Connecting People and Information in the Sports Industry to Advance and Mobilize Business Talent
Beyond Global Recruitment Inc. (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Yusuke Isoda) officially launched full-scale services for the sports business platform HALF TIME on July 9, 2019 (Tue.).
Integrating a specialized sports business web magazine, job information, and recruitment support services, HALF TIME began offering its beta version at the end of May 2019. With this official launch and a complete renewal of the website, the platform will continue to deliver interviews with key industry figures, guest columns, and the latest domestic and international news, alongside recruitment listings and related services.
By combining its new web services with recruitment agent functions, HALF TIME is able to serve both individual and corporate users. Individual users can access the latest sports business news and job postings through the website, while also consulting with agents about career development and job opportunities in the sports industry. For corporate recruiters, HALF TIME provides dedicated company pages for employer branding and job postings, with direct recruiting functions planned for future release. Additionally, companies can utilize agent services to be introduced to highly qualified talent.
CEO Yusuke Isoda commented:
“As the sports industry continues to attract attention as a growth sector, greater workforce mobility is expected, including career shifts from other industries. Across society, there is also rising demand for diverse employment forms—not only full-time positions but also side jobs, dual employment, and contract work. Through HALF TIME, we aim to support new ways of engagement between individuals and organizations in the sports industry.”
According to the Japanese government’s Japan Revitalization Strategy 2016, sports were designated as a growth industry, with the domestic sports market expected to expand from 5.5 trillion yen in 2012 to 10.9 trillion yen in 2020 and 15.2 trillion yen by 2025—approximately tripling in size over 13 years [※1]. In line with this trend, HALF TIME seeks to enhance the expertise of business professionals in the sports industry, and to promote talent mobility through cross-industry exchanges and new opportunities for engagement.
※1 Source: Japan Sports Agency, “Market Trends for the Creation of New Sports Businesses” (March 2018)
Kyoei Okabe, Head of Sales Asia-Pacific at TEAM Marketing (exclusive marketing agency of UEFA), J.League Advisor, and Advisor to HALF TIME, shared his perspective:
“One of the major challenges in Japan’s sports industry is the ability to ‘generate revenue.’ To overcome this, talented individuals must gather within the industry, generate profits, reinvest in human resources and infrastructure, and create a virtuous cycle of growth. The industry needs professionals who cross over from other sectors and sports to drive innovation. HALF TIME is precisely the place where such talent can connect and create new value. It has the potential to become a platform that encompasses people, assets, capital, and information for the sports industry.”
With its vision—“Through sports, we create new value for organizations and individuals worldwide, and realize a society filled with purpose and fulfillment”—HALF TIME will continue to expand its range of services, supporting the growth and diversification of the sports industry.