Clare Jackson

For the last three years I have been working in a freelance capacity building and developing a portfolio of clients and projects. My roles and responsibilities vary depending on the project or event that I am hired for, but can include the following:

• End to end event operations.
• Onsite project or event management.
• Budgeting and financial reporting.
• Staff and volunteer management.
• Travel and accommodation requirements.
• Showcalling and technical event requirements.
• Website management.
• Hospitality and catering management.
• Ticketing management.
• Fundraising, including online platforms such as Givergy and Emma.

The companies I have working relationships with are Saracens Rugby Club (www.saracens.com) RT Marketing (www.rtltd.com) MBN Events (www.mbnpromotions.co.uk) Festival of Sport (www.festivalofsportuk.com) River Media Partners (www.rivermediapartners.com) and 100 & First Foundation (www.100andfirstfoundation.com)

Alongside my freelance work, I have been working as Head of Event Operations for the UK Pro League tennis tournament. A tournament that brings together the UK’s top Professional Tennis Players in a season-long competition to crown Britain’s men and women Champions annually.

Running across 10 separate weeks from March through to November each year, my roles and responsibilities included:

• Venue liaison including site visits, covid-19 compliance, production, court design and branding.’
• Management of the livestreaming team, Crionet, on the production and delivery of matches for each competition week.
• Liaison with BT Sport and other production partners depending on their requirements.
• Ensuring the 2021 events were Covid-19 compliant for the return to elite sport competitions.
• On-site management of each tournament week.
• Coordination of all sponsorship rights alongside Head of Partnerships.
• Coordination of medical provision and covid-19 testing onsite.
• Event staff management including umpires, data scouts, social media and production.
• Travel and accommodation requirements for staff and players depending on the venue and location.
• Budget management for each competition week.
• On-site event player liaison and communication.

My client base specifically included Investec, Cineworld, Pegasystems, Vitality, Premiership Rugby, AEG, CPA Global, Paralympic Committee for Rio 2016, Grohe, the Royal Marines Charity and the SBS Association.

My roles and responsibilities included:

• Account management and liaison with clients on their upcoming events calendar, including how they can upgrade and develop their events to keep fresh and up to date.
• Networking, identifying and developing relationships with new clients.
• Building and maintaining the already established client database within RT Marketing.
• Venue searching for client’s bespoke event requirements – both National and International venues.
• Negotiating and securing elements of each event within the client’s budget, with post event budget and final cost breakdown for each event.
• Event proposals including venue details, budget, entertainment, fundraising options (where applicable), AV details, guest management and communications, marketing tools and event delivery.
• Preparation of client contracts for event delivery.
• Managing the fulfilment process of each event and communicating with suppliers, external contractors, hospitality agents, talent appearances.
• On site management of all events – both National and International.
• Post event communication with guests where applicable, including auction item payment and delivery.
• Client Invoicing and budget control.
• Working with and contracting on-event management and registration systems where required by particular clients including Noodle Live and CVent.

After 11 years working within a Premiership Rugby Club, I become a Freelance Event Manager. A new venture which included the organisation, management and delivery of ‘Sevens and the City’ festival; a series of live sporting competitions, alongside spectator entertainment and a line-up of celebrity DJs.

This project included:

• Management of the venue and all staff involved in the event – working with teams from logistics, maintenance, health & safety, ticketing, hospitality and match management, officials and umpires.
• Complete budgetary control of the event.
• Communication with event sponsors, ensuring all contractual obligations are met, prior to and during the event.
• All team registration and communication of the tournament schedule, including 12 International/Elite Rugby teams.
• Booking and liaison with all food & drink vendors, including logistics, Health & Safety requirements, employer liability and insurance.
• Production of all website content and updates, using the Wordpress content management system.

Other freelance project work and client relationships during this time included:

• CarFest 2013 - 2019 – set up and event management for Laverstoke Park Farm at CarFest South.
• In-house Investec events, working with RT Marketing Agency, Richmond.
• Event management with Mint Event Management - Vitality Sport Sportfest, Wormsley Estate, Stokenchurch.
• Wimbledon 2016 Hospitality Suite Management for Barclays throughout the Championship - FMC.
• Challenge Events Fundraiser for the Hospice of St Francis, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire.

During my 11 years at Saracens, I held a number of positions within the club:

• Special Events Manager January 2014 – June 2015
• Supporter Services Manager October 2012 – October 2013
• Hospitality & Events Manager February 2005 – October 2012
• Ticketing Executive May 2004 – February 2005

My roles and responsibilities included:

• Planning and delivering a portfolio of over 20 matchdays and 15 events throughout the season, including golf days, end of season award dinners and overseas hospitality trips – 11 seasons
• Account management for all club and governing body sponsors regarding their commercial rights within the agreements
• Setting, monitoring and achieving the club’s event and hospitality budget alongside the sales and finance teams.
• Liaising with team management on players commercial player involvement.
• Account management of the First XV Club; a corporate membership group, ensuring all contractual obligations were met.
• Co-ordinating the marketing of hospitality packages and events with the sales team.
• Liaising with and organisation of hospitality and ticketing at other stadia, including Vicarage Road, Wembley, Twickenham, Milton Keynes and International venues in Brussels and South Africa.
• Line management of full-time staff members and assisting with volunteer management on matchdays.
• Managing and ensuring the efficient day-to-day running of the ticket office.