Earlier this week, several UCFB students gained behind-the-scenes access to the iconic Wimbledon Tennis Club in South London. From a guided tour of the site, including No. 1 Court, to a mock ‘press conference’ in the media room, the trip provided an exclusive insight into how global sports organisations and mass-scale events are run.

Joe Hopewell, a BA (Hons) Football Business & Media student at UCFB, commented: “The visit to Wimbledon Tennis Club was a great insight into the rich history of tennis. It benefitted my degree as it allowed me to gain first-hand feedback on how sporting businesses deal with major events, and just how much work is needed to be done to ensure the event is run smoothly!”

Alongside the tours and the makeshift media scenes, students had the chance to attend a lecture from the Wimbledon Learning Department, which looked at the Wimbledon ‘brand’, how the club generates revenue, the history of the tournament and future expansion plans, allowing students to interact with senior members of staff at the club.

BA (Hons) Sports Business & Broadcasting student Oliver Cherrill added: “The behind-the-scenes experience of Wimbledon was such an exciting opportunity which included learning about the balance between maintaining the prestigious brand while keeping up modern society. As I study sports business, the discussion regarding Wimbledon’s biggest forms of income and how they recovered from the Covid-19 pandemic was particularly prominent. The tour of the grounds and exploring the museum was something I will never forget.”

The trip is one of several on offer to UCFB students as part of our unique Employability and Career Planning Scheme, providing students with practical experiences within the sports industry to complement their learning in classroom.

Simon Fitzjohn, Employability & Career Planning Manager, summarised: “It was a fantastic experience – the students got a behind-the-scenes look at one of world sport’s most iconic venues. Not only that, but the lecture from the Wimbledon Learning Department gave a fascinating insight into what goes into making Wimbledon fortnight the event it is, and how the club continues to position itself as a premier sports brand. This content and inside access is invaluable for our students as they continue to develop their knowledge of the sports industry.”