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Event manager

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Event managers plan, organise and deliver events, using their organisational, communication and problem-solving skills to ensure everything runs smoothly

As an event manager, you'll plan and organise promotional, business and social events, such as conferences, exhibitions, festivals and corporate functions. You'll oversee the process from initial planning and budgeting through to event delivery and evaluation. The role combines planning and coordination with hands-on work and involves collaborating with clients, suppliers and other professionals.

You'll be responsible for ensuring events are delivered on time, within budget and to the required standards. You may also be involved in promoting events, managing risks and ensuring they meet the objectives of clients or organisations and the expectations of attendees.

Types of events

Event managers work across a range of events, including:

  • charity fundraising events and galas
  • corporate events - such as business development, client hospitality, teambuilding activities, leadership training and award ceremonies
  • cultural or community events - such as fairs, carnivals, parades and public celebrations
  • exhibitions, trade and consumer shows - including business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) exhibitions, trade fairs and expos
  • festivals - covering a range of subjects such as art, music, theatre, film, food and drink, literature and science
  • meetings - such as conferences, seminars, symposia, training courses and workshops
  • music and live performances - ranging from huge concerts to more intimate gigs
  • promotional and marketing events - such as product launches, brand activations, promotional campaigns and roadshows
  • social events - including private parties, weddings and other special occasions
  • sporting events - such as the Olympics, the London Marathon, local tournaments and community races.

Events may be held in person, online or in a hybrid format, combining both.

What does an event manager do?

As an event manager, your responsibilities will vary depending on the type of event and your employer. You'll typically need to:

  • liaise with clients or other stakeholders to establish event objectives and requirements, and develop detailed plans, proposals, timelines and budgets
  • research venues, suppliers and contractors, negotiate prices and agree contracts
  • manage event budgets, monitor expenditure and ensure events are delivered within agreed costs
  • manage suppliers and coordinate event logistics, including venues, catering, transport, accommodation, equipment and technical requirements
  • liaise with sales and marketing teams to publicise and promote events, and coordinate sponsorship arrangements where relevant
  • coordinate pre-event arrangements, including event programmes, speaker logistics, invitations, registration and attendee information
  • assess and manage risks, ensuring compliance with relevant legal, insurance, health and safety requirements, and taking account of accessibility and sustainability
  • manage and coordinate event staff and volunteers, providing briefings and delegating responsibilities
  • oversee event set-up, delivery and dismantling, coordinating suppliers, handling queries and resolving problems to ensure everything runs smoothly
  • evaluate event performance, analyse feedback and financial results, and identify improvements for future events.

Event manager salaries

  • Salaries for entry-level roles, such as events assistant or coordinator, typically range from £24,000 to £30,000.
  • With experience, events coordinators and executives can earn £28,000 to £35,000.
  • Event managers typically earn between £35,000 and £50,000, while senior event managers may earn around £45,000 to £60,000. Heads or directors of events can earn £70,000 or more, depending on their level of responsibility.

Salaries vary depending on your location (with salaries generally higher in London), the sector you work in, the size and type of employer, and your level of experience.

The type and scale of events you manage can also affect your earnings. For example, large corporate events, exhibitions and international conferences may offer higher salaries, particularly in senior or specialist roles.

Additional benefits may include performance-related pay, commission and bonuses, as well as enhanced pension contributions and additional annual leave, depending on the employer.

Experienced freelance event managers may be able to charge higher rates, but income can be unpredictable and you'll need to cover your own business expenses. You won't receive employment benefits such as paid annual leave or sick pay, although you may have greater flexibility over the projects you take on.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

What hours do event managers work?

You'll generally work normal office hours but may need to work longer hours in the lead-up to and during events, including evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

Part-time work is possible, and some employers offer hybrid or remote working, although you'll usually need to attend events in person.

Much of your planning work will be office based, but you'll also spend time at venues, sometimes working outdoors. Depending on the role, you may need to travel within the UK or abroad, including overnight stays.

How do I become an event manager?

Although you don't need a specific degree subject to become an event manager, the following degree, HND or foundation degree subjects may be useful:

  • business and management
  • communications
  • events management
  • hospitality management
  • leisure and tourism
  • marketing
  • sport management.

