Jack Harris

• Year of graduation: 2019
• Current job title: Head of Athletic Development
• Current employer: Northamptonshire County Cricket Club
• Industry sector: Professional sport

I chose this course at the University of Northampton as it offered insight and experience into what goes on in the wider world in relation to professional sport. Also, the new sports labs and facilities allowed us to explore and use state-of-the-art equipment.

I really enjoyed the fact that the lectures always related to real-life situations in professional sport, rather than learning something from a book – there was always context. This practical component got me on my feet, doing things as I would need to do them in a real-world environment.

Also, the lecturers on my course were constantly there to support my learning and whenever I needed help or advice, it was never an issue to meet with them to get support. They’re great, supportive people – just legends!

The course offers the opportunity to complete work placements and the University has so many partnerships and links to local sports clubs, so hearing of placement opportunities and internships was much easier because of this. I completed one of my placements at Northampton Town Football Club (NTFC) as Academy Sports Scientist, and one at Northamptonshire County Cricket Club (NCCC), where I supported the First Team Strength and Conditioning Department.

These placements enabled me to gain knowledge and experience of what goes on in a professional sports environment, allowed me to practice the different skills and techniques I’d learnt on my course, as well as highlighting the areas where I needed to widen my learning and what to work on when I was back in lectures. In addition, they gave me the confidence to deal with professional athletes – from the senior team, down to the younger academy players.

Completing the placements really motivated me to get a job in the industry and I was able to develop some useful employability skills:

• the ability to deal with people of different ages and backgrounds
• an increased level of confidence
• interpersonal skills
• organisational skills
• the ability to reflect on what I’d done well and what I’d do differently if I was in the same situation again.

My tips on applying for, or getting the most benefit from a placement, would be to ask questions (and then ask more), send emails and offer to buy a coffee, do anything and everything they ask you to do, be a team player, and show willingness. Also, be pro-active, look busy, and help where you can, even if it’s not in the role you applied for. Finally, say yes to any placement opportunity that comes up, as you never know how it might benefit you further down the line.

In terms of my career, I started as an intern with the NTFC First Team, then completed another season with the NTFC academy on a voluntary basis. This led to part-time work with the academy, followed by a full-time role. After this, I did some voluntary work with NCCC, which progressed to a part-time role during the pandemic, before securing a full-time position in my current job role.

The skills and knowledge/understanding I gained on my degree that are most useful in my current role are interpersonal skills when dealing with a range of different populations, the ability to use state-of-the-art sports equipment (which I now use daily at work), being proactive and staying organised, and dealing with pressure in particular situations.

The advice I would give to anyone interested in this career path would be to say yes to any opportunity that arises. Studying at UON is the best choice I’ve made in my life so far!