Click on each link to read about each Nottingham Forest ambassador. Discover how they got to where they are today, the skills they use and the most exciting things about their jobs. Schools in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire can book our Ambassadors to hear this first hand.
Finance and Administration Manager, Nottingham Forest Community Trust
How I got here
I joined Nottingham Forest Community Trust as a Receptionist in 2018 after having different administration jobs in other businesses. I left school aged 16 following my GCSEs. As my results were not the best I decided to return to part-time education to study A Levels a few years later. I am now the Senior Finance and Administration Co-Ordinator for the Trust. When I was a teenager, I worked in a hairdressers and a food factory.
The skills I use
In my role I have to be extremely organised so that our bills are sent and paid on time. As I work in finance, confidentiality is also of the utmost importance, which means I cannot talk to anyone about any of the details of the accounts that I work on, because they are private. My job requires me to be friendly, professional and sensitive to help maintain positive relationships with people that owe us money and people that give us money.
The exciting stuff
I love my job because football is such an exciting environment to work within. My role is varied and very busy so I’m never bored. I thoroughly enjoy working within a great team which offers many programmes to the local community which both benefits and inspires them. I also have an insight into what happens behind the scenes and it is great to see how programmes develop from ideas to delivery.
Career tips for young people
Choose a course or job which you enjoy. Be proactive with regards to training. Keep good timekeeping and do your best. Build good working relationships and be a team player. Never give up and always believe in yourself.
Ask me about
Anything about my career. Finance and administration. Working within a community trust.
Mentoring Manager, Nottingham Forest Community Trust
How I got here.
After finishing school and taking GCSE’s I did a two-year apprenticeship at Derby County Community Trust. As an apprentice I gained football and personal development qualifications. This included my FA Level 2 and Youth Module 2 coaching badges as well as my NVQ Level 2 in Activity Leadership and NVQ Level 3 in Sports Development. I was then a full-time member of staff there for four years.
I joined Nottingham Forest Community Trust in August 2019 and I have worked on many programmes for them. From the start of 2022 I have led on the Think Big programme, delivering education assemblies and workshops to secondary school students in Nottinghamshire.
The skills I use
I use many skills throughout my day. It’s important that I use team working skills with people that are in my organisation and people from other businesses and schools that work with me. These team working skills help me to deliver and shape the Think Big programme. I use good communication skills at all times and this includes email, in person and presentation skills. My presentation skills are good, which is important for my job I am ready to problem solve at any time.
The exciting stuff
I enjoy being responsible for developing and delivering the Think Big programme. I get to meet many different people every day from different backgrounds and enjoy having the opportunity to inspire the next generation of students to think about a career in the tech industry.
Career tips for young people
Going to university isn’t for everyone. I took the option of the apprenticeship route, and I am now in a position I feel privileged to be in.
Find a job and industry that best suits your skills and that way you’ll enjoy your job. You’ll feel as though you’ll never work a day in your life when finding the right opportunity. Make sure you seek advice from people around you and never be shy to ask questions.
Ask me about
Anything about my career. Apprenticeship & employment routes, football/PE coaching, delivering training and tech.
CEO, Nottingham Forest Community Trust
How I got here
Growing up all I ever wanted to be was a professional football player. I left school at 16 and signed a contract with Notts County Football Club to be a professional footballer. Unfortunately a serious injury ended my professional ambitions at 19. I continued my journey in sport and gained a degree in sports science and some professional qualifications. I worked in several jobs before returning to my boyhood club – Nottingham Forest.
The skills I use
My job requires me to be a good leader and communicator. I have to organise people and activities daily, just like a football team Captain does. I have to write reports and present opportunities to others, which requires good IT skills and focus. Being a team player is vital in my role, and I am often needed to bring people together to get things done. Although my role is predominantly strategic (which means I plan things), I am very practical, and I like to get involved with things and people.
The exciting stuff
Growing up I loved Nottingham Forest, so to be in and around the club that I support makes me feel proud and lucky. My job enables me to work with many different people from many different communities, which can be humbling and inspiring.
Career tips for young people
Work hard and apply yourself in everything you do. Continue to learn and be open to whatever presents itself to you. Recognise what you are good at and continue to develop your strengths. Work at your weaknesses. Surround yourself with people who inspire you and bring out your uniqueness. We all have something to offer.
Ask me about
My career. Football, adversity and challenge, leadership, management, building confidence, having a plan, being you.
Finance and Administration Coordinator, Nottingham Forest Community Trust
How I got here.
I was permanently excluded from secondary school in Year 7. I was rebelling as my parents got divorced and I was struggling with this and with school. I got back into mainstream school in Year 9 and I was able to settle down and achieve my GSCE’s. I joined a BTEC level 3 Diploma in Extended Sport at Nottingham Forest Community Trust and now after a few different job roles within the organisation I have worked myself up to the Finance and Administration Coordinator for the Trust.
