Behind the Scenes at Lancashire Cricket Club

We caught up with Luke, a Sports Management graduate from UA92, to learn more about his internship with Lancashire Cricket Club. Working across Sports Operations and Partnerships, Luke gained hands-on experience supporting major sporting events, coordinating with partners and stakeholders, and helping deliver matchday operations behind the scenes. From networking with industry professionals to contributing to historic fixtures, Luke shares the highlights of his internship, the skills he developed, and how the experience helped shape his future career ambitions within the sport industry.

What initially attracted you to apply for an internship at Lancashire Cricket Club?

For a bit of background, when I applied this year I was a final year student and about to finish University. I was very much undecided as to what I wanted to do once I left UA92. I saw the role advertised (Sports Operations and Partnerships) and thought I’d apply as the job description seemed to fit what I was initially interested in. Having also met Becky (part of the Partnerships Team at Lancs) last year, I knew that the team would be fantastic to work in and that I would have a great summer working alongside the team. Oh – and bumping into Freddie Flintoff and Jimmy Anderson is quite nice too!

Can you describe your role and the types of projects or tasks you worked on during your internship?

To say there’s hardly been a quiet moment is an understatement, as I have bit my teeth into almost everything we do here.

I have worked on organising artwork for mid-tier and perimeter LED’s, sent invites out to our principal partners for the Red Rose Business Club, as well as events such as the India IT20 and Roses clashes. I’ve coordinated player, match official and press catering, liaising with Sodexo Live! and creating BEOs.

I’ve also had the pleasure of going to outgrounds, such as Blackpool and Farington, including being a part of the operations for the first ever professional Women’s game at Farington which is quite a high honour in itself, plus the bonus of the Women’s Team winning the game!

There’s so much more, but I feel I’d take up the whole page in saying what I’ve done in the 6 months that I have been here!

What has been the highlight of your experience at Lancashire Cricket Club?

Very early on I had the honour of playing in the Partner’s Cricket Day that Lancashire Cricket host yearly, as part of the Hilton team. I got to play against a Women’s professional player (which didn’t turn out well for my bowling figures) and all in all got to meet some fantastic people, as well as connect with professionals from Emirates, Heineken and Pringles. This was my favourite as this was a fantastic way to meet people, in a competitive nature and all in all help me settle in very early on in the internship.

What new skills or knowledge did you gain during your time with the club?

My internship has given me valuable practical experience and a much greater understanding of how professional sporting events are planned, coordinated and delivered. While my Business Management degree gave me a strong academic foundation, the internship allowed me to apply that knowledge in a real working environment where decisions, communication and organisation have a direct impact on the success of an event.

One of the biggest areas I have developed is my understanding of event and venue operations. This experience has shown me the amount of planning and attention to detail required before an event can even begin. I have learned that successful event delivery depends on preparation, clear communication and making sure that operational requirements are considered well in advance. The internship has also developed my problem-solving and adaptability.

How did the internship help you understand the sports industry and the day-to-day operations of a professional cricket club?

Sporting events are live environments, meaning that things can change quickly and not everything will always go exactly according to plan.

Being involved in event operations has taught me to remain calm, understand what needs to be done and work with others to find practical solutions.

However most importantly, I have gained confidence in my ability to contribute to the delivery of large-scale professional sporting events. I have developed practical skills in event operations, stakeholder coordination, partnership activation and logistics, while also improving my communication, organisation, problem-solving and adaptability.

Were there any challenges you faced during the internship, and how did you overcome them?

One of the main challenges was adapting to the pace and unpredictability of live sporting events. Requirements can change and there are often multiple things happening at once, so I had to learn how to prioritise tasks and communicate effectively with the relevant people. I overcame this by becoming more organised, having a ‘To Do List’ to keep track of requirements, and making sure I followed up on outstanding information rather than assuming things had been completed. My previous 3 years of hospitality experience also helped me remain calm and practical when working under pressure, as well as teamwork and leadership.

How has this internship influenced your future career aspirations?

The internship has confirmed that I want to pursue a career where I can work in event, venue or partnership operations. Before the internship, I was interested in the sports industry, but I had less understanding of the different career paths available within it. Having practical experience has shown me that I particularly enjoy the combination of organisation, problem-solving, stakeholder management and commercial activity. It has also given me confidence that the skills I have developed through my degree and previous hospitality experience can be applied in a professional sports environment.

What advice would you give to other students considering an internship?

My biggest piece of advice would be to take every opportunity to get involved, even if something initially seems outside your role. An internship is an opportunity to learn how an organisation actually works, so being curious and asking questions can make a huge difference. I would also recommend being willing to take responsibility for tasks rather than waiting to be told exactly what to do.

Finally, I would say to make the most of the people around you. Building relationships and learning from colleagues can be just as valuable as the tasks themselves. An internship gives you practical experience that you simply cannot get from university alone, and an opportunity that only your university gives out? I’d take it all over again.

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