Close to 50 of the country's brightest young swimming talents are experiencing an overseas training camp while continuing a ground-breaking sporting apprenticeship.

Athletes on the pioneering Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE) programme are currently in Slovenia developing skills in the water while continuing their education.

Nine swimmers from the West Midland Region are amongst those on the camp:

Charlotte Graham, Richard Tullett, Katie Raybould (City of Birmingham), Rikki Morris, Mark Strachan, Matthew Wolstenholme (City of Coventry), Natasha Turner (Shrewsbury), Kate Weaver (Haden Hill) and Emma White (Stratford Sharks).

The Amateur Swimming Association - one of the first sports governing bodies to sign up for the scheme - has welcomed 170 aquatic athletes, across all disciplines, onto the Government-funded AASE programme over the past year.

The group of 49 swimmers, aged 16 and 17, are undergoing a week-long camp in Slovenia where they train twice a day while working towards eight units that make up the NVQ Level 3 qualification.

Talent and Development Manager Nick Sellwood is heading up the camp which offers a very unique environment for many of the swimmers.

"This is the first time the AASE group has attended an overseas camp but they' ve adapted to it very well even though it is quite an intensive experience," said Sellwood.

"Athletes are training twice a day, which is very similar to what
they'd expect to do on a senior national camp, but they also have 
to cover some of the eight units that combine to make up the AASE."

And Sellwood is delighted with the progress made by the group despite such a demanding schedule. 

"The swimmers are covering far more ground than the two units we were aiming for but this will be good for them in the long term as it will take the pressure off their second year workload.

"Sitting alongside training, athletes receive regular lectures and presentations to help towards their units. This week they' ve developed their knowledge about strength and conditioning, mental skills and nutrition.

"They're doing well and the staff have been very pleased with 
 the response of the students. They've shown great skills, attitude 
and aptitude."

As part of the programme, athletes will learn about such key subjects as time management, career planning, nutrition and training, and communications. This valuable experience will go towards preparing them for international competition.

The AASE programme will work towards enhancing that talent by offering a valuable insight, at an early age, as to what is required to succeed on the international stage.

Developed by SkillsActive, in association with industry experts and sports governing bodies, AASE is funded in England by the Learning and Skills Council and aims to meet the needs of young people to achieve excellence in their sport as their main career goal while continuing with their education.