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A Career as an Event Manager

The job role

Event Managers are responsible for organising corporate, social and fundraising functions and events on behalf of their clients.  They are often involved in the initial concept development and agreement of the budget, and then have responsibility for choosing the most suitable venue, sourcing and procuring catering, and selecting appropriate entertainment.  On the day of the event, the Event Manager will handle any problems that arise and ensure that health, safety and environmental regulations are adhered to.

Depending on the company they work for, Event Managers can be involved in running conferences, exhibitions, new product launches, weddings, parties or charity fundraisers.

Relevant qualifications

Although there are not, generally, any specific entry requirements, this is a competitive industry sector and any vacancies are hotly contested.  As such, the better your academic background, the better your chances of securing the position.  It is possible to achieve an HND or degree in Event Management as well as related NVQs and City and Guilds.  Professional accreditation is also possible through the Association of Exhibition Organisers (AEO), the Association of British Professional Conference Organisers (ABPCO), the Association for Conferences and Events (ACE) and the Society of Event Organisers.

Skills requirements

It is important for an Event Manager to be able to build strong client relationships and to communicate and negotiate effectively with suppliers and service providers to ensure that the event is managed within budget.  They need to be extremely well organised, capable of dealing with unforeseen problems or issues, and must be able to delegate to other team members to ensure that required tasks are completed within the agreed timeframe.  An Event Manager should also be good at networking to enable them to call upon the most appropriate contractor, venue owner/manager or supplier according to the nature of the event.

Career development

This is considered to be a particularly diverse and rewarding career that can lead to involvement in managing prestigious and high-profile events.  Some companies specialise in managing specific types of events, such as weddings, while some Event Managers operate on a consultancy basis and can therefore negotiate their own fees.