Sophie started her new position at Leeds Trinity in early September and will help students across the University to source and secure placement and work opportunities, as well as offering one-to-one advice and support with CV writing and development.  

Leeds Trinity builds professional work placements into all standard undergraduate degrees, whereby students graduate with degree-relevant experience, industry contacts and valuable employer references. 

Having carried out similar work in her previous job with the Education Development Trust, Sophie developed an interest in working with young people and helping them achieve their ambitions so sought opportunities to work within a Higher Education setting, which led her to Leeds Trinity. 

Sophie said: “This opportunity at Leeds Trinity University was exciting and right from being shown around the Main Campus in Horsforth, I could tell Leeds Trinity was a nice team environment to be in.  

‘’I enjoy working with young people as I like seeing them progress and develop. In this job, I particularly enjoy working one to one with students to support them in finding a placement that will enhance their employability skills when it comes to graduating.  

“As I progress in my job here, I’ll be focusing on students in the School of Sport and Wellbeing. I’m excited for that, and I hope my interests and rugby career will help to motivate them. I am really interested in what they’re doing and the opportunities available to them.” 

Emily Timson, Director of Graduate Outcomes and Enterprise at Leeds Trinity University, said: “Sophie has quickly settled into our team and is already delivering valuable and important work with students here at Leeds Trinity University, from delivering employability lectures in our curriculum to supporting individual students with their career planning. Her passion and enthusiasm for working with and helping students achieve their goals is evident.

“Sophie’s continued success in her rugby career is impressive to us all, her team working and leadership skills shone through when we met her in interview and we are sure that our Sport and Wellbeing students in particular will be excited at the opportunity of working with her as they pursue their own ambitions within sport and physical education. Her knowledge of the industry will help students develop key employability skills and make them aware of the options available to them.”  

Joining a university at the start of an academic year is not the only thing keeping Sophie busy, as she has also been a part of the Leeds Rhinos women’s side competing in the Super League play-off series. 

Sophie is now in her sixth season as a first team player for the Rhinos, with whom she has won a Grand Final and two Challenge Cups. She scored two tries in her team’s recent semi-final win over rivals St. Helens, including the match-winner in golden point extra time, and is now preparing to play in the fourth Grand Final of her career as reigning champions Leeds defend their title against York Valkyrie on Sunday 8 October. 

Sophie added: “I am excited for it, especially as we have an opportunity to become back-to-back champions. No team has done that before, so it’s a big occasion and a chance to make history.  

“We’ve been getting better as the season has gone on and I think we’re peaking at the right time. Losing at Wembley earlier in the season only strengthened our desire to go on and win the Grand Final. We’re determined to play well and get the win in front of what is going to be a big crowd.” 

For more information on the Sport and Wellbeing courses available at Leeds Trinity University, visit the website.