The work
Events managers are responsible for organising and running all kinds of promotional, business and social events. You would control the whole project, from planning at the start to running the event on the day.
Your job would normally include:
- discussing what the client wants
- coming up with original ideas for events
- agreeing budgets and timescales with the client
- researching venues, contacts and suppliers
- negotiating prices with suppliers and contractors
- booking venues, entertainment, equipment and supplies
- hiring and supervising contractors such as caterers and security
- publicising the event
- making sure that everything runs smoothly on the day
- ensuring that health, safety and insurance regulations are followed
- managing a team.
You might specialise in organising a particular type of event, such as parties and weddings, exhibitions and conferences, product launches or fundraising events.
Hours
You would generally work standard office hours, although as event dates get nearer you may work long and unsocial hours. You may also go to events in the evenings and at the weekend.
Income
Starting salaries can be around £17,000 to £21,000 a year. With experience, earnings can reach £25,000 to £40,000 a year.
Management salaries in some top companies can reach £50,000 to £80,000 a year.
Salaries may include bonuses and commission, particularly if the job involves sales and marketing responsibilities.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
Entry requirements
Events managers often start their careers from a variety of backgrounds. Employers will look for relevant experience or strong transferable skills such as client management, organisation, budget management and negotiation.
Taking a qualification in events management may help you, although this is not essential if you can get relevant work experience. Relevant courses include:
- Level 2 Certificate in Event Planning
- Level 2 Award in Event Planning
- Level 3 Certificate in the Principles of Event Management.
Whatever your qualifications and background, you should ideally have practical experience in organising events. This could be in a related industry, like hotel conference and banqueting, travel or public relations. It could also be experience you have gained by organising events as part of your role in a job such as personal assistant, marketing executive or human resources officer.
You could also start as a coordinator or assistant in an event management company or in an organisation's marketing department, possibly through temporary work ('temping'). You could then progress to organising events yourself as your experience grows.
You could gain useful experience by organising events and activities in your personal or social life. Paid or unpaid work as a steward (supervisor) at large events or exhibitions can also be a good way of building contacts in the industry.
Training and development
You would do most of your training on the job. Some employers may give you the opportunity to do short internal or external training courses. You could also choose to study for part-time qualifications in event planning and management whilst you are working in the industry. Qualifications include:
- Level 2 Certificate in Event Planning
- Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Event Management.
You may find it useful to join a professional organisation such as the Association of Exhibition Organisers (AEO) or the Association for Conferences and Events (ACE) for training and networking opportunities. See their websites for more details.
More information
Eventia 
Tel: 0870 112 6970
www.eventia.org.uk
People 1st
2nd Floor Armstrong House
38 Market Square
Uxbridge
Middlesex
UB8 1LH
Tel: 01895 817 000
www.uksp.co.uk/ (careers information)
www.people1st.co.uk
Business Visits and Events Partnership
www.businesstourismpartnership.com
Association for Conferences and Events (ACE)
Riverside House
High Street
Huntingdon
Cambridgeshire
PE18 6SG
Tel: 01480 457595
www.aceinternational.org
Association of British Professional Conference Organisers (ABPCO)
Wellington Park
Belfast
BT9 6DJ
Tel: 028 9038 7475
www.abpco.org
Association of Exhibition Organisers
119 High Street
Berkhamsted
Hertfordshire
HP4 2DJ
Tel: 01442 285810
www.aeo.org.uk
Opportunities
You could work for event management companies, hotels, leisure facilities, conference and exhibition venues, or charities. You could also organise internal events for large companies, universities or local authorities.
Jobs may be advertised in the local, national and events industry press, and by specialist recruitment agencies.
With experience and a good track record, you could run events that have larger budgets and eventually progress to management within a company. Another option is to work freelance or set up your own events management business.
You may find the following links useful for vacancies and general reading (links open in a new window):
Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
Related industry information
Industry summary
The hospitality services industry is represented by People 1st, the Sector Skills Council for hospitality, passenger transport, travel and tourism. The hospitality, travel and tourism sector incorporates the following industries: contract food service providers, events, gambling, holiday parks, hospitality services, hostels, hotels, membership clubs, pubs, bars and nightclubs, restaurants, self-catering accommodation, tourist services, and visitor attractions. The sector accounts for a workforce of 2.1 million, most of which are based within the restaurants, hospitality services, and pubs, bars and nightclubs industries. The roles within the sector are extremely diverse and include managers, technical staff, front-of-house staff, back-of-house staff, and non-core staff.
