Let’s take it back to the school days – I was the one who loved school, the one who was excited to wake up every day to learn (however strange that may sound) and to be surrounded by my close friends – which may explain my stint as Head Girl. Don’t get me wrong there were a few subjects that I found difficult to get my head around (mainly languages!). I did however, find a love for geography, it’s the interrelation of people and environments that really intrigues me, where my own human experiences play a role in my understandings.
When you think of place, your immediate thought may focus on the appearance or location, however geography takes a deeper dive into the meaning of place. Places hold meaning, they hold emotions, memories, and feelings. Wherever your favourite place is, somewhere tropical or more local to home, strong emotions, past experiences, and feelings that you long for create this sense of place and belonging. A place that feels like home. A place where your heart is drawn to. However, I always had this grand question – what is it that makes us love a place but loathe others?
Anyway, back to the journey at hand… I was thrilled to land myself a position to study Anthropology at The University of Edinburgh after the completion of my A-levels. Anthropology is one of those subjects that comes with many questions – what is that? Is that the study of plants? That sounds interesting! To put things simply, it is the study of what really makes us human. It is the biological science behind human interactions and evolution (slightly niche, I know). However shortly after this offer, along came the confusion. Is this what I want to do? Is Edinburgh the right place for me? I didn’t take this uncertainty lightly – I took this as an opportunity to take a step back and reconsider what I really wanted to do.
Throughout this time of limbo and alongside my education I worked within retail and customer experience. Balancing work and studies created challenges along the way, but the lessons learnt have been invaluable (I think everyone should work a Christmas Eve in Hotel Chocolat to make them a tougher person!)
After a year of finding my feet, I found an opportunity with LeedsBID, to assist with the Engine Room, a project founded to upskill and educate the business community of Leeds. I remember thinking that the timing could not have been any more perfect. My passion of place making and helping others to succeed fell into one role – seems too good to be true, I know!
I now hold the title of Management Trainee with LeedsBID where my role covers a range of roles and responsibilities. I still take pride in facilitating and managing the vibrant hub that is the EngineRoom@LeedsBID – providing the opportunities to upskill the community of Leeds and creating a thriving hub fills me with a profound sense of joy and fulfilment.
Within this role, I also take pride in working closely with our levy payers, responding to their business needs as well as working with the events team to deliver projects and events to the vibrant city of Leeds. Collaborating with a dedicated and creative team has allowed me to contribute to the organisation of events from large-scale festivals to more intimate gatherings, including UKREiiF, A Magical Night at The Queens and The Leeds Bear Hunt 2023. Each event provides an opportunity to showcase Leeds and to create memorable experiences that resonate with residents and visitors alike. Seeing the joy and excitement on people’s faces as they participate in our events is truly fulfilling. As we continue to push boundaries and strive for excellence, I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of such an inspiring team and contribute to the culture of Leeds.
With this said, my defining moment lies in the opportunity I have had in assisting in the organisation and execution of Leeds International Festival of Ideas 2023. We welcomed over 5,000 people to join us at Leeds Playhouse to explore some of the most vital questions of our time, fostering conversations and connections through new ideas. Over the course of four days, we hosted an incredible line up of 39 speakers across 11 events, covering topics such as women’s health, approaches to grief, society’s fascination with true crime, and the dynamics of the UK’s political system, among others. Our esteemed speakers included Steven Bartlett, Davina McCall MBE, Ruby Wax OBE, Bimini, Matt Baker MBE, Dame Prue Leith, Rob Rinder, Cherry Healey, and Will Young to name a few. It was an extraordinary week, where the accumulation of our hard work truly paid off. Roll on LIFI24!
Alongside these varying roles and exciting opportunities, I am also studying a Business and Leadership degree course in association with the Chartered Management Institute. This creates the best of both worlds. I am able to study a degree (which has always been a goal of mine) whilst also gaining first hand experience in a profession that I have so much interest and passion for.
Let’s go back to that grand question of mine – what is it that makes us love a place but loathe others? My current role and studies have allowed me step into this curiosity with more understanding. LeedsBID explores and responds to the needs of our levy payers and current challenges that our community faces.
LeedsBID strives to create a friendly place where the people of Leeds are proud to call home.
The greatest places are diverse, well connected, vibrant, safe and clean. Inclusion, animation and innovation are at the forefront of ideas. Whereas when I think to a place that I loathe, I automatically feel a sense of insecurity, a feeling of disconnection and a lack of safety. Some places can feel soulless and dull. With that said, every place has the opportunity to strive for more, to have an ambitious future.
Opportunities will always arise, whether you are looking for them or not. A note to self, always consider an opportunity, you don’t know, what you don’t know!
Sophie Jones. LeedsBID, Management Trainee. March 2024
