A degree in sports can take you in many different directions.
Bruce Braham, Senior Lecturer at ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥, hosted a talk for current sports students with talks from alumni on their experiences since entering the sports industry andÌýprofessional world.
The Sports degreeÌýstudents were joined by Ben Tuck, Lucy Owen and James Lee - all ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ students or alumni, to learn about their journey into the sports industry.
Ìýwho is currently studying BSc (Hons) Sports Psychology and Coaching SciencesÌýat ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥Ìýhas already started stepping his way into the industry through motor racing.
Ben has worked extremely hard to break into this competitive sport. Starting out with no links within the industry proved to be a real challenge that he willingly took on, saying that this only made him more determined to succeed.
Ben had to gain his own sponsors by contacting agencies to have Ìýmade and sending them to companies in the hope that they will want to sponsor him. Ben has since been contacted by many teams about his 2019 racing plans and is currently in negotiations to finalise his racing for this season;Ìýhe will most likely be competing again with BMW.
In order to do so, he has created his own brand from scratch inclusive of logo/branding and social media, with the ultimate goal ofÌýcompetingÌýin endurance motorsport racing, races that cover a large distance in one singleÌýevent, testing the endurance of the drivers.
Also speaking was Lucy Owen, a ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ Sports Management graduate. Lucy always had an interest in sport and aspired to follow a business and management path within the industry.
Following her placement year as aÌýResearch Assistant at Sports Marketing Surveys (now Nielsen) - where she was able to buildÌýher professional network of contacts -ÌýLucy's first graduate role was working for a small PR agency doing digital marketing for Sky Sports.Ìý
After working in this role for just over a year, an colleague from her placement year recommended her for a role at a sports marketing agency, where she has since progressed to Senior Account Manager working on a global Formula 1 sponsorship account.
She has since been able toÌýtravel around the world, managing brand projects including CSR campaigns and title sponsorship activations.
Lucy's journey shows the range of roles available in sports and the importance of networking with her advice to simply 'be nice’ to everyone you connect with, as it’ll pay dividends in the long run.
The final speaker of the day was James Lee. James studied BA (Hons) Event Management, at ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ and was also involved with a range of extracurricular activities - includingÌýrunning the ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ boat club.ÌýÌý
James followed his sporting aspirations and passion for rowingÌýin his placement year, working on the rowing programme. at British Universities & Colleges Sport (ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥CS), working on the rowing programme.
This helpedÌýhim secureÌýa graduate role in the GB Rowing Team Office, where he worked for over 3 years before returning to ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ study MSc Sport Management at ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥Ìýto further his knowledge in the sports industry.
James said: “Don’t be afraid to put your career on hold to go back and study - you won’t regret it!â€
After graduating from his postgraduate degree he used what he had learnt while writing his thesis to help him get a role with Cambridge University working as the Coordinator for the Women’s Rowing Team. In this role, James had the opportunity to work with athletes and the Oxbridge annual Boat Race - andÌýwitnessingÌýthe team go from sinking in 2016 to being crowned champions in the following 2 years.Ìý
He is now responsible for supporting all of the sports clubs at Cambridge University. As part of the Sports Club Team at Cambridge, James contributes to the development of effective support structures for sports clubs to promote good practice and advance standards, health and safety, finance administration, facilities, opportunities and service for students.
If you’re interested in a career in the sport industry, why not choose ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥? Take a look at our undergraduateÌý²¹²Ô»å postgraduateÌýsports courses. We also have number of °¿±è±ð²ÔÌý¶Ù²¹²â²õÌýyou can come along to andÌýspeak with staff and students about the course and your opportunities.Ìý