About me

• Venue Operations Manager - Alexander Stadium, Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
• Studied: BA (Hons) Sports Management, 2015
• Contact me on LinkedIn

About my career

I was lucky enough to land my first job at British Athletics in June 2015 as a Major Events Coordinator in their TV Event Team. I worked on events such as the Anniversary Games, the British Championships and numerous Diamond League competitions. I also worked on the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships alongside this role.

I started my job search for my first role during my final year, I looked tirelessly for different job opportunities that I could apply for and that I could relate my degree too. I would say persistence is key and start looking early!

I then went onto work at Swim England as National Events Manager and then England Netball as Netball Super league General Manager and Senior Events Manager, before moving onto my current role.

I am currently a Lead Venue Planner in the Operations team on the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. My main responsibilities are managing, looking after and planning the operations of competition venues that will be used at the Games, specifically focussing on Stadia, including Alexander Stadium, Coventry Stadium and the new Sandwell Aquatics Centre.

Learning about business in sport in a wider spectrum at Manchester Met gave me the base knowledge that I needed to go into a job in sport and a national governing body, but also more specific skills of teamwork and presentation skills are so so important and things you have to use in everyday life. Personally, I was not very confident with my presentation and public speaking skills, but my course tutors helped me grow these skills and the confidence that I had doing them.

I did a placement year during my course and worked as an Awards and Events Assistant as The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, so very health and safety based. I found the basic workplace skills that I acquired on my placement year really helped me when leaving university and gave me the understanding of what I may be going into when leaving university. I think it is really important for students to consider a placement year, even if it is not specific to the job they want to do. I believe that without my placement year, I would not have landed the job I did when I came out of university.

I also took up many Manchester Met volunteering opportunities related to the sport programme. You can never have too much volunteer experience on your CV!

My top tip for students

When looking for jobs, start early! Always be open-minded and see what jobs may give you opportunities in the long term as well as right now. Talk to people who are in roles you wish to do about their experiences, where they started and what they recommend.

Upon leaving university I did not know exactly what I wanted to do - I knew I wanted to work in sport, but nothing else. I kept an open mind and grabbed the opportunity to do volunteer work and make connections. This is what led me to do the job(s) that I do.

I’m inspired by

My University tutor Anne Thompson - she was always a big inspiration to me and someone who has so much knowledge and experience to share.

When I moved into my first job in sport, I found inspiration from the events that I was managing, witnessing elite athletes training and competing and seeing the role that I was/am playing in that. My ambition was always to be part of a home Games, and in 2018 (three years after graduating) I was offered a role at the Commonwealth Games. Anne was one of the people I consulted about the role and whether I should take it.

Why I love Manchester Met

The knowledgeable, experienced tutors I was taught by, the friends I made - some of whom I am still in contact with now - and the foundation and support I was given to build my career.

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