Rhubarb 2017

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7 ST EDWARD’S r hubarb
Do you have any advice for pupils and
young OSE who want to work within
the sports sector?
A sports career isn't just for those
professionals within the game. If you look at
sport as a whole there are so many roles to
keep the cogs turning whether in commercial
and marketing, science, health and fitness,
officiating and coaching, event management
and development. There are three key points:
1. Passion and commitment - the job isn't
necessarily always 9-5pm. Long hours
are sometimes part and parcel of the job
so you need to have the passion to make
it all worth it.
2. Degree choice - you don't necessarily
have to do a sports specific degree.
Identify the key skills they are looking for
in job descriptions and make sure that
whatever degree or experience you are
gaining illustrates your transferable skills.
3. Experience - experience is crucial.
Demonstrating willingness, passion and
understanding will go a long way and will
help you stand out from the crowd.
4. Networking - consider attending any
industry events as you will come into
contact with plenty of people. Ask them
about their career journey, listen to any
advice and go from there.
F E A T U R E S to access even half the opportunities that
the YST offers. Sport has professionalised its
approach so much since then. It is so much
more than just playing and the YST really
focuses on the inclusive development of
coaches, officials, leaders and media.
Since the introduction of the School
Games across the country this has grown
through the power of competitive sport.
The skills and confidence that sport offers to
every individual are vast, and I truly believe
there is a place for everyone to get involved.
Can you put into words what it was
like to work as part of the London
2012 Games?
Through the connections I'd made in the
industry I was asked to manage the workforce
programme for two test events in August
2011 and May 2012. Leading on from this I
was able to secure for 24 young volunteers
the opportunity to join me court-side at the
beach volleyball. I trained up the group over
the course of six months as the ball boys and
girls, and sand-rakers. Nothing would quite
prepare them, or me, for their first match as
we stood next to these giants in the tunnel
and led them out onto the show court. The
energy and excitement were electric.
What were the highlights of working
at the BeachVolleyball events on
Horse Guards Parade?
There were so many highlights - I had so
many proud moments being able to sit
court-side while my team were performing
their roles especially when I reflected back
on the journey they'd come on to get there.
Over the fortnight the team experienced so
many new opportunities. The chance for me
to see them meeting challenges and growing
in confidence was amazing. We saw our
favourite nations play, we had a visit from
David Cameron and got to experience the
backstage magic with the armed forces, an
artist commissioned to capture the event, the
press conferences and so much more.
Which areas of your school life
prepared you for what you do today?
Collectively teachers, tutors and
housemistresses always showed compassion
and encouraged me to think about my whole
life rather than just the academic. Having
such a wide offer of extracurricular activities
gave me the chance to try new things. One
significant moment was planning my first
adventure to Africa. At the end of Lower
Sixth a group of us travelled to Uganda. I fell
in love with the whole experience. Working
in a rewarding job that I love is just part of
my life. Trying to juggle the different plates
and make sure none of them drop has been
a skill I've developed from School to being a
programme manager now.
Do you still play any sports outside of
your work life?What is the value of
team games and/or physical activity?
Working in the industry definitely means I've
had the opportunity to try out many sports,
most of which I'd try my hand at again!
There are so many more opportunities out
there which are great fun to get involved
in with friends, either as a one off or more
frequently. Outside of work, I continue to
enjoy both netball and tennis, but increasingly
enjoy running and cycling too. Sport offers
so many benefits not only for physical
fitness but for mental wellbeing and personal
development - with the busy lives we lead it's
even more important to get out and change
your focus.
Helen (left) and her team at The London Youth Games