‘I’ve always sought ways to grow and develop’

30 July 2025

Award winner Becca Hembrough reflects on a decade of driving elite success and launching her next chapter with Steel Coaching.

Becca Hembrough was the proud recipient of the Women’s Leadership award, sponsored by the GCMA, at the Women in Golf Awards ceremony last year.

Now the founder of her own business, Steel Coaching, over the past decade Hembrough led England to become the most successful women’s golf side in Europe and, in her role as England Golf Performance Manager for the female programme, she championed a new strategy for England Golf performance.

Hembrough saw all three female teams win a medal at the European Team Championships, with four players competing in the victorious Curtis Cup side of 2024 and her leadership in the Project Ukraine programme was also recognised.

“It was one of those moments where I had to stop and take it in. I don’t often pause to look back, but that nomination felt like recognition for years of graft – building programmes, supporting players, and leading a team that genuinely cared about moving the women’s game forward,” Hembrough said.

“Golf has shaped my life since I was 11, so to be recognised for the impact I’ve had on the sport genuinely means a lot.

“My time at England Golf was a masterclass in leadership, patience and people. I stepped into the role during a restructure, and we evolved the female programme into something stronger and more impactful,” she added.

“Across the 12 years I learned how to get the best out of a team, and how to navigate the inevitable challenges that come with high performance sport. Resilience, strategic thinking, adaptability and collaboration were all sharpened in that time. And I left with an even deeper belief in the power of investing in people and creating an environment where they can thrive.”

Hembrough has worked on the facilitation of The R&A’s Women in Golf Leadership Development Programme with Alison Townson for the current cohort, who created the programme and has led on it since 2019. This initiative began to support the progression of women with potential to be future leaders in the industry.

“It was an amazing opportunity that came about through my work at England Golf, previous support roles in performance sport and my passion for supporting women in the industry.

“Since being a participant myself on the first cohort, I’d volunteered as a coach on the foundation programme, and supported cohort five with Project Ukraine in a project manager role. I completed a coaching diploma alongside my role at EG, and achieved accreditation. I’ve always sought ways to grow and develop, stay challenged.

“It’s honestly one of the most fulfilling things I’ve done. Watching participants grow into stronger, more authentic leaders is such a privilege. And bigger picture, the programmes are definitely impacting the industry, and it’s great to see the Women in Golf Charter in action.”

In October 2024, Hembrough left her role with England Golf and founded Steel Coaching in Sheffield, which offers coaching for high-potential individuals and leadership development for organisations.

“I understand the pressures of leadership, and I know how powerful it can be to have someone in your corner. That blend of high-performance experience and human connection is what Steel Coaching is built on,” Hembrough said.

“I wanted to take everything I’d learned about performance, leadership, and people, and use it in a more personal, impactful way. Steel Coaching felt like a natural next step, a new challenge.

“It’s a way to work with individuals and organisations to unlock potential, to help people feel more confident and capable. I also wanted the freedom to shape my work around my values and family life.”

• If you are interested in hearing more about leadership development or coaching with Steel Coaching, connect with Becca on LinkedIn @beccahembrough. Or email her on [email protected]

Key takeaways

Resilience, strategic thinking, adaptability and collaboration are all crucial elements in working best as a team
It is important to find ways to grow, develop and to challenge yourself
Shaping work around your values can be extremely fulfilling

By GCMA Content Team

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