Even though many of our graduates will have progressed in their careers since completing a case study, they are still of interest to students who wish to gain an understanding of the world of work.

At Cinema For All I manage our operations, finances and day-to-day activities. I lead a small but dedicated team, develop and project manage our events, produce our new resources and activities and oversee the growth of the sector.

I spend the early day organising my team to help them respond to queries and requests for advice about community cinema activity, such as how to set up regular screenings and where to obtain film licences from.

I then move on to working on whatever our current projects are at the moment (sometimes working on our national event, the Community Cinema Conference, sometimes working on developing our funding streams, sometimes developing new resources such as our Film Discovery 101 education package). Later I might be communicating the latest news to the sector, marketing our films, meeting with our CEO or working on the finances.

On other days I might be looking at pulling together a funding or sponsorship application, be outside of the office representing Cinema For All at conferences/ industry events across the country or be at preview screenings for films we might wish to take on to our distribution scheme.

I enjoy working for Cinema For All as I get to interact with a lot of creative people on a daily basis - usually volunteer groups looking to inspire their community through film. I have worked here for nearly 10 years, having worked my way up from Admin Assistant in 2008 - so it is very satisfying to see the growth of the company over this time period.

The constant struggle for funding can be tiresome - changes in government policy bring with them changes to the funding landscape, and keeping abreast of these new partnership and new funding models can be time consuming. We respond to these challenges by diversifying our funding stream and developing our activities so that we can make earned, unrestricted income.

Working for Cinema For All attracted me as it combines two of my passions - community development and film.

My role requires constant communication - with the sector; with my staff; with the national team of volunteers we look after and with funders and sponsors. My English degree laid the groundwork for my skills in this area, and is the basis for my confidence in my oral presentation and written skills.

Clore Emerging Leaders Course 2013
Jury Member, Leeds International Film Festival 2012

+ various fundraising, programming and film education courses as and when they crop up.

Current: Cinema For All - Head of Operations and Sector Development;
Current: Our Favourite Places - Senior Contributor.

Previous roles at Cinema For All (formerly known as BFFS):
2014-2017: Operations and Development Manager;
2011-2014: General Operations Manager;
2009-2011: Operations Coordinator;
2008-2009: Admin Assistant.

2008-2009: Sensoria Film and Music Festival - Festival Assistant;
2005-2009: Showroom Cinema - Front of House Manager, Box Office Supervisor;
2008: Showcomotion Young People's Film Festival - Film Adviser;
2005-2007: Samaritans, Sheffield: Deputy Director of Training.

Selected training:
Accounting and Financial Management (Directory of Social Change 2015);
Emerging Leaders (Clore Fellowship, 2012);
Equality Champion (Equality and Diversity UK, 2016);
How to Raise Money from Trusts (Directory of Social Change, 2016).

I see myself as continuing to grow in my position at Cinema For All, progressing to director level in the next few years. I see myself shaping national film exhibition policy, planning and delivering the way audiences can access film in the UK (particularly in the volunteer sector). I have plans to take a little time to complete a Clore Fellowship, building on the Emerging Leaders course I took in 2013.

Find an organisation that you want to work for and ask them if they need any help. You shouldn't have to commit to a full-time unpaid internship, but just volunteering a little of your time, especially in small organisations, can make a big difference to them. Make yourself indispensable, and they might free up a little budget for you. Find a mentor in a role you like, and really follow through on the advice they give you. Always be reliable, friendly and approachable. Surprise people with the speed and enthusiasm with which you do things.

Even if a job/ position doesn't offer you everything you want at the moment, make it happen. Create the job you want to be in. Create the working environment/ office culture that makes you thrive. Be resilient. Always, ALWAYS be nice.