The central London-based organising body of England's top men's football competition, owned by its 20 member clubs and responsible for the rules, broadcasting and commercial side of the league.
The Premier League is the organising body of the top level of men's club football in England. The organisation is a private company limited by shares, and it is responsible for the competition, its Rule Book and the centralised broadcast and other commercial rights. Its shareholders are the 20 member clubs at any one time, plus The FA, which holds a special share. The league describes itself as a 'league of nations on the pitch': it says about 70 nationalities play in an average season and 126 have appeared so far, compared with only 11 non-British or Irish players in 1992, the year the league began.
The Premier League states its main objective as 'to stage the most competitive and compelling league with world-class players'. It says competitive balance is kept by sharing revenue fairly between clubs, and that it puts 'football first' by investing in the wider football pyramid, women's and girls' football, grassroots football and communities. It also says it is committed to homegrown talent, reporting that over 95 per cent of young players in training are British, supported by the Elite Player Performance Plan, which sets standards for club academies. Clubs agreed an Owners' Charter in June 2022. Serious breaches of the Rule Book go to an independent three-person tribunal, and the league says expulsion has never happened.
The league's head office is in central London, and the organisation has more than 300 staff. Its competition is played in club stadiums across England, so much of the work happens in partnership with clubs, the English Football League, The FA and local community groups. The Premier League Charitable Fund, launched in 2010 and also based in central London, works with Club Community Organisations, the charities attached to clubs. It says children and young people are at the heart of its work and has a staff of 20, led by Chief Executive Ruth Shaw OBE.
On culture, the league says it is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and that it is working towards the EY National Equality Standard, with its activities and policies independently assessed. It reports that 20 per cent of its UK workforce is Black, Asian or from a minority ethnic background. It also says consultation with clubs and other football bodies is 'at the heart' of how it works, and describes its approach as proactive and constructive.
The people who work here are not footballers or coaches on a pitch, but they are close to the game. The league's own page lists work in football, coach development, community, youth development, safeguarding, broadcast, commercial, communications, digital, finance, legal, marketing and policy. That is a good reminder that sport employs lawyers, accountants, producers, data and digital specialists, safeguarding professionals and community workers as well as athletes. If you enjoy a subject like maths, English, media, business or law, there is probably a team here that uses it. The Premier League's website is the place to see current roles.
Website: www.premierleague.com
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