I work for a football club's charity and can't imagine a better career

Many football clubs now have their own charity or a foundation, but have you ever wondered who spreads the word about what they do? Meet Ellen!

Ellen works as marketing and communications manager at Pompey in the Community, Portsmouth FC's official charity. She's in charge of promoting its work in the community, including through campaigns and social media content.

It's really hard to think of a better career than helping people through football.

• Started playing football at the age of five and attended Portsmouth FC games with her dad
• Attended holiday sessions run by Pompey in the Community and played with community football teams
• Studied Media Studies at school and discovered a love for the subject
• Completed a content creation apprenticeship with Pompey in the Community and gained experience in volunteering
• Got a job at Crawley Town Community Foundation as media and communications manager
• Returned to Pompey in the Community as marketing and communications manager - combining her passion for football with telling the stories of her local community.

There are many different ways to progress in marketing and communications at charities.

Ellen is in charge of marketing and communications at Pompey in the Community. Her career has followed this path:

Content creation apprentice --> Media and communications manager --> Marketing and communications manager

Marketing and communication roles can include writing, planning campaigns, understanding different audiences and evaluating what content works and protecting or developing an organisation’s reputation. You could end up focusing on social media or find that you enjoy the communications side of the job more.

In the future, she hopes to work for a national charity. "Go out there and meet people and have a look at what opportunities are available to you," she suggests. "Just get involved and explore what's out there."

• Volunteer and go behind the scenes: It can be really helpful to volunteer with a club or community group that's involved with football in some way. Ellen also recommends gaining some experience behind the camera with a local radio station or similar: "Just get involved and explore what's out there!"
• Think creatively: You'll be sharing the experiences of people the charity works with, so thinking creatively about how to tell their story is vital
• Work well with others: Making sure people feel comfortable is a big part of the role. Being personable will go a long way in helping you get the content you need.

Salaries can vary in marketing and communication roles for charities, depending on your experience. Ellen notes that: "If you’re starting in an apprenticeship, it can be around £15,000 to £18,000 a year. At junior level, it can be around £25,000 a year. As you progress through the levels, salaries can increase quite rapidly."

Ellen is a marketing and communications manager, but some employers divide up those responsibilities. All the different areas of her role can have various other job titles, such as marketing manager and social media manager. Find out more about the role of a marketing manager below.

What to expect if you want to be a marketing manager

• Marketing manager average salary: from £35,000 to £60,000 per year.
• Marketing manager typical working hours: 37 to 40 hours per week.

What qualifications do you need to be a marketing and communications manager?

You could get into this role via a university course (subjects that are particularly relevant include journalism, public relations, marketing and digital marketing), an apprenticeship, or applying directly if you have relevant experience.

This information is a guide and is constantly changing. Please check the National Careers Service website for the latest information and all the qualifications needed.

For careers advice in all parts of the UK visit: National Careers Service (England), nidirect (Northern Ireland), My World of Work (Scotland) and Careers Wales (Wales).

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