Events and conference management
This page has been designed to give a starting point for those looking into careers in events and conference management.
What is events and conference management?
The industry is primarily concerned with serving the public, so you'll need to demonstrate communication and interpersonal skills as well as patience, diplomacy and tact.
Jobs in this field require good organisational and teamwork skills. Firms are happy to accept CVs from graduates with degrees in any discipline, although candidates with qualifications in event management, marketing, business communication or related subjects will be looked upon favourably'.
Some kind of relevant experience is important - employers like to see that applicants have direct experience, or at least some knowledge of the industry. Most firms do recruit graduates, though the industry is not geared towards graduate training. (AEO).
Prospects
Prospects is a graduate careers website with job profiles, including conference centre organiser, event organiser.
Prospects has also published a Hospitality Sector Briefing.
Targetjobs: Hosptality, leisure and tourism
Targetjobs is a graduate careers website with the following sector information.
People 1st
This is the sector skills council for hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism. It has a careers section which details the roles in these sectors, the best companies to work for and information about the labour market in these sectors.
How do I get into it?
'Firms are happy to accept CVs from graduates with degrees in any discipline, although candidates with qualifications in event management, marketing, business communication or related subjects will be looked upon favourably. Some kind of relevant experience is important - employers like to see that applicants have direct experience, or at least some knowledge of the industry'.
Although no formal qualifications are required to enter the events and exhibition industry at present, there are courses which would provide an added advantage to those applying for jobs:
Find courses at the University of Brighton
CAM (Communications, Advertising & Marketing Education Foundation) and CIM (The Chartered Institute of Marketing) run courses which are relevant to the exhibition industry, some of which are part-time or distant learning programmes.
Association for Event Management Education
A members directory listing institutions offering courses in event management.
Association of Exhibition Organisers (AEO)
Finding a job or employer in this sector
Companies
The AEO explains that:
'Most firms do recruit graduates, though the industry is not geared towards graduate training. There are at present no formal graduate training schemes. For speculative approaches the best bet is to apply to larger organisations. Some of the larger firms are listed on the AEO website. (Association of Exhibition Organisers)
Association of British Professional Conference Organisers
Lists members by area. A good networking resource
Imagination
Imagination in Europe, a design and communications consultancy, offer a bespoke event service.
Sodexho Prestige
Sodexho Prestige is the UK's largest event caterer and provider of corporate hospitality packages. They often recruit placement students and graduates.
Sorted PR
Sorted Public Relations provides an event management consultancy that produces a number of tailored campaigns and events.
Theme Traders
A creative events and party planning company.
Uniquethinking
Uniquethinking is a Public Relations consultancy based in Newcastle in the North East of England, which offer an event management service.
Recruitment agencies
Other vacancy sources
The Association for Conferences and Events
This site includes a CV shop and job vacancy section.
The Times
This site requires registration.
Further information and useful links
Planet Planit
'The event planner's oracle'
Trade associations
Association for Conferences and Events
Association of Exhibition Organisers
The aeo is the trade body for those who conceive, create, develop, manage, market, sponsor, supply or service, trade exhibitions and consumer events.
Event Supplier and Services Association (ESSA)
BECArepresents Britain's leading exhibition designers, contractors and material/service suppliers.
Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM)
Eventia
Eventia, the event industry association, is a hub for organisations that provide business solutions through the use of events.
Trade publications
Centaur Communications publications
Centaur Communication's publications include Marketing Week, Money Marketing, Design Week, Precision Marketing and New Media Age.
Centaur also provide online industry portals including www.mad.co.uk for the marketing, media, advertising and design community.
Event Magazine online
This is the online version of the magazine for the live events and exhibitions marketplace, including a 'job centre'.
The local area
The local events industry is hard to define. Although often described as a service, the diversity of events industry means that it cannot be easily described in terms of single sector. The following links are examples of local industry sectors that are related to events management:
Brighton and Hove City Council Information
Brighton and Hove Hospitality, Travel, Leisure and Tourism sector
Events are a major part of the creative industries (such as advertising, designer fashion, film and video, music, and the performing arts). Brighton and Hove Creative Industries sector
Creative Brighton
Creative Brighton is the independent industry-led group that represents the Creative Industries in Brighton & Hove. It is recognised locally and regionally as the primary consultative organisation for the city’s Creative Industries sector. This sector is large, diverse, vibrant and increasingly important to the city’s identity and economy. The website contains information on local music events
Other publications
The trade journals 'Hospitality' and 'Caterer and Hotel keeper' are available in Queenwood Library, Eastbourne.
Marketing and Creative Handbook
This is available from some libraries, or you can view a limited amount of information on the website. It includes a section on the exhibitions and conferences sector.
The Career Planning Guide (School of Service Management)
On studentcentral (you will need your University of Brighton username and password to be able to log in). Found on Service Management homepage > School information > The Career Planning Guide for Hospitality, Retail, Travel and Tourism undergraduates
The White Book
The White Book is a source of 40,000 listings and information for the events industry. The website has restricted access, but The Aldrich Library has the 2001 edition.
Other information sources
The Creative Review Handbook
This lists an events section.
Event Management UK
This directory lists useful information about the event management industry. It also lists event management related sites.
Hollis Press and PR annual
The Hollis-PR.com database contains information on over 10,000 companies, PR agencies and services.
Hospitality Net
Hospitality news and events.
mad.co.uk
Use this directory to find suppliers of services within the marketing, media, new media, advertising and design industries.
Exhibitions UK
This is the official web site for the UK exhibition industry, sponsored by Trade Partners UK, the new UK government organisation responsible for all trade promotion and development work.
World of Events
This website aims to provide information for events professionals.