Supporting Loughborough University London to deliver innovative virtual career symposiums to drive student and alumni employability in the sports industry through access to a unique sports business network.
The Opportunity
Loughborough University London (LiL) ranks amongst the best postgraduate universities in the world for sport related subjects and this is highlighted by their focus on high quality research and teaching into the business of sport. Driven by this focus, LiL are always looking for innovative ways to support their students, past and present to maximise the skills and knowledge gained during their time at the University and support their career development in sport.
Loughborough University London wished to overcome the challenge students have in transitioning from an academia into establishing valuable careers in the sports business industry. Working with Global Sports LiL aimed to deliver the ‘Institute of Sport Business Careers Symposium’, a careers focused event where students and alumni could develop insights and connections with industry professionals and employers could engage with future talent.
The Institute of Sport Business Careers Symposium.
“The webinar symposium provides the opportunity for students to understand what is required to take the next step in their career. They are currently learning about the industry, but the symposium allows them to listen to the journeys from those who have been involved in the industry. Through those conversations, our students have worked out what is required to take that next step and the direction they need to take and how they might go about fulfilling their career aspirations.”
Professor James Skinner, Director of the Institute for Sport Business
The Institute of Sport Business Careers Symposium was delivered by Loughborough University London in collaboration with Global Sports and gave sports industry masters students and alumni the unique opportunity to interact with industry professionals to expand their industry knowledge, network and ultimately enhance their career prospects in sport business.
The event was in part virtual to allow the widest range of industry participants, however students (where possible) attended physically on campus, to create a shared experience. The event was carefully designed into three tracks that mirrored the LiL’s master’s programmes to maximise the value to students and alumni networks. The first track focused on Innovation, aligned with the Sport Business and Innovation MSc. Secondly, there was a Marketing track and lastly, the Analytics track mirrored the Sports Analytics and Technologies MSc. Through our unique industry network, Global sports provided industry experts as speakers for each of the tracks including Chris Pollard, Head of Innovation at LTA, Josh Smith, Director of Television Services at FIFA and Shane Campbell, Head of Commercial Development at BT Sport.
The track was extremely beneficial to comprehend the job profiles which exist in the particular industry. Moving forwards, I have a clear idea regarding what potential employers are looking for in a candidate which is going to be extremely beneficial.
Current student, Anushrav
Although a partly virtual event delivered through technology, an effective networking environment was a key requirement. A dynamic, face-to-face environment was created via digital channels ensuring all participants could connect and engage with each other, develop their networks and students interacted with potential future employers. Multiple industry partners and alumni gave presentations, with organisations such as: Two Circles, NBA, BT Sport and Sportsonomy were all secured by Global Sports for this event.
The Results
The virtual environment, diverse industry experts in attendance and the networking capabilities for students and alumni, ensured a hugely successful event that exposed students to high profile industry leaders, providing insight, advice, motivation and inspiration from their respective industry sectors and support the future career development in sports business.
‘One of the reasons why we believe the ISB Careers Symposium is really important is because a lot of our students come to do our master’s programmes due to the locality in London to get those industry contacts and to give them the opportunity to network and to think about their future careers’
Dr Emily Hayday, Lecturer within the Institute for Sport Business
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