The skills I use
My job relies on me being organised, precise, having attention to detail and having the ability to multitask (to deal with lots of tasks at the same time). I have strong digital skills which I showcase throughout the working week using different software packages and many spreadsheets. Working within finance you have to be professional, adaptable and most importantly you have to be trustworthy.
The exciting stuff
You might think that finance and dealing with numbers is boring. I don’t think so! I love my job as this allows me to maximise my skills. Working in finance is not just adding numbers up, it is communicating with different people, building relationships with partners and using tech software to help manage and monitor the Trusts finances. I think working for the charity arm of the football club I have supported since I was a little boy is the best thing! Being part of a team with our ethos of togetherness, community and helping others to Think Big and change their lives makes my job amazing.
Career tips for young people
My main career tips are to be yourself, enjoy the process and take every set back as experience gained (as something to learn from). Do not be ashamed about your past, be proud at how far you have come.
Ask me about
Anything about my career. Being permanently excluded, experiences with parents who got divorced, maximising your skills, tech in finance and working for Nottingham Forest Community Trust.
Head of Education, Training & Employment, Nottingham Forest Community Trust
How I got here
I joined Nottingham Forest Community Trust in 2021 after working in logistics and then education. I started working in logistics in the brewing industry when I was 16. I quickly progressed into management roles. At 35 I went to college and university as I wanted to change my career and become a teacher. I became a teacher and I was teaching up to 2020. I now use my experiences in my role as Head of Education, Training & Employment.
The skills I use
To support young people in Nottinghamshire into education, training and employment, I need to be able to communicate with a wide range of people, including students, chief executives, coaches and tutors, using a professional and friendly approach. I use my skills to reflect on how well we deliver our programmes and work with other organisations to increase what we offer. Leadership and teamworking skills bring it all together.
The exciting stuff
I am lucky to have my dream job! I am passionate about education, and I have been a Forest fan for over 40 years. I get to visit schools and colleges to talk about the positive things we do for our communities. Nothing gives me greater pleasure than seeing our students make progress or gain employment.
Career tips for young people
Make yourself stand out from the crowd by taking the opportunities in front of you. Treat others with respect and build a network of people who you can turn to for advice and support. Be you. Reflect on what goes well, and what doesn’t, so you can equip yourself for next time. Never assume that it is too late to change career paths.
Ask me about
Anything about my career. Education, training and employment pathways. How to get into education or sports & leisure industry. What employers look for when recruiting and how to make yourself stand out from other applicants.
Community Engagement Coordinator, Nottingham Forest Community Trust
How I got here
I joined Nottingham Forest Community Trust as a student in 2015 after leaving school to study a BTEC in Sport and Exercise. During this time I also went out and volunteered on sessions in the community for the community trust. When I was 17 and 18 I worked at JD Sports and this taught me different ways of communicating with people and showing positive customer service, which has supported me to get where I am today. I wanted to achieve a career in sports so after college I went on to graduate with a BSC first-class honours degree in Community Football Coaching, Development and Administration. My hard work and determination has led to me becoming the Community Engagement Co-Ordinator at Nottingham Forest Community Trust.
The skills I use
My job relies on me having to keep close relationships with different organisations and use different communication skills in person, over the phone and digitally to communicate in an effective way. I have good people skills which allows me to work alone and in a group.
The exciting stuff
The best thing about my job is being able to give everyone an opportunity to take part in sport for FREE. This is good because not only does my job have an administration side to it but there is also the practical side where I will go out into the community and deliver multisport sessions to the young people of Nottingham.
Career tips for young people
Keep your options open and do something that interests you. I would also say think outside the box and ‘’Think Big’’ because you never know what jobs or futures there can be for you. I would also say you can only make one first impression so make sure it is a good one! So always smile and always be polite.
Ask me about
Anything about my career, opening doors to opportunities, sport and careers in sport.
IT Analyst, Nottingham Forest Community Trust
How I got here.
I always knew going forward, we as people become more dependent on technology and ever since, I have had a yearning to learn as much as I can. It has been extremely difficult because I have had many doors shut in my face. As I decided not to take the path of university, it was enormously important for me to gather as much experience as possible. I would apply to many retail stores and restaurants and get rejected. I then applied for an apprenticeship and got lucky enough to be accepted after the initial applicant rejected the role.
The skills I use
One of the attributes I must possess is critical thinking and attention to detail. I work on matchdays at the City Ground and it is a very fast-paced environment and it requires you to make quick decisions on the spot, so I have to perform well under pressure. I must have the ability to speak clearly for the end user to understand, and I must also act and sound professional at all times. I need to be organised and have a vison to think ahead of others so that I can prevent any issues from occurring before it happens.
The exciting stuff
I love my job because I get to see how technology is used for different purposes. I have to engage myself in all departments at the club. This includes the media department and the analysts who use Macs to gain data on the recordings of the players activity from matches which is used to improve player and team performance. Another exciting thing is that when everything is working, we get the benefit of watching some football.
