British Olympians and Paralympians are being urged to consider their future away from sport by attending a special ‘career fair’.

Athlete Futures will take place at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena tomorrow (1 November), and will host more than 300 elite athletes trying to find the right vocational fit after they retire from their respective disciplines.

Around 40 organisations – including Aldi, Halford, the Muller Group and Goldman Sachs – will be represented at the event, which will also include keynote speeches, Q&A sessions and a series of workshops detailing the opportunities and challenges for athletes taking their next career steps.

UK Sport has organised Athlete Futures alongside the English Institute of Sport (EIS), the British Olympic Association (BOA) and the British Paralympic Association (BPA).

Liz Nicholl, chief executive of UK Sport, said athletes had developed “unique technical and personal qualities and skills that make them the best in the world”, which could be translated into other careers.

EIS national director Nigel Walker added: “The ability for athletes to make a positive difference does not stop when they decide to move on from their sport and they have much to offer the workplace and society in general due to their commitment to excellence, teamwork, focus and drive.”