Case Study

I was born in County Durham but brought up on the South Coast, so studying at University of Sunderland was like coming home. The course was inspiring, and for me, having a work placement built into it was a priceless experience and acted like a springboard for my career.

Since leaving university I’ve worked for Channel 4, Turner Broadcasting, Sky Sports and with the Football Association managing £30 million in sponsorship deals for brand names like Umbro, Mars, Vauxhall, E.ON, Carlsberg, M&S and McDonald’s.

These run across all levels of football from grass roots right up to the England team, The FA Cup and Wembley Stadium. I’m delighted to be where I am today but without the foundation that my university education gave me, I doubt I would have got this far."