Events managers plan and co-ordinate a wide range of corporate and social events, making sure they run smoothly and to budget.
The Work
The range of events includes trade fairs, product launches, company away-days including team building exercises, fundraisers, sports events, antique fairs, music festivals, weddings and parties.
You could be:
discussing clients' needs and selecting and booking suitable venues
assisting with the production and distribution of promotional material and tickets
liaising with a range of suppliers to ensure all equipment and services are provided on time, such as marquees, catering, transport, accommodation, lighting and sound systems and any special equipment or services such as computers and internet access
checking that health and safety regulations are complied with and arranging security
taking registrations and payments, sometimes online
keeping records of bookings and arrangements
managing the event on the day to ensure that it runs smoothly
making sure an event meets the budget and is completed to schedule
evaluating the event and producing reports.
You may organise more than one event at a time.
Pay
The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates may vary, depending on:
where you work
the size of the company or organisation you work for
the demand for the job.
The starting salaries for events organisers are in the range of £18,000 to £22,000 a year. With experience, annual salaries can rise to between £22,000 and £25,000 or more. At senior level the salary could be over £40,000 a year.
Conditions
You usually work regular office hours between events but you may have to work long hours in the run-up to an event. This could be 10-12 hours a day.
You often have to go to events in the evenings or at weekends.
You may have to travel a lot and spend nights away from home.
You have to be able to cope with stress and work to tight deadlines.
Most entrants have worked in related jobs in sales, marketing, customer service, hotel and catering or public relations.
Entrants are usually graduates. It helps if you have a degree in marketing (SCQF Level 9), event management, business, journalism, advertising or public relations. Entry requirements are usually 4-5 Highers.
Edinburgh Napier, Glasgow Caledonian, Queen Margaret, Robert Gordon, Stirling, Highlands and Islands and the West of Scotland Universities offer degrees in event management, with Napier also offering festival and event management.
There are HNCs (SCQF Level 7) and HNDs (SCQF Level 8) in events management. You usually need 2 Highers and 2-3 subjects at National 4 or 5, including English or equivalent.
You will need a full driving licence for some posts.
It can be useful to speak a second language.
You could get some experience by volunteering or working part time at events.
You might work for an events management company or an individual venue, such as an exhibition centre or hotel.
2024
