Each week we will focus on a StandOut individual who has been extraordinary within the events industry. This week it is Georgia England, production coordinator at BOXXER.

How did you get into the events industry? Where has your career taken you and what roles have you enjoyed?

I always had a desire to work in the events industry after attending music concerts from the ripe age of five. I remember my career advisors at school seemingly baffled when I told them that I wanted to work “behind the stage”. I went on to university and studied events management at UKCEM at Leeds Beckett in which I finally felt like I was studying something that depicted exactly what I was desiring for so long. Halfway through our first year, we were advised we’d need to find a placement for a year and experience the industry first hand – after one interview I’d bagged a position as an artist liaison intern. It wasn’t an easy feat as a student taking an unpaid full year of work but I knew the experience was going to outweigh the hardships. I started that summer and after nearly eight years, reached the operations manager position. I was event lead for a large proportion of the shows on the roster and at times had a team of up to 30 other eventprofs working alongside me. Two years ago, I made the switch from the music sector to the sports and broadcast sector and I haven’t looked back. I now operate as the production coordinator for the promoter BOXXER on all Sky Sports Boxing broadcasts. I’ve had the opportunity to work in stadiums, and arenas and travel internationally. I’ve often been invited back to UKCEM as a speaker to advocate and advise those in current studies that the world is your oyster, it’s just how you want to navigate it.

What’s been the stand out moment of your career so far?
Probably the one I’ve just delivered. I was the event project lead for the all-female boxing show at the Royal Albert Hall, which took place on March 7. As a woman in events, especially in a male-dominated industry, it’s so rewarding and exciting to be advocating for women’s success. I was entrusted to deliver the second all-female card in UK history in one of the most renowned prestigious event venues in the country.

What key pieces of advice would you give to someone starting in events?
Probably a few key pieces really, I think firstly experience will always prevail – even if it’s not the exact position/sector etc that you want to be in from the initial outset, the experience and skills that you will learn by doing it will be transferred to such a wide range of different opportunities that could come your way in the future. You can never know enough either, there’s so much diversity within the industry that you’ll always be experiencing new things and learnings to take away from every event you play a part in. Secondly, be approachable and open. Everyone in the event industry is ultimately working towards the same goal of a successful event – without open communication and people being able to feed into you and vice versa, it can create difficulties in being able to achieve that end goal. Through experience, there’s no silly question, you may have a different perspective on something that someone may not have thought of before. Lastly, be passionate about everything that you want to do and achieve. When there’s passion there are opportunities and you’ll seek them out!

If you would like to nominate someone for #EventProf of the week, please email marketing@standoutmagazine.co.uk.