ABOUT US

OUR STORY

At Heard About Sam (HAS), we are not only award winning skilled professionals, we also excel in providing bespoke sales and marketing consultancy, event management and mentoring services for the hospitality and events industry amongst others.

We are passionate about hospitality & events and the role it can play in the local community. As well as developing people who are entering or already in the profession.

Our mission is to build lasting partnerships with our clients by delivering personalised, impactful solutions that address their specific needs and aspirations.

We are committed to understanding your unique business challenges and goals, offering innovative strategies and hands-on guidance to help you succeed in a competitive market.

Our focus is on achieving measurable results that enhance your business growth and operational effectiveness, ensuring you thrive in today's dynamic environment.

HAS - Heard About Sam. We offer expertise in sales, marketing, and event management to deliver end to end exceptional results on a consultancy basis. Sam McGrath. Hampshire, Portsmouth.

OUR VALUES

Passionate | Ambitious | Results Driven | Experienced | Personable - with a can do attitude, we will make your goals a reality!

We draw on our wealth of experience, having been both the in-house sales, marketing and events specialist, rising from Coordinator to Director level, helping venues, stadiums, event agents and business owners deliver their long term strategies and short term objectives. Looking at the customer journey and mapping out their sales and marketing funnel or events brief.

As time has gone on, we have identified our passion is supporting sales growth and creating events for mainly the hospitality, entertainment and sports industries whilst also supporting sectors such as not for profit, technology, retail and property.

Heard About Sam now helps other businesses who want the same growth.

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MEET THE TEAM

And today it’s more about just Sam, it’s about partnering and bringing in other freelance professionals to get the job done, depending on the event brief.

Each new contract presents itself with new & exciting challenges and if we don’t have the experts in-house then we will source you the best people to join our team.

Our goal is to deliver the brief on time, within budget, with outstanding customer service.

OUR FOUNDER SAM

HAS - Heard About Sam. We offer expertise in sales, marketing, and event management to deliver end to end exceptional results on a consultancy basis. Sam McGrath. Hampshire, Portsmouth.

Sam began her career at an International Events & Production company, where she travelled the world, collaborating with the UK’s top corporate clients on conferences and incentive travel. After leaving to pursue personal travels, she returned to become National Sales Manager for the iconic nightclub and restaurant group, Tiger Tiger, by age 25, and worked on the prestigious ‘Volvo Ocean Race’ with ABN AMRO sailing.

In 2010, Sam launched Heard About Sam Ltd in Covent Garden, during London’s nightlife boom. Her company, named after her maiden name and standing for Sales and Marketing, quickly attracted major bar and restaurant chains, helping them grow sales and enhance the customer experience through high-volume reservations and private events.

Word spread about the success of Heard About Sam, leading to a collaboration with Heineken during the 2012 Olympics. Sam worked with the Heineken family and their events team to plan and host the official ‘Heineken Lounge’ in Haymarket, bringing together staff, VIPs, and athletes.

From 2013 to 2018, Sam was recruited by Southampton Football Club to build a sales, marketing, and events department for its sister company, ‘Halo Conferences & Events.’ Under her leadership, revenues soared from £800K to £3.2M, the team grew by eleven new hires, and she secured a key event hire contract at the cruise terminals. Sam's work expanded the brand's reach, driving growth and hosting high-profile concerts and events, including shows by Robbie Williams, Take That, and The Rolling Stones, drawing 32,000 visitors.

  • “Sam is such an inspirational leader. She has extensive experience and talent in leading high performing teams, increasing revenue in both for and not for profit organisations and is highly strategic and driven to exceed outcomes. Her passion for helping others to succeed is infectious. Sam is one of those rare people who are committed to improving themselves, professionally and personally so she can be the best version of herself for both her work and family.”

    Kat Thorne — International Keynote Speaker | Life explosion ➜ High Performing | Positive Habits Teacher | Former CEO | #1 Positive Habits Podcast

  • “I am very fortunate to know and over periods worked with Sam for over ten years now. Heard About Sam was an integral part of the business and of the business success when we worked together. Since then Sam is so important to the success of the business, I have grown with the team and run today. Helping start Dirty Martini in London with myself and our team was a landmark for our business. I would sincerely recommend Sam to all who look to get for advice and support with their business.”

    Scott Matthews — CEO, CG Restaurants

WE MAKE IT A REALITY. WHY?

Because we are passionate about using our expertise to give hands on support, and consultation, to be part of the experience to deliver and help you.

We love bumping into clients today and hearing their ongoing success stories.

Awards and Recognitions

  • Stadium Experience UK, Judge - 2025

  • Pamodzi Creates, Inspirational Women Awards – 2024 Trailblazer

  • Southwest England Prestige Awards: Business Development Consultancy of the Year (2021/2022 & 2020/2021)

  • Conference News UK: Shortlisted for the Community Support Award (2020)

  • Stadium Experience UK: Leadership Team Board Member (2014-2018)

Community Impact

  • Host of Leading Women in Sport Event with Stephen Morgan MP and Minister of Education (2025)

  • Host of Leading Women in Hospitality & Events Round Table with Stephen Morgan MP and Minister of Education (2024)

  • Portsmouth Food Poverty Campaign Board (2023 – 2024)

  • Care Experience Youth Academy (2023 – 2024)

  • Cruise Tourism Projects (2019 – 2024)

  • Digital Poverty Campaign (2019 – 2023)

Sam is passionate about people management, having personally guided and nurtured up and coming stars to fulfil their potential in their existing roles, as well as progressing them to ensure they have been ready for the next opportunities. Not stopping there, she is the driving force for the event management of the venue, securing repeat business as well as major new business such as several concerts.

— Debbie Rigney, Marketing Manager | Stadium Experience

  • "Judges praised the business development consultancy for taking a well-rounded hands-on approach to each project. Sam and her team are able to utilise their expertise in this area to seamlessly lead projects and events of all sizes. It is clear they are also able to assist business implement the most effective intergraded digital marketing techniques across all platforms to reach their intended audience. With every client the company works with, weather it be on a marketing project or event, Sam displays an unwavering passion, exceptional flexibility, and a warming friendliness that leaves a lasting impression.’’

 Outsourced Partners

Claudia Tinnirello

  • Claudia Tinnirello is the founder and director of Sophisticated Cloud Limited, a reputable global web design company based in Hampshire. Boasting over two decades of experience in online marketing, Claudia recognises the pivotal role a website plays in shaping the destiny of a business.

Laura May

  • Laura May is the founder and director of Mayday Event Services, bringing over 15 years of expertise in the global events industry. Laura excels in managing hybrid, remote, and global teams, delivering over 230 successful events across various formats. Her skills in contract negotiation and vendor management span the UK, EU, and US markets. Laura's passion for innovative and engaging events drives her commitment to mentoring her team and fostering a high-performance culture.

Jules Jones

  • With over 25 years’ experience in live event production & exhibitions, working with creative & ops teams to create engaging experiences globally, end-to-end, for leading brands. Areas of expertise: Corporate Events, Event Coordination, Event Production, Live Events, Product Launch Events.

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