Hilary Carver

Hilary Carver is Head of Event Delivery at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. 

Her passion for the sports industry was ignited whilst working a summer job at Headingley Cricket Ground, and she has since worked at some of the world's most prestigious sporting grounds, including Lord’s and Wembley.

Tell us about your career path since graduation.

There were probably a few false turns on the journey that took me from a politics degree to my current role as Head of Events at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but my first job at a sports club was actually at Headingley Cricket Ground whilst I was still a student. It was a great place to earn some extra money during the summer holidays and I liked it so much that I returned for a second year.

Realising how much I enjoyed the experience, I decided after graduation to find a similar full time position, and I ended up working for the 1999 Cricket World Cup at Lord’s Cricket Ground. From here I moved to the International Cricket Council (ICC) where I stayed for six years and loved having the chance to travel as part of my job.

After the ICC moved to Dubai, I took up a role at Wembley Stadium. This gave me experience of working much larger events and also introduced me to the team at Tottenham, who played at Wembley whilst their own stadium was being rebuilt. Fortunately, this meant that when I was made redundant from Wembley an opportunity arose for me to move to a position with them. I have been there ever since!

What does a typical work day look like for you?

As the Head of Event Delivery, I look after all events that happen at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, from football fixtures and other team obligations to non-matchday conferences and banqueting services. I’m very fortunate to work with a brilliant delivery team who make sure everything runs as smoothly as possible.

How did you first come to hear about Kent?

When my A-level results weren’t quite as good as I’d hoped I had to go back to the drawing board. Initially, I called university clearing hotlines looking for a place on a Politics programme (as this is what I had originally applied for) but overnight I had a change of heart and decided that I wanted to be a teacher. That same day I was offered a place on a Psychology and Education course.

However, after a day out with my family, I came home to a voicemail from the University of Kent offering me a place to study British and American Policy Studies – a four year programme that included a year at Indiana University in America.

I now had a decision to make.

I vividly remember sitting down with my Dad one afternoon with a blank piece of paper in front of us as we wrote out the pros and cons of each option.

From here, it became clear that Kent was the choice for me!

How did your time at Kent help you achieve your current career?

Coming to Kent made me independent and it gave me the confidence to explore more of the world. After graduation I moved to London, got a job, and moved into a shared flat. I’ve stayed down south ever since!

Kent also gave me the opportunity to spend a year in the US, which opened my eyes to other potential career paths. Here, I continued to study Politics, but also had the option to take an Introduction to Marketing course that eventually led me to explore Sports Marketing.   

Do you have a favourite memory from your time at Kent?

All of my four university years were very different so it’s hard to choose just one memory. However highlights would have to include graduating in Canterbury Cathedral and getting to spend a year living in Indiana.

I was very lucky to have had a great social life alongside the academic structure.

All of my university experiences have stood me in great stead for everything I’ve gone on to do since.

Do you remember any academics who were particularly inspiring or supportive?

I was actually looking through some photos recently and the one that stood out to me was taken on the day of my graduation day – at the Social Policy departmental reception, I believe – and I am stood with Bill Jenkins, who was my course convener.

He was a fabulous academic, lecturer, seminar leader and was a real inspiration in terms of being enthusiastic about everything that we did.

I have lots of other happy memories of other members of staff who taught me as well, but Bill Jenkins is definitely the man I remember most fondly.

What advice would you give to our current/prospective students who are looking to get into the same line of work?

I think it’s important for students to ensure they are marketable after graduation. As someone who has sifted through lots of applications, I’m always looking for someone who stands out from the crowd. A good way to achieve this is to ensure you have real world work experience alongside your academic achievements.

Similarly, make use of the facilities available to you on campus; join a society or a sports team. There are lots of ways to expand your knowledge outside of a lecture theatre.

Are you still in touch with other Kent alumni or academics?

Yes. Thirty years later, some of my closest friends are people I met at Kent. Some whom I met on my very first week and went on to live with, and others who I didn’t know until my fourth and final year. I was (and still am) very fortunate to have a strong friendship group.

And finally, as you work in the sport, are you a football fan?

I am – and I have two teams!

My northern team are Barnsley Football Club. I was lucky to attend a few matches as a child because the father of one of my school friends was the club doctor, which got me hooked on the sport.

However, my maternal grandfather was a lifelong Spurs supporter, so they are definitely my southern team. He would be very proud to know I was working with the team today.