Beverley Milner Simonds
BA Operations Management, 2001
CO-FOUNDER, EAT:FESTIVALS
“You will find allies and friends in unusual places… When you find people who you have something in common with and who make you happy, hang on to them and enjoy the journey.”
Beverley Milner Simonds is Co-Founder and Director of eat:Festivals, a social enterprise which specialises in creating opportunities for towns and communities in the Southwest of England. In 2012, Beverley and her wife Sarah wanted to make a difference and create ‘something awesome’ in their hometown. eat:Festivals brings together the best of West Country food and drinks producers across the Southwest of England to create opportunities for the local community and bring locals together.
Bev’s time at Greenwich was a whirlwind – she began her degree in Operations Management in 1996, first studying at the Woolwich campus before finishing her course at the Greenwich campus in 2001.
Bev on her time studying at Greenwich: “I loved the process of learning and debate – I would go back to university at the drop of a hat to continue my educational journey.
Reacting to new opportunities and adapting to the local environment and economic stimulus are all skills that I learnt on the course. The application of these skills (including “how to learn”) in my day-to-day business is really satisfying.”
While at Greenwich, Bev completed a 2-year industrial placement with London Underground and decided to pursue the graduate scheme after graduation.
After nine years of managing tube stations, negotiating PPP contracts, and organising buskers on the underground, she took the decision to relocate to the West Country, taking up a senior HR role in the energy sector.
It was after relocating to the south of England with her wife Sarah that they established eat:Festivals. From wanting to do something great for their hometown, their idea has turned into a multi-award winning festival which attracts 20,000+ visitors per day and generates more than £6m in local economic impact per year. And with big plans for the future, 2023 will see the festival visit 18 towns across the Southwest.
Beverley and Sarah pour their heart into their work and have created a strong community through their festivals, something which they are both immensely proud of.
“Whoever you are now, you might be someone different tomorrow. We all grow as people and that is what we are all meant to do. Very few people end up being the same person they were at 18 or 19 compared to when they are 30. You will find allies and friends in unusual places, and enemies in even weirder places. When you find people who you have something in common with and who make you happy, hang on to them and enjoy the journey.”
To celebrate the University of Greenwich being ranked in the top 20 of Stonewall’s Top 100 Employers List, we have dedicated the 2023 edition of Greenwich Portraits to recognise and showcase the achievements of alumni who identify as LGBTQ+.
Community is incredibly important, which is why we have created a dedicated safe space for our LGBT+ alumni to connect, network and socialise on Ask Alumni+. Join the LGBT+ Alumni Community here.
Beverley Milner Simonds
BA Operations Management, 2001
CO-FOUNDER OF EAT:FESTIVALS
“You will find allies and friends in unusual places… When you find people who you have something in common with and who make you happy, hang on to them and enjoy the journey.”
Beverley Milner Simonds is Co-Founder and Director of eat:Festivals, a social enterprise which specialises in creating opportunities for towns and communities in the Southwest of England. In 2012, Beverley and her wife Sarah wanted to make a difference and create ‘something awesome’ in their hometown. eat:Festivals brings together the best of West Country food and drinks producers across the Southwest of England to create opportunities for the local community and bring locals together.
Bev’s time at Greenwich was a whirlwind – she began her degree in Operations Management in 1996, first studying at the Woolwich campus before finishing her course at the Greenwich campus in 2001.
Bev on her time studying at Greenwich: “I loved the process of learning and debate – I would go back to university at the drop of a hat to continue my educational journey.
Reacting to new opportunities and adapting to the local environment and economic stimulus are all skills that I learnt on the course. The application of these skills (including “how to learn”) in my day-to-day business is really satisfying.”
While at Greenwich, Bev completed a 2-year industrial placement with London Underground and decided to pursue the graduate scheme after graduation.
After nine years of managing tube stations, negotiating PPP contracts, and organising buskers on the underground, she took the decision to relocate to the West Country, taking up a senior HR role in the energy sector.
It was after relocating to the south of England with her wife Sarah that they established eat:Festivals. From wanting to do something great for their hometown, their idea has turned into a multi-award winning festival which attracts 20,000+ visitors per day and generates more than £6m in local economic impact per year. And with big plans for the future, 2023 will see the festival visit 18 towns across the Southwest.
Beverley and Sarah pour their heart into their work and have created a strong community through their festivals, something which they are both immensely proud of.
“Whoever you are now, you might be someone different tomorrow. We all grow as people and that is what we are all meant to do. Very few people end up being the same person they were at 18 or 19 compared to when they are 30. You will find allies and friends in unusual places, and enemies in even weirder places. When you find people who you have something in common with and who make you happy, hang on to them and enjoy the journey.”
To celebrate the University of Greenwich being ranked in the top 20 of Stonewall’s Top 100 Employers List, we have dedicated the 2023 edition of Greenwich Portraits to recognise and showcase the achievements of alumni who identify as LGBTQ+.
Community is incredibly important, which is why we have created a dedicated safe space for our LGBT+ alumni to connect, network and socialise on Ask Alumni+. Join the LGBT+ Alumni Community here.