The hospitality services industry provides support to a number of other industries, ranging from hotels and restaurants to educational establishments and oil rigs. The industry provides food and drink, and increasingly provides ‘facilities management’, which means services like housekeeping services, linen and security. Hospitality service providers include: travel; business; retail; education; health care; remote and offshore locations; corporate hospitality and executive dining; government and local authority provision; plus leisure venues and events (such as concerts, regattas, sporting events, weddings and parties). The industry overlaps with the food and service management industry, which is an external service provider. Hospitality services are managed ‘in‐house’ by, for example, a retailer or local authority.
Key facts:
- There are 195,200 people working in the hospitality services industry.
- 12% of the workforce has an NVQ Level 4 or above qualification.
- The majority of the workforce has a NVQ Level 2 qualification (32%).
- 9% of the workforce has no qualifications.
- 49% of the workforce is employed full‐time.
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2009.]
Jobs in the industry range from: food and beverage manager, kitchen assistant, chef, bar person, waiting staff, assistant bar manager, general manager, assistant head housekeeper, housekeeper, cleaner, conference and banqueting manager, crew member, floor manager, porter, receptionist.
National and regional data
East Midlands – There are approximately 17,400 people working in the hospitality services industry in this region, of which:
- 49% work full‐time
- 67% of the workforce is female
- 95% of the workforce is white
- 17% of the workforce is 40‐44 years
- 32% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification
East of England – There are approximately 17,500 people working in the hospitality services industry in this region, of which:
- Workforce is evenly split between those working full‐time and those working part‐time
- 74% of the workforce is female
- 97% of the workforce is white
- The majority of the workforce is aged 16‐29 years (41%)
- 37% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification
London – There are approximately 22,000 people working in the hospitality services industry in this region, of which:
- 48% work full‐time
- Workforce is evenly split between men and women
- 58% of the workforce is white
- 16% of the workforce is 30‐34 years
- 25% of the workforce has an NVQ level 1 and entry level qualification
North East – There are approximately 7,000 people working in the hospitality services industry in this region, of which:
- 48% work full‐time
- 69% of the workforce is female
- 23% of the workforce is 50‐54 years
- 40% of the workforce has an NVQ level 3 qualification
North West – There are approximately 19,200 people working in the hospitality services industry in this region, of which:
- 40% work full‐time
- 58% of the workforce is female
- 17% of the workforce is 20‐24 years
- 40% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification
South East – There are approximately 32,400 people working in the hospitality services industry in this region, of which:
- 48% work full‐time
- Workforce is evenly split between men and women
- 93% of the workforce is white
- 22% of the workforce is 20‐24 years
- 34% of the workforce has an NVQ level 3 qualification
South West – There are approximately 19,600 people working in the hospitality services industry in this region, of which:
- 52% work full‐time
- 68% of the workforce is female
- 95% of the workforce is white
- 19% of the workforce is 16‐19 years
- 34% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification
West Midlands – There are approximately 17,800 people working in the hospitality services industry in this region, of which:
- 56% work full‐time
- 58% of the workforce is female
- 94% of the workforce is white
- 15% of the workforce is 20‐24 years
- 39% of the workforce has an NVQ level 3 qualification
Yorkshire and the Humber – There are approximately 16,000 people working in the hospitality services industry in this region, of which:
- 43% work full‐time
- 75% of the workforce is female
- 96% of the workforce is white
- 19% of the workforce is 20‐24 years
- 35% of the workforce has an NVQ level 3 qualification
Northern Ireland – There are approximately 4,095 people working in the hospitality services industry in this region, of which:
- 58% work full‐time
- 53% of the workforce is male
- 23% of the workforce is 45‐49 years
- 35% of the workforce has no qualifications
Scotland – There are approximately 14,454 people working in the hospitality services industry in this region, of which:
- 59% work full‐time
- 70% of the workforce is female
- 27% of the workforce is 16‐24 years
- 30% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification
Wales – There are approximately 7,898 people working in the hospitality services industry in this region, of which:
- 51% work full‐time
- 65% of the workforce is female
- 27% of the workforce is 40‐44 years
- 38% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2009.]
Career paths
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