I am currently working on a secondment basis for my employer Virgin Media O2 Business with one of our customers, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, as a digital inclusion project manager.

My role is to help ensure residents can get online, access public services and develop their digital skills. This will drive positive social and economic change for both residents and businesses, so that Greater Manchester will be a key region for businesses seeking a digitally skilled workforce, and help to end digital poverty. The project which I am supporting will deliver a specific focus on supporting under-25s, over-75s and disabled people.

This is a long way removed from my Fellowship, which was with regard to tourism and engaging local people with major sporting and cultural events. The Fellowship took me to Australia to study the impact of the Olympics there, with a view to boosting tourism and community engagement locally for the 2012 London Olympics. My Fellowship led me to an international business development role for Leeds City Council where I was an ambassador for my city and region. I am also a former chair of the East Pennine Association of Churchill Fellows.