Daniel Garforth
- Course
- Sociology BSc
- Subject area
- Sport Sciences
Sport has always been my biggest passion and hobby, and I became increasingly interested in business at school; a Sport Management degree was the perfect way to combine the two and unlock a career in the commercial, ‘behind-the-scenes’ side of sport.
As I knew I wanted to study and work in sport, Loughborough was always my first choice due to its renowned reputation in the sporting world. After attending an open day, my decision was only cemented further; the staff, facilities, students, campus, and general atmosphere around the university made choosing Loughborough a very easy decision.
The wide range of modules in the course kept lectures interesting and provided me with a breadth of understanding that has been immediately and constantly useful since starting my career. The course incorporates modern and historical elements, local and international levels, amateur and professional industries, on-and-off-the-pitch matters, tangible and intangible aspects, and so much more.
I did a placement year as an Administrative and Coaching Assistant with MT13. Doing my placement with a small business was incredibly useful as it meant I could apply the understanding I had developed in my first two years to a wide range of responsibilities in my role. Due to the organisational size of MT13, I managed several critical business processes. As a result, I had already amassed a year of valuable experience by the time I graduated, which has enabled me to secure my current role and hit the ground running since starting.
I recently joined Swim Wales as an Aquatic Club Support Officer. As the NGB for several aquatic sports in Wales, Swim Wales are responsible for governing dozens of clubs, facilities, and performance centres nationwide. My role is to support clubs specifically across a range of issues, including ensuring good governance, promoting inclusion, directing clubs towards funding opportunities, and representing clubs whilst developing the swimming pathway, alongside Swim Wales colleagues. The vast range of skills that I acquired during my degree really helped me to secure and fulfil my role, such as an understanding of the entire sporting landscape in the UK, an appreciation of what good and bad practice looks like, and a knowledge of the varied sporting experiences that people can have.
Hall culture is unique to Loughborough, and it really defined my Loughborough experience. I volunteered as Treasurer on the Telford Hall committee, attended hall events such as Telford day, and represented Telford in several IMS sports including football and athletics. The friends I made within the Telford community will be friends for life and I am incredibly fond of my memories of living in Telford Hall.
If you have an interest in sport and business, then this is the degree for you.
Due to such a wide range of modules (sociology, pedagogy, economics, psychology, public sport and more), there will inevitably be some you are less comfortable with; go into these modules with an open mind, embrace the new knowledge you will acquire, and – most importantly – actively seek support from the amazing Loughborough network. This includes your personal tutor, module leaders, course leader, student course representatives, peers, the academic support network and more. Take advantage of the support Loughborough offers because (especially within sport) you have the knowledge and experience of true industry leaders available at your fingertips!