I thought I should let everyone know that I am working on a few improvements to the site and hope to have more regular new posts. I am also working on a new project, which I will keep secret for now, I am sure will be of interest to eventade followers out there. Meanwhile, I thought I should briefly talk about a couple of things: apprenticeships and volunteering in events.

Photo by Ivan Bandura

A recent article on C&IT magazine by Susie Harwood says that event agencies and associations have agreed to work together to create the content of the new apprenticeship standard through the Trailblazers programme. Other initiatives, for instance the Westminster Council volunteer scheme, talks about City Guides volunteering at events in London which would enable volunteers to achieve qualifications in crowd and event management. There are many other opportunities to engage such as those run by Oxfam for festival stewarding and wicked.

Not every student, however, can afford to work for free. Many students need to use their free time to actually earn money to help pay towards living expenses, food, accommondations, etc. Regardless, one thing is clear: event management students must gain the necessary experience to succeed in their careers.

A useful way of finding out about opportunities is by following event managers’ and event companies’ facebook pages. Every now and then I see opportunities posted on social media. As a lecturer, I also get requests for student volunteers via email. Whichever method, make sure you get tuned in and do as much as you can while studying. It will pay off in the end.

Update:

Event agencies will be looking to meet events management students and final year graduates to look at internships, grad programme recruits and new positions on 27th April  in London as part of a new event called MPI Connects. Five of the UK’s top agencies have already signed up to be part of this recruitment event. This is the link to a ConferenceNews article. Many thanks to Jackie Mulligan, Principal Lecturer & Director of Enterprise UK Centre for Events Management at Leeds Beckett University for sharing this with us.