Economics students at the Lewes Football Club

Economics students and staff visiting the Institute of Employment Studies (IES) offices

Earlier this month, Business School economics students had an exciting opportunity to step out of the classroom and into the real world of business during two Insight Days organised by Careers and Entrepreneurship team and the Economics Department.

The first Insight Day, held at Lewes Football Club (FC), began with a warm welcom Club Ambassador Karen Dobres, who gave a tour of the stadium, including a behind-the-scenes look at the club's operations. Students learned about the club's commercial strategies and financial sustainability, highlighting the crucial role economics plays in sports. The following 'DataTalks' session on data analytics shed light on how data drives decision-making in the football world, providing an opportunity to reflect on course learnings and applications outside of the classroom. The students were particularly inspired by the all-female leadership team, Karen Dobres and Stef McLoughlin, who are pioneering a radical redesign of this community-focused football space.

The second Insight Day took place at the Institute of Employment Studies (IES). Following a tour of the office and an introduction to social research and the role of IES, students attended a presentation on working as an economist, providing practical insights into applying economic principles in social research and deepening their understanding of the field. The group then had an opportunity to develop future industry connections by networking with professionals within the team.

Stef McLoughlin, Commercial Manager at Lewes Football Club said:

“It was a pleasure to host students from the University of Sussex Business School. At Lewes FC we are ‘reimagining football’, creating an inclusive environment for non-traditional football fans and working to make women’s football and community football financially sustainable. We are trying to do football better and we were grateful to share our mission with the next generation. We were pleased to see high student engagement, with good questions about the football ecosystem and suggestions on how things can be done differently in the wider football world.”

Insight Days offer invaluable benefits to students, including the opportunity to see theoretical concepts in action within professional settings. By connecting classroom learning to the real world of business, students become inspired and eager to learn more, building a deeper connection to their educative experience.

They also gain deeper insights into specific industries and roles through direct interaction, receiving practical advice, helping them to make informed career choices, and experiencing professional environments that boost students' confidence in their career aspirations.

These networking opportunities with industry professionals are otherwise hard to come by and could potentially lead to internships and job opportunities.

If you are a current student at the Business School who would like to hear about more trips like this, ask your tutors for more information and enrol onto the Student Experience Canvas module (internal only). Here you’ll find regular updates on a wide range of opportunities, including Insight Days.