It’s an exciting day at Betting Jobs HQ as our CEO, Jennifer Innes, celebrates her 18th work anniversary. To commemorate this special day, Jennifer shares with us 18 of her favourite memories at BettingJobs from over the years.
1. My first day at BettingJobs
I remember my first day at BettingJobs as if it were yesterday. I was the first female hire, joining a small team in an office above a dental lab in Glasgow’s Tradeston area. The industry was very much in its infancy back then, and it’s incredible to see how much it has grown and evolved since 2006.
I can also recall during my interview with BettingJobs founder David Copeland and then Director James Fleming, mentioning that all I wanted was a computer that worked. Now, I have so much (probably too much) technology at my fingertips!
2. CalvinAyre.com ‘Seven Deadly Sins’ Party
Attending the CalvinAyre.com ‘Seven Deadly Sins’ party in Prague was an amazing experience and was so on brand for the industry at that moment in time. It was an exciting and enjoyable introduction to a world I had never experienced before.
3. Incentive trips
The BettingJobs team was fortunate enough to enjoy two out of this world skiing trips in the French Alps as a reward for performance. These trips were fantastic experiences that I will never forget, and it was great to do something I had never done before.
Additional incentive trips involved flying first class to Venice, and then to Australia for my honeymoon. I have gotten to travel across the world and that can’t help but positively impact my life. These are truly memories and experiences I will cherish forever.
4. First placement made
I vividly remember placing my first candidate, Bill Rini, as Head of Poker for Party Poker, which was a significant accomplishment for me. As Bill was located in the US, placing him at a company there greatly expanded my network and truly strengthened my knowledge of the different types of organisations that were operating within the industry at the time.
5. Monthly Lunch Club Incentive
I have fond memories of our ‘monthly lunch club,’ where those who exceeded their monthly targets were rewarded with a celebratory lunch at some of Scotland’s most exclusive restaurants.
6. My first ICE London
Attending my first ICE London is a memory that’s engraved in my mind. The conference was significantly smaller back then, held at Earl’s Court before moving to the ExCeL for many years, and now set to take place in Barcelona in 2025. I can’t wait to see how the conference progresses in the next few years and what the future holds.
7. Eddie Hall as BettingJobs Brand Ambassador (for two years running) at ICE London
Eddie Hall, former World’s Strongest Man, served as BettingJobs’ brand ambassador at ICE London for two years. It was fantastic having Eddie at our stand on those occasions, and listening to his inspiring journey to becoming the World’s Strongest Man.
I can remember sitting next to Eddie at dinner one year after the conference, where we had ordered a sharing platter for the table, and Eddie ended up eating the whole thing!
8. First staff member I mentored
When I returned to work after my maternity leave, I began working one-on-one with Carla Souter. At the time, Carla was a Graduate Recruitment Consultant fresh out of university. Carla has since advanced to a Senior Consultant role, and working with Carla to achieve this is a cherished memory. Witnessing her growth into an influential female figure in the industry, and now a mentor to her own graduate consultants, has been incredible and a very proud moment for me.
9. BettingJobs London Bridge Party
Many years ago, BettingJobs hosted an unforgettable party on the iconic London Bridge during ICE. It was a fantastic evening in an amazing setting, with some of the biggest names in the iGaming industry in attendance.
10. G2E Asia – Macau
Attending G2E Asia in Macau was an incredible experience. It was my first time at a conference in East Asia, and everything from the people to the setting was really amazing. After the conference, I travelled to Hong Kong for a holiday, making it a trip I will certainly never forget!
11. Being shortlisted for executive of the year at the Global Gaming Awards
Recently, I was shortlisted for the ‘Executive of the Year’ award at the 2024 Global Gaming Awards. This is an incredible achievement, and I am extremely thankful and proud. Entering a heavily male-dominated industry as a young woman, I never imagined progressing to where I am today and being recognised for such prestigious awards. This truly means so much to me.
12. Hosting Golf Days at The Wynn, Las Vegas
One of my fondest memories over the years is from hosting our industry friends at multiple Golf Days at The Wynn hotel in Las Vegas during G2E. This was a truly unique experience that I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to enjoy otherwise.
13. First trip to the UAE
Travelling to the UAE for the first time to visit our candidates and clients in Dubai and Abu Dhabi stands out to me. Embarking on my first trip to the UAE made me realise how far the iGaming industry has progressed since I joined in 2006, and it has been fantastic to continue cultivating strong relationships in this region. I look forward to many more trips to the UAE in my career.
14. Moving to our East Kilbride HQ
As I mentioned earlier, when I joined BettingJobs, our office was located above a dental lab in Glasgow’s Tradeston area. Moving to our current HQ in East Kilbride was a significant step up, and it’s wonderful to see every desk now occupied by a fantastic team of individuals.
15. SBC Barcelona
While it’s tough to choose among all the fantastic conferences in the iGaming industry, SBC Barcelona stands out as my favourite. Having attended and exhibited there for several years, I genuinely look forward to returning to the Fira de Montjuïc each year. Although the conference is relocating to Lisbon this year, I am confident it will be just as good, if not better! It’s always great to escape Glasgow at that time of year and spend some quality time networking in the sunshine.
16. Cultivating a wonderful network of clients and candidates
As you can imagine, I’ve spoken to countless clients and candidates over the past 18 years. One of the things I love most about my job is the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of candidates who have faced hardships by placing them with wonderful clients in roles perfect for them, leading to hugely successful careers. It’s a bonus that many of our candidates have not only become our clients, but also friends.
Not only do I hope to have impacted people in helping them find a new role which they love and enjoy, they have also impacted me in various ways by sharing their culture, their life story, and so much more.
It’s worth noting that when I first entered the industry, there were far fewer women than there are now. I was fortunate to find an amazing tribe of women, and this group has grown significantly over the years. I made an effort to establish friendships with those I gravitated towards and trusted. My advice to any woman entering the industry today is this: there are many great women in iGaming, and we truly do support one another.
17. Being a member of the judging panel at the Global Gaming Awards
It is an honour of mine to have been selected as a member of the judging panel at the Global Gaming Awards annually. During G2E Las Vegas in 2022, it was a great experience to hand out the CEO of the Year award to Matt Davey, Founder and Chairman of Tekkorp.
18. Building and mentoring the team
As I mentioned earlier, one of my greatest achievements over the past 18 years has been watching our team grow and mentoring many of our current staff members. Seeing them flourish in their roles, achieve great things, and be shortlisted for prestigious industry awards is outstanding. I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve collectively accomplished at BettingJobs and how far we’ve come since I joined in 2006.
I still find my role incredibly rewarding which is why I want to continue this job and its legacy. Although the industry and my role has changed, I still very much enjoy speaking to different people day in and day out, learning about their background, their culture, and their story.
Here’s to another incredible 18 years at BettingJobs!
