Spencer has degrees in Social and Political Thought and Sport, Leisure and Culture; his PhD examined the role of leisure in the Somali diaspora in Britain, exploring issues pertaining to identity, social exclusion, and morality. During his PhD, Spencer worked as a lecturer and research assistant at Leeds Beckett University in the Centre for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion teaching on a range of degrees including Sports Development, Sports Business Management, Physical Education, and the well-renowned MA in Leisure, Sport and Culture. Recently, he has taken on the role of lecturer in Sports Development/Management and Sociology at York St John University, teaching on a wide array of interdisciplinary modules in policy, management and citizenship. Outside of academia, Spencer has a background in education and sports development, the latter of which saw him working on initiatives designed to engage socially excluded groups into sport and recreation.