Design and deliver music festivals, sporting events, conferences, and shows in this fast-paced, growing industry.
The UK events industry is a world leader in staging events, worth almost £40billion to the UK economy.
To work in this sector you’ll need to be organised and able to respond quickly to changing events and demands, as well as having excellent interpersonal skills.
Job opportunities for events management graduates include: managing events, conferences, and exhibitions in a variety of sectors like trade, business, arts, music and politics; managing hotels, pubs and other venues; working in outdoors events or education.
You could work your way up to senior management and/or being in charge of larger, high-profile events or set up your own events management business.
The impact you could make
- Be part of the team that brings the next Taylor Swift concert to the UK.
- Work with a client on style, budget, and venue for their dream exhibition.
- Travel the world designing and delivering trade events for a global marketing company.
What you could study
- The events industry
- Risk and safety management
- Event budgeting and resources
- Event marketing and communications
- The experience economy
- Developing, planning, and delivering tourism, hospitality, and events
- Managing visitor attractions
- Managing the sustainable event project
- Managing people
Study options
Options to study in this field include:
Chat to a current events management student
Chat to a current events management student using UniBuddy.
Some conversation starters for you:
- Ask which modules they really enjoyed.
- Find out how easy it was for them to make friends on their course.
- Do they have any tips on your personal statement?
- Did they do anything to prep for uni before they went?
- Are there books, podcasts or YouTube channels they would recommend?
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Amira
Nottingham Trent University
Business and Management
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Priyanjana
Nottingham Trent University
Business and Management
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Ellie
Solent University
BSc (Hons) Business Management
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Elisabeth
Solent University
BSc (Hons) International Business Management
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Leona
Buckinghamshire New University
Creative Advertising (BA (Hons))
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Shashank
Nottingham Trent University
Business and Management
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Jack
University of Lincoln
Creative Advertising - BA (Hons)
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Naomi
Nottingham Trent University
Business and Management
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Sophie
Nottingham Trent University
Marketing
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Rosi
Coventry University
Business Management BA (Hons)
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Katy
University of Northampton
Ba Business Management
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Chong Tin
Nottingham Trent University
Business and Management
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Bianca
Buckinghamshire New University
Business Management (BA (Hons))
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Evie
University of Lincoln
International Tourism Management - BA (Hons)
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Charlotte
University of Surrey
Business Management BSc (Hons)
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Petya
City, University of London
Business Management (with Professional Placement) BSc (Hons)
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Malika
Nottingham Trent University
Marketing
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Sophia
Nottingham Trent University
Business and Management
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Iamah
City, University of London
Business Management, Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship BSc (Hons)
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Kenzie-Jayne
University of Plymouth
BSc (Hons) Business Management
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Start your search now
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Example module
"The Event Experience, which was planning the event through a real venue and hosting it to the public. And I enjoyed Destination Entertainment, which showed the importance of location of the event, as well as the legal side of things."
Second year festival and events management student, Sheffield Hallam University
Example projects
"Live event project with a partner charity. Debate/panel discussion on the impacts of Eurovision. And a research report to analyse fatalities within event spaces; I chose to focus on the failings leading to the Manchester Arena bombing."
Second year events management and tourism student, University of Hertfordshire
Subjects it's useful to have studied first
Some events management courses or apprenticeships will have requirements for previous qualifications in certain subjects. Entry requirements vary, so always check with the provider.
Hard skills you'll develop
- Events management
- Finance
- Marketing
- Safety standards
Soft skills you'll develop
- Customer service
- Communication
- Leadership
- Operations
- Sales
Careers: Where it can take you
Find out more about your career prospects from studying events management. The following information is based on a typical events manager and organiser role.
Available jobs
65,556 vacancies in the past year
2.02% growth over next eight years
Average salary
£29,252
Up to £63,783
What is a… delegate manager?
You may never have heard of a delegate manager but they play a key role in events, usually being the first point of contact for event attendees. They work closely with the event manager, and liaise with attendees over the phone, email, and social media. They’ll be on site during the event, helping people to register and find where they need to go, as well as organising things like welcome packs, name badges, and any ticketing or other instructions in advance.
Getting in: Entry requirements
Find out more about what you'll need to study events management at university or as an apprenticeship.
Average requirements for undergraduate degrees
Entry requirements differ between university and course, but this should give you a guide to what is usually expected from events management applicants.
Vocational
BTEC DMM
Other Level 3/Level 6 qualifications (e.g. Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma or SQCF Level 6) may be accepted as an alternative
Festivals, brand experiences, sports events, massive conferences, cosy meetings, or those exclusive travel adventures... A career in events offers such variety, creativity, and excitement, no two days are ever the same. We craft memorable experiences that have the remarkable power to move and connect people, creating lasting impact.
Other subjects you may be interested in
Considering an apprenticeship?
Applying for an apprenticeship is just like applying for a normal job. Here’s what you need to know:
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Deadline
Apprenticeships don't follow the same deadlines as applying to uni, the deadline is down to the employer.
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Where to apply
You apply directly through the employer.
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No limits
You're not restricted to one apprenticeship application; you can do as many as you like.
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Apply to university and apprenticeships
There's nothing stopping you applying to university through UCAS, while also applying for apprenticeship vacancies.
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92% of students
who did a work placement were very or somewhat satisfied with it
(UCAS subject guide survey 2023)
Explore further
Go deeper into topics around events management with the following:
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7 precepts of successful event organisation
Listen to
Andrew Jose’s TEDx talk about what he learned after organising his first event at school.
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Conference News
Follow Conference News for industry insights into sustainability, Net Zero goals, and videos featuring iconic British venues.
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Association of Events Organisers
Have a look at the
resources section of the AEO website to understand more about the impact of things like Brexit, inclusion and Martyn’s Law (put into place following the Manchester Arena bomb) on the events industry.
Application advice
Whether it's personal statement tips or what to write in a cover letter for an apprenticeship application, our application advice will help you get ahead in your events management journey.
Skills, experiences, and interests to mention
- What attracted you to this subject? Have you had experience organising an event at school or for a charity? What did you learn about yourself and potential careers in this industry?
- Events managers need to be leaders – give examples of when you’ve successfully led a group of people, whether that’s directing a play, being a team captain or leading a Duke of Edinburgh award expedition.
- Can you critique an event you watched or attended that was well organised? Why did it work so well? What qualities do you think the events manager or company had?
- You’ll also need to be resilient and adaptable. What jobs or hobbies have you done that required these skills, like working in a busy bar or factory, or volunteering with people with additional needs.
- Finally, think about time management and planning. Your A levels will be good examples of this. Maybe you’ve also had to plan for something outside of school, like a music exam, driving test, or even booking an extended travel trip? How do those skills translate to a career in events management?
Personal statement guide
We asked admissions tutors to share their dos and don’ts for writing a strong and engaging personal statement. Here's what they told us.
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