In this Sporting Jobs special of The Deal Room Sport from Sporting Group International and Sporting Jobs, host Ed Nell is joined by regular guest Harry Lynch and new team members Max and Alex.

Together, they talk about breaking into the sports industry, the reality of graduate competition, and why voluntary experience is so valuable. They also reflect on Birmingham’s fast-evolving sporting landscape, from the Invictus Games and Deloitte’s Union of Sport Midlands event to Birmingham City’s new “Powerhouse” stadium, and lift the lid on current Sporting Jobs projects and where future roles in sport might emerge.

Key Takeaways

At the UCFB careers fair at Wembley, the question every student asked was, “How do I stand out?”. The team’s answer: get experience where others don’t. Voluntary matchday roles, media assistant positions at non-league clubs, writing blogs, starting podcasts or helping a local commercial director sell perimeter boards all build a portfolio that lifts you above a pile of identical degrees. Initiative, not just education, is what catches a recruiter’s eye.

Harry stresses that senior figures in sport are generally very willing to help if approached respectfully. Reaching out on LinkedIn after events, asking for a 10–15 minute call and being open-minded about roles (ticketing, retail, operations as well as commercial) can open doors you didn’t know existed. The message: don’t be blinkered about your “perfect” job, use conversations to discover new pathways in sport.

Deloitte’s Union of Sport Midlands event highlighted the Invictus Games coming to Birmingham in 2027. Hearing chair Vicky Gosling’s story brought home how pivotal sport can be in rehabilitation for injured service personnel. Max has a personal connection: his uncle helped organise the first Invictus Games in 2014 and even shared an office with Prince Harry, while both his parents served in the military. For Sporting Jobs, the Games represent both a powerful human story and a major opportunity to support new roles created in the city.

The new “Powerhouse” stadium proposal for Birmingham City is seen as transformative – not just for the club but for the Midlands. With talk of NFL games, concerts and thousands of jobs post-completion, the team believe it will force other local clubs and businesses to innovate, help cement Birmingham’s status as the UK’s second city, and complement existing developments from the Commonwealth Games legacy to the Bullring’s “glow-up”.

Harry and the team discuss their retained search for the Chair of the Board at Warwickshire County Cricket Club / Edgbaston – one of the most prestigious non-executive roles in sport, and how their Birmingham base helps them meet candidates and stakeholders face-to-face.