Two leading figures in Welsh sport have launched a first-of-its-kind global platform aimed at helping captains and team leaders in sport develop their skills and leadership abilities.

Backed by a £20,000 micro loan from the Development Bank of Wales, the new venture, Captains Clubhouse, promises to deliver specialist training, tools, and a global peer network for sports captains at all levels.

Founded by Welsh sporting leaders Ria Burrage-Male and Vicki Sutton, both of whom bring extensive experience as sports executives and former captains, Captains Clubhouse is designed to fill what they saw as a major gap in the sports development landscape.

The platform is open to current and aspiring captains from grassroots clubs through to elite international squads.

“This is the only platform of its kind that we know of,” said Vicki Sutton. “We couldn’t find anything that was similarly global or pan-sport, going from grassroots sporting right up to the elite.”

The idea for the business emerged from a successful pilot programme involving 25 sports professionals. Feedback from participants confirmed what the co-founders suspected , there was clear demand for tailored captaincy support that extended beyond the pitch.

“We had a lot of people on the pilot, and they said they couldn’t believe no-one had thought of something like it before,” Sutton added.

“We realised it would be an exciting opportunity, but we also recognised people wouldn’t know they needed it until we started it.”

The Captains Clubhouse platform offers more than just basic leadership training. Members gain access to expert-led resources on decision-making, team dynamics, and emotional intelligence, as well as exclusive recorded interviews with veteran captains. The aim is to help sports leaders improve both on and off the field.

Burrage-Male is a former CEO of Hockey Wales, founder of KIBO Group, owner of Aberdare Feet podiatry, and a trustee of Cymru Women’s Sport. Sutton is a former CEO of Wales Netball and Cardiff Dragons Netball, and currently serves on the Welsh Rugby Union’s Women’s Rugby Committee.

The £20,000 loan from the Development Bank of Wales will be used to scale the platform through marketing and content creation, ensuring that the founders can reach more athletes and clubs both in the UK and internationally.

“Both Ria and I have spent money and time ourselves to get the business to a good starting position, but we knew we needed more support to take it further,” said Sutton.

“The Development Bank was the perfect solution to what we needed. We’re both quite determined and like getting stuff done quickly, it suited our needs brilliantly.”

Chris Stork, Investment Executive at the Development Bank of Wales, praised the founders’ vision and the niche they are targeting.

“Ria and Vicki are doing fantastic work in an area which is largely untapped,” he said.

“The services they provide bring together sporting captains to provide them with catered support and training, improving themselves and the teams they lead.”

The Development Bank of Wales offers micro loans ranging from £1,000 to £100,000, with fixed interest rates, flexible terms and fast-track application processes, designed to help Welsh entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses get the capital they need to grow.

Captains Clubhouse is now set to build on its early momentum as it connects team leaders across the Welsh sporting world, offering a rare mix of high-performance insight, mentorship, and peer-led support.

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