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Tom White is currently studying BA (Hons) Global Sport Management. As part of his third year, he joined ROAR B2B on a full-time placement to gain hands-on industry experience. Over the past year, Tom has made an impressive impact across multiple teams and events — from supporting speaker outreach and accessibility for Naidex, to presenting on World Cerebral Palsy Day and earning Employee of the Month. In this blog, he reflects on his journey, what he learned, and what makes ROAR a truly people-first place to work.

Initial Impressions

When I began my placement at ROAR, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but I was enthusiastic and ready to learn. I already had some familiarity with the company, having previously assisted with accessibility guidance for the Naidex exhibition in March 2024. From the moment I arrived, I was greeted with a warm welcome, which made it easy to settle in. It was immediately clear that there was a strong sense of teamwork, with everyone genuinely committed to supporting one another in achieving the company’s goals.

My Role

Throughout my placement, I was set goals and objectives. These objectives included developing transferable skills, such as project management, technical skills, organisational skills, and problem-solving. The role has been a mixture of working from home and being in the office. I have assisted with tasks by creating banners for social media posts using Canva, finding different speakers and law firms for the UK Cyber Week Expo, joining meetings with the commercial team, using HubSpot, and creating data-building spreadsheets of exhibitors to contact for Naidex.

Check out Tom in the Naidex 2024 Highlights video

My main task was to promote the usage of a key feature, a test track at Naidex where visitors could try out the exhibitors’ products before a purchase. This required exhibitors to register so that their products could be used. I was asked to send emails to relevant companies. Out of the 33 exhibitors I emailed, over 20 signed up, more than the previous year. Subsequently, due to my hard work and effort, I was awarded employee of the month for January. I was shocked, as I had not expected this, but it showed the progress I had made. This project allowed me to demonstrate and develop key objectives, including project management, communication, and time and task management.

In addition to mark World Cerebral Palsy Day, I volunteered to do a presentation about my disability to the whole company. I wanted to do this to give my colleagues an understanding of how my disability affects me in life and the workplace, so they would know how to support me and future colleagues. Although used to public speaking, I was nervous as it is a sensitive topic for me, and I was unsure how people might react. Fortunately, the presentation was a tremendous success.

Team and Culture

If I had to describe the people at ROAR in three words, they would be passionate, dedicated, and collaborative. During my placement, I’ve come to appreciate just how much effort goes into delivering a successful exhibition, which is something that only happens with a committed and well-coordinated team.

ROAR fosters a culture where individuals feel valued and respected, which naturally encourages people to go above and beyond to reach shared goals. Events like the Christmas and Summer parties also play a role in building stronger connections across the company, giving team members the chance to engage with colleagues they might not interact with regularly. This ultimately enhances team chemistry and collaboration.

ROAR is an exciting place to work, especially if you thrive in a fast-paced environment and are passionate about the events industry. The team is full of energy, and the company culture is vibrant and dynamic. I've gained a lot of experience during my time here, and I'm eager to apply those lessons as I move forward in my career. My biggest piece of advice for anyone joining would be to fully immerse yourself in the experience, as it's the best way to understand the business and discover more about yourself.