A sports coaching business founded by Staffordshire University alumni Daniel Hatton now has 10 franchises around the world including in Dubai, Singapore and Northern Ireland.

The 30-year-old launched Little Athletes eight years ago after graduating in Physical Education and Youth Sports Coaching. He believes it’s the first business started in Stoke-on-Trent to have been franchised globally.

“When I was younger, I failed at school. I wasn’t academic.” said Daniel, from Maybank. “I was really good at sports but wasn’t given the opportunities to work with it.

“So I decided the only way to work in sport was to start my own business. It’s gone from strength to strength.

“Little Athletes was initially set up to give me an opportunity to work in sport and to reach as many children as possible. Now I’m giving other people an opportunity to start their own business with a franchise.”

Little Athletes is a specialised physical activity provider for early years, working with nurseries, schools, children’s centres and sports centres.

Programmes include toddler football, a soccer school, multi-sports holiday camps, dance mania, fit for a quid and more.

The aim is to become the UK’s leading early years physical education provider.

Daniel added: “There’s still a long way to go. I want to get Little Athletes into more locations, but for a business started in Stoke-on-Trent it’s already travelled a long way.

“As a company, we believe all children should have access to extra-curricular physical activity outside of school and nursery hours. We aim to make our sessions accessible to all children across the UK through our different programmes and initiatives. Exposure to physical activity at a young age is vital to a child’s physical, social and emotional development and wellbeing.”

Daniel has entered the Alumni Business Person of the Year category of the Staffordshire University Business Awards and has entered Little Athletes into the Growth and Business in the Community categories of the awards.