Student Experiences: Lewis Hallett
Meet MA Business of Motorsport Graduate Lewis Hallett! From a young age, Lewis has been mesmerised by motorsports, and still enjoys a bit of racing at the karting circuit during his free time! He has been able to turn his passion for motorsport into a career, by working as the Insight Executive at Goodform. We were able to catch up with him and have a chat about what life looks like for him since graduating from the National Motorsport Academy.
Hello! Tell us a bit about yourself!
Hello there! I’m Lewis and I completed the Business of Motorsport Master’s Degree in November 2022.
My job title is Insight Executive, at Goodform – the industry-leading sports marketing agency which operates the F1 Fan Voice website, in partnership with Formula 1. My primary role is the day-to-day management of F1 Fan Voice. This includes the design, execution, and reporting of research & insight projects held on the site. I pass these fan insights onto Formula 1’s in-house Fan Strategy Team, who use them to aid their commercial and sporting decision making.
I have been a huge motorsport fan from an early age. When I’m not working on Formula 1’s fan research requirements, you’ll probably find me racing at a karting circuit or buying another piece of motorsport (or Star Wars) memorabilia to add to my collection!
Why did you choose to study at the National Motorsport Academy?
Prior to studying at the NMA, I had completed a BA (Hons) Degree in Marketing with Sport. The dissertation that I wrote was titled “How does sponsorship with F1 affect brand engagement?”. I then looked at finding a Master’s Degree that would allow me to further develop my knowledge of the motorsport industry and found the NMA’s Business of Motorsport Master’s Degree – it was perfect!
Another bonus is that it’s an online degree and all the content is pre-recorded, meaning that the course can fit around you.
How did NMA's flexibility fit around your life?
While I was studying, I had the role of Volunteer Moderator & Race Reporter for the F1 Fan Voice website, as well as a part-time job as a sales assistant for a local tourist attraction. I opted for the full-time (1 year course), but the structure of course meant that I was able to fit it around my own busy schedule.
How did you find your time at the NMA?
I really enjoyed studying the Business of Motorsport with the National Motorsport Academy. All the lecturers are really helpful & supportive, always willing to answer your questions and give feedback. The Virtual Learning Site is also super easy to use, which makes viewing all the course content and submitting assignments very straightforward!
What was your favourite module?
My favourite was Module 4 – Sponsorship Models in Elite Motorsport & The Role of the Media. There were two assignments: One being a report on the role of sponsorship in motorsport, with the second being a presentation comparing the Broadcasting and Media strategies of Formula 1 & Formula E. I absolutely loved producing these assignments, and they are areas of motorsport that I am very much interested in!
All the modules are great though. It was fascinating to cover the history of motorsport during module 1, as well as create my executive project titled “How has Formula 1 adapted to ensure growth and engagement within its fandom?” during module 8.
How has a degree with the NMA helped you achieve your career goals?
Soon after finishing the degree, I was delighted to join Goodform as Insight Executive. The Business of Motorsport course allowed me to develop a specialist area of expertise. This area of expertise is crucial for my job, as I work closely with organisations such as Formula 1, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, Formula E and WRC. The depth and variety of modules within the course has given me the ability to apply my motorsport passion and achieve an exciting role within the industry.
As well as conducting fan research on F1 Fan Voice, I’m also responsible for maintaining fan engagement on the site, which includes creating the weekly email newsletter campaign. I also produce the sport’s quarterly Team Perceptions report – read by senior members of each Formula 1 team and used to understand how fans perceive them, as well as how these perceptions change over the course of a season. It’s an excellent job!
What would you say to potential students that are considering studying at the NMA?
You should definitely study with the National Motorsport Academy! The Business of Motorsport course gives you the opportunity to specialise in just that… motorsport! I don’t know of any other degrees that specifically cover all the key commercial elements within motorsport! The fact that the course is online means that you can also study from anywhere around the globe, making it accessible to all.
Lastly… what’s your dream role? Do you think the NMA can help you to get that dream role?
My dream role would be to eventually become the Commercial Director of a motorsport team or championship. The NMA has equipped me with the industry knowledge to one day turn this dream into reality!
A big thank you to Lewis for speaking to us! You can keep up to date with his career over on LinkedIn – Lewis Hallett
2 thoughts on “Student Experience with Lewis Hallett”
Well done Lewis – good luck at Goodform – a great company with which to get experience in Motorsport
Terrific interview, Lewis. Great to hear how well things are working out for you since graduation. Glad you loved my module! Maybe catch you in the Silverstone paddock again this year.