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Event and Exhibition Organiser

Do you want to become a Event and Exhibition Organiser? Here is some information to help point you in the right direction:

Job Description - Print Page

Event and exhibition organisers work on major public exhibitions, trade and industry exhibitions, and indoor and outdoor events of all sizes. Their work includes selecting suitable venues, selling stand space, planning entertainment programmes and arranging other facilities, eg car parking, catering, toilets, insurance cover and first aid.

They are office based but spend a lot of time visiting venues, exhibitions and other events for planning, organisation and overseeing purposes. Working hours are flexible and often long and unsociable. Events often take place outdoors, in all weather conditions.

A new event and exhibition organiser earns around £15,000 a year. Experienced, well-estabished organisers can earn up to £60,000. Many work freelance and are paid set or negotiated fees per project.

An event and exhibition organiser should:

• be well-organised, efficient and flexible
• have excellent communication skills
• be imaginative and creative
• have good marketing and negotiating skills
• be able to cope with many tasks at once and work to tight schedules
• be a good team leader, with project management and problem-solving skills.
• enjoy working under pressure, with a wide variety of people
• have enthusiasm for developing a project from beginning to end.

Organisers work in house at major event or exhibition venues, for exhibition and event management companies, or as freelance organisers. There is a high demand for people to work in this field, although entry is competitive.

There are no set entry requirements. Often, people enter the work with proven organisational and marketing skills or experience. There are a range of specific event management qualifications including degrees, a foundation degree and a BTEC/SQA higher national diploma in Event Management. There is no upper age limit for the job.

New entrants train and develop ideas through working at a venue or event/exhibition management company. The Association for Conferences and Events (ACE) and the Association of Exhibition Organisers (AEO) have membership schemes. They arrange seminars and training courses for those already working as organisers to continue to develop their skills.

Promotion opportunities are sometimes available at large venues or companies, to team leader, event/exhibition manager or a wider management role. Freelance organisers' progression depends on becoming established in the field through organising events/exhibitions successfully and to a consistently high standard.

 

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