Events Manager

You may be the perfect fit for event management if you love being a host! It’s much more than the standard party you’ve thrown before; instead, you deal with large numbers of clients and big brands or names. Fancy a challenge? Take a look at our career guide below!

What is event management?

Working in events is a fast-paced and highly rewarding career where you get to merge your superb organisational skills with your interpersonal skills. The job revolves around planning business, promotional or social events. Events can be found in any industry, whether it be an annual conference or a marketing campaign.

What is an event organiser?

What is an event manager? Essentially, it’s the person behind it all who made the plan a reality. They run the event, engage the audience and ensure it’s a success. Some may need to produce particular results following the occasion, while others may aim to raise a brand’s awareness. An events manager will organise exhibitions, conferences, seminars, parties and annual corporate trips or meetings.

Also, by looking into the event coordinator job description, we can see that it consists of the entire planning process right to evaluating how it went when it’s all over. They are hands-on, work as part of a team, and are great problem solvers who can make quick decisions in the heat of the moment. If this sounds like the perfect job for you, then keep on reading about the event management career.

What does an event manager do?

By taking a more in-depth look at the event management description, we find that event managers are in charge of many tasks and have a long list of responsibilities. The role of an event manager will research venues, contractors and supplies and liaise with clients to discover what their vision is. They’ll need to negotiate prices, stay within the budget and produce details proposals for the customers - this includes a list of potential venues, staffing, timeline and suppliers).

Once the planning process is complete, they’ll then have to move on to the next task of ensuring everything arrives in time and runs smoothly. Managing suppliers, communicating with marketing teams for promotional content and taking on board all pre-event planning is crucial. From organising guest speakers and appearances to how many will turn up is part of the job.

The role of an event organiser is also tasked with handling queries, problem-solving on the day if something turns sour or doesn’t arrive, and managing a team of staff - either hired just for the event or part of the permanent team. Furthermore, event manager duties extend to managing security, the media, car parking, first aid and hospitality.

Following legal and health and safety obligations are critical, as well as overseeing the event and clean -up afterwards. Event managers will also evaluate the occasion later, feedback to their clients and use the information for potential new customers in the future.

How to become an events manager?

So you want a career in event management? Well, you’ve come to the right place to find out how to make the dream a reality! This career doesn’t require candidates to have a specific degree, but qualifying in hotel, catering or event management, marketing, business, or leisure and tourism can be an advantage. Jobs in event management tend to ask individuals to have specific attributes, qualities and skills within the industry.

Experience is an essential part of the role. Most work their way up from an assistant position to an events manager and gain more knowledge on the way. Although not crucial, studying a Level 2 Certificate in Event Planning is also helpful. As it stands, there is no one guaranteed route into this role, but organisations tend to recruit when vacancies become open. Some individuals may come with a background of PR, marketing, administration or hospitality.

Where to find events management work experience?

As experience is one of the vital aspects for jobs in events management, finding work experience or a part-time position can be challenging. But, voluntary or paid experience, as well as insight into the field, is valuable. It’s a highly competitive career, so if you have had jobs in hospitality and qualifications under your belt, it’ll help your chances of getting a job. If studying at university is crucial to you, you can try a course that involves an optional year of work experience, where you can work in the industry for 12 months. You’ll network, liaise with clients and develop relevant expertise.

It also offers the opportunity to find out if it’s the job you want to do, or what type of events you wish to manage. If you cannot find paid or official internships, you can still make the most of your time at university by organising occasions for clubs, organisations, charities or even a student society. Careers in event management are just looking for the right candidate, who is enthusiastic, organised and loves the thrill of the job.

What are event management skills?

There are particular skills of an event organiser that are useful in any company. Firstly, attention to detail, time management and organisation skills are essential. Next, negotiation, interpersonal and communication skills are highly crucial for the position. Jobs in event management also need someone who can make decisions quickly in stressful situations, and who can sniff out a bargain and find the best price for suppliers, venues and contractors.

By looking at the event management definition above, it’s told us that project management, marketing, budgeting and sales skills is also attractive for this role. Lastly, event organiser skills can also be part of the type of person you are, for example, enthusiastic, optimistic, efficient and self-motivated.

What is the average events manager salary?

For those starting in event roles, they may earn between £18,000 and £22,000. But someone in an event coordinator role with a bit of experience may take home a range of £22,000 and £25,000. The average salary for an event manager is around £33,000. For people in senior managers or director-level positions can expect to earn £40,000 plus. Wages can vary depending on location, sector and employer you work. Also, some event roles are self-employed, and freelance, meaning your rates may be different.

What are the prospects for a project manager?

Events organisers can either work for specialised companies, within public and private sectors or freelance. You can also find an event project manager role in not-for-profit companies and in-house organisations, like alongside the marketing and sales departments. Individuals can find work at event menus, universities, hotels, charities and local authorities. Also, an events manager job may be within festivals, commercial companies, exhibition centres, PR agencies and conferences.

Once you secure the job, you’re probably wondering how do you progress? Promotion depends on where you work, your experience, your essential skills and your contact list. You may start as an assistant, move on to a team leader and then management. After these events, organisers can then progress to a senior manager or director. After a time, you may be responsible for big occasions, manage high-profile clients and control bigger budgets. Following several years’ worth of experience, you can transfer to a more prominent organisation or set up an agency.