Andy was the MP for Loughborough between 1997 and 2010. During that time he became known as the 'backbench voice' on sport at all levels in Parliament from school, grassroots to elite. After leaving Parliament Andy has been approached to use his experience to help sport - something he has been only too willing to take up!

Read More about Andy »

Nick King has worn various sporting hats, with his experience stretching from illiterate sports journalism in his student days to a career which, to date, has included stints in sports marketing, sponsorship consultancy, sports policy and political work, strategic communications and sports public affairs.

Nick's first steps in the sports industry were working for the international sports marketing agency, Octagon, covering a range of sports domestically and internationally. Nick worked closely with some of the UK and the world's biggest brands as well as with a range of rights-holders, from UK NGBs to international federations. Nick's work with Octagon also saw him spend almost two years as a sponsorship consultant in the Middle East, based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, focusing on rights acquisition, sale and exploitation.

From there Nick joined Conservative Central Office (CCO) where he worked in the Conservative Research Department. Nick covered the Culture, Media and Sport departmental brief within CCO, working as a Special Adviser to the Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP and concentrating on policy development, political campaigning and the production of various publications, including the Conservative Party's Sports Manifesto for the 2010 General Election.

Nick currently works as a consultant at public affairs and strategic communications agency, Heathcroft Communications, specialising in the sports and leisure sectors. Nick enjoys playing cricket, rugby and pretty much anything else that lets him gad about and is currently basking in the glory of a Lancashire win in the County Championship.

Since graduating from university in 2009, Sam has worked in the social sector and the venture philanthropy field. At the Shaftesbury Partnership he led the research for and managed the launch of a venture to tackle social exclusion in London working closely with Lord Wei, and at Absolute Return for Kids he worked on the UK Education programme Teaching Leaders, helping to build the start-up venture into a major player in the UK Education sector.

He has always been a passionate sportsman, representing his county and university at cricket and football as well as engaging in the power of sport and physical activity for social change. He has been involved in various policy work and is the co-author and lead researcher of 'Football & the Big Society' (2011) with the think tank CentreForum.