Career tips for young people
Never stop learning. Do not be afraid to ask questions. Knowledge is the best way to build yourself and make yourself marketable. Ask senior members of staff what they would do differently and learn from them.
Ask me about
Anything about my career. What to do after you finish school, what to watch out for when starting in a new organisation, how tech is used in different departments in a football club.
Facility manager, Forest Sports Zone, Nottingham Forest Community Trust
How I got here
I joined the Royal Marines at the end of year 11. I didn’t complete my training as I was going to be a young Father so I worked in a supermarket, did a fitness course and then got jobs at Loughborough college in fitness training and management. I started University and did a Sports Science degree. After my degree I achieved the job of Lead Coach at David Lloyd which led to me joining Nottingham Forest Community Trust where I have progressed to the Facility Manager of The Forest Sports Zone.
The skills I use
As a Facility Manager I do many jobs on site to ensure we are a safe environment that works to strict rules and laws. I have good communication skills and always present myself positively. I interact with the users of the site, which needs customer service skills.
I use digital skills to operate software. This includes our booking system, Microsoft office programmes and our Intelligent Play system which tracks the use of the pitch and provides maintenance reports.
I help to repair any damages to the site which needs practical skills to keep the site in peak condition.
The exciting stuff
The best part of my job is helping to inspire local children that use The Forest Sports Zone and helping by providing guidance on any obstacles in life they may have.
Career tips for young people
Find a workplace within an industry you wish to work and contact or visit them and ask first hand what they look for in people. This will help you to plan out your next move. Always plan ahead. Write down where you are now (school, college, work, out of work) and where you want to be (your goal) and work backwards from your goal and write down exactly what you need to do to achieve this.
Ask me about
Anything about my career. My journey into management. I’ve lived a tough life and I wish to inspire you to believe anything is possible if you stay dedicated and outwork everyone around you.
Head of Marketing and Communications, Nottingham Forest Community Trust
How I got here.
I gained a degree in marketing and branding at university. I didn’t start university until I was 22 as I took 4 years out to live in Dublin. Here I worked in a shop to gain some life experience before deciding what I wanted to do I joined Nottingham Forest Community Trust in 2021 after working across a number of sectors which included engineering and theme parks! Before I joined Forest I spent time at a marketing agency and I had many business customers across different industries which gave me great exposure to many marketing tactics and campaigns.
The skills I use
My skills are a combination of technical, digital and strategic skills. My technical and digital skills mean I can use software to design and create content for things like websites pages, social media posts, graphics and videos. My strategic skills focus on problem solving, innovation (creating new ways of doing things) and marketing strategy (the way we do things to get noticed).
The exciting stuff
I enjoy having full control of the content that we share through our marketing platforms, whether it be a news story or social media content. I am also a Nottingham Forest fan so it is a great privilege to get to see behind the scenes. Using lots of equipment such as cameras and microphones is great fun as this allows us to experiment with different types of content.
Career tips for young people
Don’t ever be afraid to ask questions or ask for help. We are all real people at the end of the day. With a good, positive, can-do attitude, you will go far. It is never too late to change the journey you are on.
Ask me about
Anything about my career, all things marketing including social media, graphic design, videography, photography, branding. Tips on how to get work experience and impress in interviews.
Premier League Programme Manager, Nottingham Forest Community Trust
How I got here.
I joined Nottingham Forest Community Trust in 2019 after working at an inner-city primary school for 9 years. I have a diploma in sports and exercise science, a degree in sport and coaching, a Level 3 teaching assistant and a Level 2 youth work qualification. I’ve worked on the Premier League Primary Stars programme and the Premier League Kicks programme. I work on the Premier League Primary Starts programme now.
The skills I use
My job requires me to keep and build relationships with schools and other organisations so I can help the programme thrive across the city and county of Nottingham. I use different communication skills, in person or digitally to help promote the programme and get new schools to sign up. As the coordinator I must lead from the front and set an example of the expectations that are required from my team. I am a firm believer that I wouldn’t ask anyone to do something I wouldn’t do. I allow my team to have a voice, to share ideas and take the lead in things so they feel empowered and trusted.
The exciting stuff
I am passionate about my job and enjoy all the different people I get to meet every day; it’s always different and never boring. It’s a privilege to work for the football club I grew up supporting and use the power of football and the NFFC badge to make a positive difference across communities in the city and county.
Career tips for young people
Always listen, be willing learn and take new opportunities to develop your skills and knowledge. Never think you know it all, take advice from people and never be afraid to ask for help. Always remember to carry yourself well and treat people with respect as you never know who might see this and what other opportunities could open for you.
Ask me about
Anything about my career, primary education in sport and PE, how to use tech to help promote programmes, how to network/build relationships with organisations and people.
