GET TO KNOW THE TEAM BEHIND SILVERSTONE

Today we’re chatting to Danielle Worker who is Corporate Team Leader at Silverstone and responsible for bringing conferences, exhibitions and meetings to life.

So Danielle, tell us a little bit about yourself and how your career led you to Silverstone?

Since the age of 10, every summer, I used to stay with my family in a neighbouring village to Silverstone. Whilst on our travels to shows we would regularly pass the circuit. My Auntie and Grandad would always talk fondly of Silverstone and their memories as we were a big motorsport family. They even operated their own racing team and I always said I’d like to work at the circuit one day.

Fast forward to 2008. I was travelling in Australia and my passion for the events industry began when I took on a role at Moet Hennessey as an Event Assistant.

My career really kicked off with a university placement year at the Kia Oval with Compass Group and I have since stayed within the sporting events working at Twickenham, Old Trafford, the O2 and as part of the team that delivered London 2012 Olympics. An opportunity arose in 2013 to join Silverstone as a Corporate Event Manager and I haven’t looked back. I’ve developed each year with new roles and challenges.

What does a normal day look like for you?

A day at Silverstone is never the same. I oversee various areas of the operation meaning there isn’t a normal day. Some days can be 12 hours plus when we are hosting a big event.

Usually my day will involve a mixture of planning meetings to support hospitality elements of public events and all aspects of conference events due to take place in the Wing. We’ll run site visits for corporate clients, hold operational team catch ups and check in with the teams running any track or meeting events on the day.

Downtime is very important and something I ensure the whole team takes onboard. I like going swimming before work when we aren’t running events or take a lunchtime walk round the track with some of the team. This is always a great way to catch up and get fresh air.

What makes Silverstone such a unique event venue?

Silverstone isn’t just a venue it’s so much more.

We are such a unique space with so many opportunities both inside and out allowing us to be creative and to think outside the box to deliver the most spectacular experience. Whether it involves horses running freely around on track, facing challenges to get the biggest cranes in the world at full working mode into our venue or running a small meeting for 20 in our prestigious President’s suite.

The team guide and work with clients at every step to ensure they maximise every unique part that Silverstone has to play in their event.

Tell us an amusing or interesting story about your time at Silverstone.

The most amusing story I’ve had at Silverstone will actually be televised later this year. I can’t say too much about it, but we were part of a reality TV show coming to your screens very soon…..it’ll be aired on 24th February.

However, one memory I can mention is when we did a SKY F1 advert and we had 12 horses running freely around the track. That was one for the memory bank!

The meetings sector is really starting to recover from the last two years. Have the needs of organisers changed much since the pandemic?

It’s fantastic to have events back and see the excitement on delegates faces to finally be meeting and networking with colleagues again.

Covid is still very much in everyone’s mind and at the forefront of the event planning. No matter the size of the event whether it be a small meeting for 20 to a large exhibition for 4000, organisers are still very keen to ensure there’s enough space for everyone to be able to social distance, that all protocols are in place i.e. hand sanitiser points, good air ventilating system, signage and multiple access routes to avoid congestion at the entrance/exits.

Safety of the people they are bringing to these events is very much the priority to ensure all prevention measure are put in place where possible.

What gives you the buzz you at work?

The diversity of my role and being involved in the whole operation here at Silverstone creates the buzz for me. Every day brings its own excitement and challenge.

I get a real surge of satisfaction and feel very privileged to be involved in such high-end and unique events from F1 car launches to TV shows and food festivals.

The buzz wouldn’t be possible without the fantastic team I have working alongside me.

Silverstone is the home of British motorsport and we’d be missing something if we didn’t ask you about the F1 event. What role do you usually play in helping pull the F1 together?

Until recently I would oversee, plan and manage the hospitality operation in collaboration with our public event team operation.

That means making sure over 15000 guests have the most amazing hospitality experience from the moment their tickets arrived until they left Silverstone.

It was a real privilege to operate and manage this for over five years, arranging temporary structures, creative fit out, ticketing, entertainment, catering and VIPs to list but a few. I now account manage and support our official Hospitality Provider and support them in delivering great experiences too.

If organisers are looking to try Silverstone as a meeting venue for the first time, what’s your best bit of advice?

Go full steam ahead and go for it, you won’t regret it! It will be unique, quirky and have the Wow factor you and your guests are looking for.