| Year | Milestone |
| 1989 | NCF Publications Ltd is incorporated under the Companies Act 1985 as a private limited company, wholly owned by the National Coaching Foundation (NCF). Its purpose is to promote and distribute educational materials for coaches. Sebastian Coe is appointed as Chairman. |
| In May, NCF Publications Ltd changes its name to Coachwise Ltd. The initial business plan for Coachwise envisages sales of NCF materials via high street retailers, wholesalers, exhibitions and mail order. Later in 1989, it becomes evident that NCF materials are not appropriate for the retail and wholesale markets and the only viable option is mail order. As a result, the team develop a customer database and link with other sports-book publishers to distribute their products via mail order catalogues. |
| 1990 | Trevor Brooking takes over as Chairman of both NCF and Coachwise. |
| 1992 | Coachwise gains considerable knowledge in a number of support solutions for the NCF. These solutions are subsequently offered to governing bodies across the UK. |
| 1993 | The Charities Act 1993 gives the Charity Commissioners greater powers to monitor and investigate the affairs of charities. One of the issues this act addresses is the relationship a charity has with its trading subsidiaries. Consequently, the NCF and Coachwise have to ensure an appropriate arms-length relationship is maintained between the companies. The NCF moves to Cardigan Road, Headingley and Coachwise physically separates from the NCF by acquiring its own premises at Bankfield Mills, Armley. Coachwise has 7 employees. |
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| 1994 | In July, staff who had been seconded from NCF since the establishment of Coachwise are transferred to Coachwise and become its first employees. In December, NCF purchases 129,998 shares in Coachwise, increasing its financial investment from £2 to £130,000. |
| 1995 | Trevor Brooking resigns as Chairman and Geoff Cooke is appointed as acting Chairman of Coachwise. |
| 1996 | Coachwise has 13 employees. In July, Derek Taylor is appointed as Chairman of Coachwise. In February, Coachwise moves to larger (12,000 sq ft) and more suitable premises at Chelsea Close, Armley. |
| 1997 | NCF’s Production (Design) division is transferred to Coachwise. New procedures are put in place resulting in better performance and external work is undertaken. Coachwise has 22 employees. Coachwise wins tender to administer Sport England’s Running Sport programme. |
| 1998 | Coachwise secures contract with England and Wales Cricket Board to provide database management, mail order, warehouse and distribution services. |
| 1999 | Coachwise has 29 employees. NCF’s publishing division is transferred to Coachwise. |
| 2000 | Coachwise has 31 employees. Coachwise launches the online shop for sports education and coaching, 1st4sport.com to complement its mail order catalogues. Coachwise establishes 1st4sport Qualifications, an accredited awarding body for sport, recreation and allied occupations qualifications. |
| 2001 | Coachwise has 41 employees. Total covenant to date from Coachwise to NCF exceeds £1 million. Coachwise acquires additional building to increase overall premises at Chelsea Close to 18,000 sq ft. In April, the first qualifications (Award in Coaching Studies) is accredited with 800 candidates qualified. The NCF becomes known as sports coach UK. Coachwise commences its first call centre service to the British Motorcyclists Federation. Coachwise provides membership services to The Football Association. |
| 2002 | 1st4sport Qualifications now offers nine qualifications. Coachwise wins tender to provide mail order and education programme solutions to England Netball. Coachwise secures British Association of Advisers and Lecturers in Physical Education’s (baalpe) publishing and sales contract. |
| 2003 | 1st4sport Qualifications now offers 11 qualifications. |
| 2004 | Total covenant to date from Coachwise exceeds £2 million. 1st4sport Qualifications now offers 14 qualifications. Coachwise provides education programme and mail order solutions to The Rugby Football Union. In September, eBusiness goes live – this is the integrated system combining eCommerce, CRM, Learning Management, Mail Order and Finance applications. In partnership with baalpe, Coachwise produces Safe Practice in Physical Education and School Sport – the best-selling title in physical education. |
| 2005 | Coachwise has 76 staff. Coachwise takes on an additional role for Sport England for the Running Sport contract. Following the closure of their nine regional offices to provide administrative support, Coachwise sets up a central office to provide national support. The Running Sport Support Team is based at Sport England’s London office. 1st4sport Qualifications offers 22 qualifications. |
| 2006 | Coachwise has 79 staff sports coach UK and Coachwise agree not to renew existing covenant agreement and enter into a gift aid scheme instead. |
| 2007 | Coachwise has 83 staff. |
| 2008 | The sports coach UK Business Support Centre in Loughborough closes down and they transfer all their workshop administration functions to Coachwise. |
| 2009 | Coachwise re-develops its online shop to include user-friendly features and comply with new guidance on protecting credit card information. England Netball, FA Learning and Community Rugby benefit from our investment in card protection technology as we develop and launch their improved, cost-effective online shops. Coachwise wins a highly prestigious award from the Interactive Media Council for the development of the runningsports website for Sport England. |
| 2010 | Coachwise provides strategic marketing and website development services to sports coach UK. Coachwise Learning created – providing training solutions for organisations who want to develop their Coach Educator Workforce Coachwise celebrates its 21st birthday with special events and promotions throughout the year including the introduction of a fresh new look 1st4sport Qualifications migrates all NQF-accredited qualifications to the QCF 1st4sport Qualifications gains British Gymnastics as a new awarding partner Coachwise provides event administration for the Rugby Football League |
| 2011 | Coachwise develops a website for sports coach UK that wins two highly prestigious best in class awards from the Interactive Media Council 1st4sport Qualifications is accredited by SQA to offer qualifications on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) Coachwise 1st4sport rebrands to 1st4sport.com to reflect its evolution into a digital brand. Cumulative gift aid paid by Coachwise to its parent company - the National Coaching Foundation (sports coach UK) exceeds £5million. |
