Careers in sport – and rugby in particular – were the focus of a recent Careers Pathway session, when alumna Catherine Harrison joined online in to chat to Year 12 about her role at England Rugby.
Keen sportswoman Catherine (Class of 2016) is now a year into her career with the organisation and has recently been promoted to Community Rugby Operations Executive with a focus on helping community clubs thrive.
She told Year 12 how a typical day at the famous Allianz Stadium in Twickenham saw her helping grassroots clubs plan growth strategies and access digital tools, while ensuring information across websites and other platforms was consistent. No two days are alike, and the role uses all the skills she’s acquired in her previous jobs in event management and HR.
It’s the perfect career for Loughborough University graduate Catherine, who holds a Masters in Sports Management but took a pay cut to achieve her dream of breaking into sport: “I’m a huge rugby fan and my career decisions have always been driven by what I enjoy and what motivates me,” she said, adding “I genuinely love what I do and my advice is that if you’re passionate about it, just go out and do it!”
Asked what qualities she would look for in a new recruit, Catherine told the students that kindness and reliability were as important as a strong work ethic and positive attitude. “Skills can be taught, but attitude can’t. Those who do well are those who show initiative and support the team,” she added.
Catherine provided an inspiring insight into the wide range of opportunities available within the sports industry, and shows that following your passion, building transferable skills and staying open to learning can lead to a truly rewarding career.
