonshire last week.

The holder of 75 England caps was invited by Yorkshire Bank’s Banking and Private Business Centre in Northampton in his role as an ambassador for the bank.

Mike took part in a Q&A with 15 local businesses at the event, which was jointly hosted with Grant Thornton.

Mike said: “There are a many parallels between sport and business. It is important to build winning teams and strategies and to understand how you win. You have to ask how do you develop a winning team and what are the ingredients to success?

“Across the board, the key is to have good people to build on their skills and their ability to mould a team.”

Andy McCabe, head of Yorkshire Bank’s Business and Private Banking Centre in Gold Street, Northampton, said: “Mike stressed the importance of team work and he encouraged senior professionals to pass on the knowledge they have built-up from their careers to their colleagues.”

Earlier in the day Mike led a coaching session for year nine students at Guilsborough School Academy Trust in West Haddon Road, Northampton, winners of the Northampton Schools County Cup.

Following the one-hour training session, the students took part in a question and answer session and Mike also signed autographs.

Picture caption: Kevin Gale (Grant Thornton), Mike Catt, Andy McCabe (Yorkshire Bank)

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Yorkshire Bank Northampton .