— How to Become an Event Manager in the UK

Whether you're at the start of your career or thinking about a career change later in life, there's always a path into event management. While other industries are suffering job losses due to automation and AI, the UK event industry remains strong. There is growing demand for in-person events, which is why this sector is still thriving.

Working as an event manager will enable you to flex your creativity while also demonstrating your capacity to juggle multiple demands at once. It will challenge you to think on your feet, develop a strong eye for detail and continually expand your skillset.

If you're thinking about joining the event management sector in an entry-level role or as a career change later in life, read on to learn more about the industry demands and how you can stand out as a candidate.

What does an event manager do?

Event managers are responsible for organising, running and evaluating events for a wide range of sectors. Events is a broad umbrella term that can include everything from awards shows and conferences to launch events and fashion shows. Events can also be held online with the help of streaming platforms.

There are multiple aspects to the event manager role, including:

• Planning and devising events
• Hiring and coordinating vendors
• Booking venues
• Coordinating and managing event staff on the day
• Welcoming guests and speakers/performers
• Managing budgets and keeping track of costs
• Post-event takedown and coordinating the clean up
• Post-event evaluation for improving future events
• Documenting events for your portfolio
• Compliance and safety management, including risk assessments

While many people have a vision of the event management role being very glamorous and high rolling, the vast majority of the time is actually occupied by pre- and post-event tasks. It's important to enter the sector with realistic expectations to avoid disappointment.

With so many sectors in need of events, you'll be able to shape your career around your personal interests, allowing you to bring your passion for your hobbies into your work. Other people prefer to focus on sectors outside of their realm of interest, as this allows them to maintain a better sense of work/life balance.

Types of events that require event managers include:

• Meetings, including conferences, workshops and training courses
• Exhibitions, including trade and consumer shows, product launches and expos
• Corporate events, including business development, leadership training and awards
• Cultural and community events
• Sporting events, like the Olympics or the London Marathon
• Charity fundraisers
• Festivals, including art, music, theatre and literature
• Music and live performances
• Social events, like weddings and private parties

Qualifications and experience needed

The vast majority of people in the event management sector will have some kind of formal education and training in hospitality management, hotel management, business administration or specific event management training.

A university degree will set you up on the right path towards a career in event management, but this isn't the only way to become an event manager. It's also possible to join through other sectors, such as marketing or finance.

Moving into event management from diverse sectors will allow you to bring a wealth of experience gained in other sectors. There are many skills that will be transferable to the event management sector — it's just about how you present these skills to employers.

It's also possible to get into this sector through work experience and agency work. This will allow you to get to grips with the demands of the role and work your way up from event assistant or administrator roles.

Typical career path

As outlined above, many people will enter the sector following formal education. A three-year degree programme in event management or hospitality management will lay the foundations for a career in events. It will also allow you to apply for more senior roles straight out of university, particularly if you have completed work experience placements during this time.

It's also possible to join this sector using on-the-job training as your foundation. This could mean starting at the very bottom and earning your way to an event manager role. Common ways to gain experience in the sector include work experience, agency work, or landing an entry-level role as an assistant.

Another pathway into event management would be through other industries. There is a lot of crossover between event management and other industries like marketing, hospitality, fundraising, project management and travel.

If you have gained valuable experience in other sectors and your role has touched upon event management, you may be able to leverage this experience to land your first event coordinator, producer or manager role.

Skills employers look for

When applying for roles in the event management sector, you'll need to demonstrate the following soft skills:

• Organisation — as you might expect, event managers possess keen organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple conflicting demands. You'll have your own systems for keeping on top of everything and ensuring nothing slips between the cracks.
• Teamworking — event managers rarely work alone, so you'll need to be able to work effectively with others and know how to motivate a team.
• Communication — written and verbal communication are essential for keeping everyone on the same page.
• Time-management — you'll be responsible for managing your own workload and this requires a keen sense of self-motivation. Enthusiastic, extroverted and optimistic personality types tend to thrive in this field.
• Financial acuity — event managers need to keep track of budgets to avoid overspending. You'll also need to be able to report this information confidently to senior management.
• Customer service skills — many event managers work in public-facing sectors, which means they need to be confident in solving problems and ensuring visitor satisfaction.
• Sales, marketing and negotiation — you won't just be managing the events, but you'll also be responsible for promoting them and maximising attendance.

You'll also need to be confident using a wide range of computer programmes to keep track and document processes. Employers will also look for additional qualifications like health and safety, first aid, and many will also require you to have a full UK driving license.

Average salary expectations

Salary expectations for the event management sector will depend on the location of the role, the sector you're working in and your level of experience.

In an entry-level role, you can expect to be earning between £17,000 and £22,000 per year. This is typical for entry-level roles outside of London, with London-based roles commanding salaries at the higher end of this range.

As you gain some experience and move into a team leader role, you can expect to be earning around £28,000 to £38,000 per year, again depending on the sector you are working in. Sectors like corporate conferences will generally offer higher salaries than the charity sector or smaller organisations.

As your career progresses, you can expect to earn up to £50,000 as an event manager, rising to up to £85,000 if you achieve the role of event director. Membership of a relevant professional body can help you to elevate your career and command a higher salary. These include:

• Association of British Professional Conference Organisers (ABPCO)
• Association of Event Organisers (AEO)
• The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM)
• Meetings Industry Association (MIA)

First steps into the industry

If you're approaching the end of your university course and looking for a relevant role in the sector, consider assistant roles in a wide range of sectors. You can also expand your search to include marketing roles that include a lot of event management tasks.

For those joining the events sector from another industry, start by taking stock of your experience and how it applies to event management. Be prepared to enter the industry at a slightly less senior level, as you'll need to demonstrate your ability to actually apply the skills you have learned to the event management role.

Documenting your career is a great way to chart your progress and make it easier to apply for your next role when the opportunity arises. Employers will often want to see a portfolio of events and an honest assessment of your involvement.

Written by

Sophie

Events-Jobs.co.uk · 3 years in the events industry

With 3 years of experience in the events industry, Sophie understands the events job market and what companies and candidates need from an industry-specific job board.

Connect on LinkedIn hi@events-jobs.co.uk