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When Leeds Trinity alumnus Howard Bloom reflects on his journey to securing a dream job with his boyhood football team, his mind goes back to the opportunities presented to him at university.
Howard, 27, graduated from Leeds Trinity with a degree in Sports Journalism in 2021 and is now the Communications and Marketing Lead at Ipswich Town, the club he grew up supporting.
In his two years there so far, he has helped tell the stories of their first season back in the Premier League in over two decades, their second promotion from the Championship in just three years, and the rise of Ipswich Women, who earned a place in the second tier of women’s football for the first time in their history in 2025.
Having also worked in media teams at Barnet FC and Lincoln City since graduating, Howard has built up a wealth of experience over the past five years. But his first taste of the industry came with Bradford City while he was studying at Leeds Trinity, after one of his lecturers helped him secure the opportunity. It was an experience Howard describes as “invaluable” to his development, and one that reflects the benefits of the University’s career-led approach to learning, which has supported thousands of students throughout its 60-year history.
“My time at Bradford allowed me to put the skills I was learning at university into practice, while giving me an early insight into what working in football media was really like,” he said. “The staff at Bradford welcomed me in and showed me everything that goes into making a matchday happen. It was my first experience attending professional games in the press box and it really helped get me up to speed with the range of responsibilities you can have on matchday. It was the stepping stone I needed to get myself into the industry, and it wouldn’t have been possible had I not been at Leeds Trinity.”
Originating as two teacher training colleges, Trinity and All Saints, the institution has always placed high value on practical learning models. In 1975, it pioneered the inclusion of professional work placements in every academic programme, allowing students to put their skills into practice and receive guidance from industry professionals while completing their degrees.
A popular career-focussed initiative within the Centre for Journalism is Journalism and Media Week, an annual event providing students with opportunities to learn from a range of experienced media professionals working in TV, radio and podcasting, print, film, and beyond.
“Journalism and Media Week was always something I looked forward to, not many other places offer a week like that,” Howard recalled. “All the guest speakers are willing to stay and chat, and it’s a great way of building those all-important industry contacts. Something that really stood out to me was hearing from alumni who had gone on to have careers in media. I think it’s important to see that there are pathways from classrooms and lecture theatres to industry, and the tips they offered went a long way in helping me get to where I am today.”
Reflecting on the impact his time at the University had on him, Howard said: “Leeds Trinity played a huge part in shaping my understanding of the industry and the career I wanted to pursue. During my three years there, I developed a wide range of skills, many of which I have used in the football media roles I have held. The lectures were also delivered in such an engaging way and certainly helped prepare me for the real world and life after graduation.”
Offering advice to current students, he added: “There aren’t many places as supportive as Leeds Trinity when it comes to helping you get your foot in the door, so make the most of every opportunity available to you. Your three years at university go by incredibly quickly, so getting involved and gaining as much experience as possible is crucial.”
Leeds Trinity University has been named University of the Year for Student Experience by the 2027 Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, a reflection of its longstanding reputation for excellent teaching and student support. The success comes after Leeds Trinity was the top university in the country for overall student satisfaction in the latest National Student Survey, which is based entirely on student feedback.
For more information about studying at Leeds Trinity, visit the University website.