Employers are particularly interested in your skills, personal qualities and relevant practical experience.

Entry without a degree is possible, and you can work your way up from an events assistant position, gaining experience as you progress. It may be useful to take the Level 2 Certificate in Event Planning, although this isn't essential.

In England, you can also complete a Level 3 Event Co-ordinator apprenticeship, combining paid work with part-time study, allowing you to train on the job.

You can also take short skills or professional courses in event management that focus on key aspects of event planning, such as budgeting, client management, logistics and marketing. Courses are run by organisations such as:

Research courses thoroughly to ensure they meet your career aims and check the qualification or accreditation offered.

Some people move into event management from related areas such as marketing, hospitality, travel, charity fundraising, PR or arts administration.

What skills does an event manager need?

You'll need:

  • organisational skills and attention to detail to coordinate event logistics, manage competing priorities and meet deadlines
  • communication and interpersonal skills to build relationships with clients, suppliers and other stakeholders and understand their requirements
  • flexibility, adaptability and resilience to respond to unexpected changes and work under pressure, particularly during events
  • IT and digital skills to use event management software, registration systems and other digital tools
  • negotiation and budgeting skills to agree costs with suppliers, manage budgets and ensure value for money
  • problem-solving and decision-making skills to resolve issues quickly and keep events running smoothly
  • teamworking and leadership skills to coordinate, motivate and support event staff, contractors and volunteers.

Do I need event management work experience?

Relevant experience, either paid or voluntary, and knowledge of the industry are highly valued by employers and can improve your chances of entering this competitive industry.

You can get relevant experience through:

  • casual or seasonal work - gain experience through short-term roles in event staffing, hospitality or venue operations
  • internships and work shadowing - some event companies offer placements and internships. You could also approach smaller companies about work shadowing opportunities
  • organising events - get involved in planning events for student societies, charities or other organisations
  • university placements and projects - some degree courses offer an optional year in industry, shorter work placements or practical event projects, helping you gain experience and make industry contacts
  • volunteering - help out at festivals, sporting events, conferences or exhibitions with activities such as registration, stewarding or event logistics.

Experience in sales, marketing, public relations, fundraising or customer service is also useful.

For examples of organisations working in the industry that you could contact about potential opportunities, see The Power of Events.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Who employs event managers?

Event managers work for a wide range of organisations, either in-house or for specialist companies that organise events for clients. Typical employers include:

  • charities
  • conference, exhibition and event venues
  • event management and production companies
  • festival and live entertainment organisers
  • hotels
  • local authorities
  • marketing, promotional and public relations (PR) agencies
  • professional associations and membership organisations
  • sports organisations and clubs
  • universities
  • visitor attractions, such as museums, galleries and heritage sites.

Look for job vacancies at:

Specialist recruitment agencies such as JB Recruitment and Live Recruitment also handle vacancies.

LinkedIn is an effective way of finding contacts within the industry and searching for vacancies. You could also apply directly to employers or make speculative applications to organisations you're interested in working for.

Where can a career as an event manager lead?

There are opportunities to progress from an events assistant or coordinator role to event manager, senior event manager and eventually head or director of events. As you gain experience and build a track record of successful events, you may choose to specialise in a particular area of event management, such as corporate events, conferences, exhibitions, festivals or event production.

As you progress, you may take responsibility for larger, more complex events, managing bigger budgets, teams and high-profile clients. Progression may involve moving to a larger organisation or taking on more strategic responsibilities. There may also be opportunities to work abroad, particularly with international event management companies. You could also become a freelance event manager, work as a consultant or establish your own event management business, managing events for a range of clients.

Continuing professional development (CPD) is important throughout your career to keep your skills and industry knowledge up to date. You'll develop your expertise through practical experience, working with more experienced colleagues and attending training courses. These may cover areas such as:

  • budgeting
  • event technology
  • health and safety
  • marketing
  • project management
  • sustainability.

Specialist training in event and crowd safety may be particularly useful if you work on large public events.

Professional bodies offer training, industry events and networking opportunities to help you build contacts, share knowledge and keep up to date with developments in the industry. Relevant organisations include the: