Football education academy Velocity appoints Fortitude Communications

Fortitude will provide communications services to Velocity including strategy, media relations, social media management, and content creation. 

Velocity is a full-time education programme launched in conjunction with partners Ignite Sport UK and Oxford City Football Club who have been delivering education programmes for almost 20 years. The BTEC and HND programmes are designed for males and females aged between 16 and 18 and 19 and 23 who have an ambition to fulfil a career in sport. 

Profile Building

Justin Merritt, Sporting Director at Velocity, said: ​“This is a fantastic new provision of football and education programmes that are specifically tailored for students who want to follow a career in sport. Communication will be key for us in developing brand awareness of what we have got to offer, and Fortitude fitted the brief for us. Fortitude understands our business and their strategic input, understanding of communications, and quality output will be invaluable.”

Louise Lloyd, Operations Director at Velocity added: ​“It’s an exciting time at Oxford City Football Club with the launch of Velocity. It is a major step forward in our strategy to deliver first class education courses in Oxfordshire that combine sport with academia. Through proactive communications we hope to raise the profile of Velocity and grow our programmes.” 

Working Together

Based on the Oxford Science Park, Fortitude Communications was founded in 2017 by former Daily Mirror journalist and Oxford United Managing Director Greig Box Turnbull.

He said: ​“We pride ourselves on delivering effective communications advice and support that exceeds our clients’ needs and adds value to their business. Velocity is an unrivalled football education business that will provide excellent opportunities to youngsters who want to develop a career in sport. We are looking forward to working with Velocity and helping it to develop its reputation via a detailed communications strategy.”

Education Opportunities

Velocity students will have the unique chance to join Oxford City football club’s academy, in addition to receiving wider development via coaching modules, academic education, and work experience within the football club. Education is delivered via face to face teaching with additional support provided by education partners Virtual Learning UK.

Units will include health and well-being, applied coaching skills, sports development, and sports psychology. The programmes are designed to enable progression to higher education, a career in sport, and playing opportunities. 

Communications Services

Fortitude provides a range of communications services, including media relations, PR, content management, copy writing, social media management, photography, and video. The agency operates across multiple sectors including transport, sustainability, construction, manufacturing, tech, property, healthcare, third-sector, sport, education, events, and professional services. You can learn more about what we do here.