If you’re thinking about a career in event management you’ll be looking at all the options. The events industry is more interested in your skills and your ability to do the job than how many qualifications you have. It is, however, really important to feel confident in your abilities and to have the knowledge you need to know what you are doing, which is why we recommend doing an accredited event management course. When choosing a course, bear in mind that courses that are accredited (recognised by an awarding body) are valued most by employers because they can trust that your qualification is of a high standard. We recommend doing an accredited event management course which includes a placement, to give you that combination of essential learning and practical experience. At the Event Academy, we offer a Degree Alternative course which provides a 1-year fast-track into the event industry. It is fully accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing, a globally recognised body. This course is open to school leavers with little or no experience or training in event management. After less than a year of training, you will graduate with deep and broad levels of practical knowledge and experience and a placement in the industry.

What do event managers do?

Event managers can work on a whole range of different events which is what makes being an event manager such an exciting, challenging and fun industry to work in. A typical week might involve visiting a venue for an event, meeting with a client to discuss their plans, doing a food tasting session, meeting with the entertainment for the event…the list can go on! Working as an event manager is fast-paced and varied – every day is different from the last and event managers are always on the move.

Event managers oversee the whole process of creating an event which can include some or all of the following activities:

Talking to and meeting the clients to find out what they want from their event

Using creativity to come up with ideas for the event
Managing the budget (how much money is available to spend on the event)
Researching venues and suppliers (where the event will be held and who will supply the services needed such as florists, musicians, equipment hire)
Site visits to find a venue
Food and wine tastings with the caterers
Managing suppliers and other staff working on the event
Marketing the event
Publicising the event through PR
Working with celebrities who will attend and endorse the event
Working on event sponsorship or fundraising for the event
Creating a Risk Assessment for the event
Creating an Event Plan of how to execute the event
Looking at ways of making the event as eco-friendly as possible
Being there on the day to make sure everything runs smoothly
Where do they work?

Where do they work?

There are many different areas within the event industry that you could work in. Event managers organise all sorts of events from large-scale corporate or business events to weddings and private parties. They can work within a particular venue or organisation, or an agency working for a range of different clients who employ them specifically to organise and run events for them.