September Profile: Rebecca Greig
Minute one of many in fieldsports
My journey into fieldsports has really only just begun – or as a Holland & Holland instructor said “you’re in minute one of what will be a long shooting journey” when I was upset that I didn’t hit as many clays as I wanted. I feel truly privileged to be part of the team at Holland & Holland and am excited to learn more and embrace the many opportunities that are hopefully ahead of me.
I began my professional career in publishing with a focus on photography after completing an NCTJ in photojournalism eleven years ago. Later I edited and developed publications on a huge range of subjects including photography, baking, travel, mindfulness and fitness – I still get a thrill to see myself listed as ‘Editor’ in the bookazines that remain on sale now.
In 2021, I took the risk to open my own café in Bournemouth. It was a huge challenge to learn how to run a business while managing staff, baking the produce, marketing the business and being present for my customers day to day – but it was an incredible experience that I believe shaped the person I am now. I definitely apply the knowledge that I learned while running my business and time in publishing into my current position with Holland & Holland and would be a completely different person without it.
It was while I had the café that I rediscovered my love and passion for the outdoors. It became my escape from the stresses of the business, and I found myself in the mountains, camping or trekking on a coastal path with a group of friends almost every weekend - no matter the weather. This passion led me on an unforgettable trek to Everest Basecamp with my closest friends.
You might wonder how any of this relates to fieldsports, but I believe that every step and experience throughout my career so far has led me to where I feel lucky to be right now.
My partner, Steve, is the Gunroom Manager at the Holland & Holland Shooting Grounds, and he began introducing me to the world of fieldsports – from the first time he handed me a shotgun, my interest was piqued. He opened the whole world of field sports to me that I had never really considered.
I sold my business in November 2024 and was at an uncertain chapter of my life. I was lucky to get a temporary position on the bar at the Holland & Holland Shooting Grounds while I contemplated my next career move. It was here that I began really absorbing and understanding what an incredible brand Holland & Holland is and just how amazing the Shooting Grounds itself is too.
The passion and knowledge I saw from Steve every day as he educated clients about the guns and history of Holland & Holland drew me further in. The pride of being a part of Holland & Holland that he showed was infectious and the relationship between him, the instructors and everyone else at the Shooting Grounds had me wondering how I could become a permanent part of it all. I found myself eager to learn more about the fieldsports industry and figure out how I could apply my own skills and knowledge to such a prestigious brand. After months of constantly thinking about where I could fit in, I finally pitched a role for myself to the General Manager, and the rest as they say is history.
I am now Marketing Executive at Holland & Holland based at the Shooting Grounds. I’m still finding my feet in the role, but I am thoroughly enjoying learning more about the brand and developing content to highlight and enhance the Shooting Grounds.
My first week in the role saw me taking pictures of The King at the Royal Windsor Horse Show – something I had dreamed of while training to be a photojournalist. My days are varied – one day I could be in the factory watching our incredibly skilled craftsmen and women handmaking our beautiful guns, the next day I might be working with Executive Chef Joshua Hunter and team to photograph their amazing food or be out on the Grounds photographing our instructors hard at work.
It is an exciting time to be part of the Holland & Holland team – particularly at the Shooting Grounds itself as we look to widen and encourage participation in the sport. We’ve recently launched Breaking 80 which is our most accessible competition yet with prizes for Top Lady, Top Gun as well as 12th, 18th and 35th place, and have more ideas in the pipeline to elevate the offerings for all.
On a personal level, I have had incredible opportunities since becoming part of Holland & Holland to develop my own shooting and was proudly the 2nd place lady in the recent staff clay competition. My new field sports network led me to attend my first Sim Day which I thoroughly enjoyed and my attendance at The Game Fair enabled me to join The Women Who Work in Field Sports breakfast where I discovered a whole network of inspiring women in the industry.
I don’t see my position at Holland & Holland as just another job – it’s a whole way of life that I am keenly embracing. I enjoy the thrill of shooting clays but also can’t wait to go stalking and shoot my first deer. I recently perfected my venison pie recipe at home, so need to figure out what I can make next with any game that we get.
