UCFB graduate Ben Leanse has already built an impressive CV in football, with roles at Tottenham Hotspur, Brentford and now Championship club West Bromwich Albion.
The BA (Hons) Sports Business & Sports Law graduate currently works as Hospitality Sales Manager at The Hawthorns, helping drive hospitality revenue and deliver matchday experiences for supporters.
Having previously held roles at Tottenham Hotspur and Brentford, Ben has gained experience across different levels of the professional game and says each has helped shape his career.
“I’ve loved my time at all of the clubs I’ve worked for,” he said.
“They’ve all been at different stages of the football pyramid, from Tottenham competing in Europe, to Brentford in the Premier League, and now West Brom in the Championship.
“It’s been a great experience seeing how different clubs operate while still having large fanbases and strong followings.”
After making the move to West Brom, Ben embraced the opportunity to experience football from a different perspective.
“West Brom has been a fantastic experience for me so far. I wanted a new challenge and exposure to a different environment. It’s been a great insight into how a club in another league operates.”
In his current role, Ben oversees hospitality sales and client relationships, with matchdays proving to be one of the most rewarding aspects of the job.
“My favourite part of the role is matchday,” he revealed.
“You get to see all the hard work you’ve put in throughout the weeks and months come together, and hopefully see some smiling faces at the end of the 90 minutes.”
Looking back on his time at UCFB Wembley, Ben believes his degree helped provide the foundations for a career in the football industry.
“The degree was vital. It helped me gain a much greater understanding of how the sports industry works and operates as a business.”
Alongside the academic side of the course, the experiences offered through UCFB’s Employability and Career Planning programme were among his highlights.
He continued: “The guest speaker sessions were probably my favourite part of the course and provided the most value.
“My personal highlights were Neil Doncaster, Ian George and Gareth Southgate. It was great to hear from people at the top of their game and learn from their advice and insight.”
Having benefited from work experience opportunities and industry networking throughout his time at UCFB, Ben now encourages students to make the most of every opportunity available to them.
“My biggest piece of advice would be to make the most of everything UCFB offers. The experience goes far beyond lectures and seminars.
“A degree on its own is no longer enough to make you stand out. Take on internships, work placements or volunteer with clubs. You’ll gain valuable insight, grow your network and, most importantly, stand out in what is a very competitive industry.”