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Christmas is a time of joy, celebration and tradition, and it is likely you’ve been invited to a few parties or gatherings.  Perhaps you are the person who enjoys planning a party, from creating a guest list, decorating the venue, and meticulously organising the finer details of the event to bring your vision to life?  If so, you might be naturally drawn to a career in event planning.

Whether you dream of planning corporate events, weddings, or large public gatherings, understanding how to break into the event planning industry is the first step to success. Read on for more information and useful links to help you explore this exciting field of work further!

What Does an Event Planner Do?

Event planners are the people behind the scenes who help create experiences - everything from weddings and concerts to conferences, festivals, sports tournaments, and charity events.

Event planners may be responsible for the following:

• Finding venues
• Creating themes and concepts
• Hiring vendors/suppliers (DJs, photographers, caterers, decorators)
• Planning schedules and timelines
• Managing budgets
• Solving any issues or problems that arise

Event planning is a great career choice for someone who enjoys organising, being creative, and working with people.

Roles in Event Planning

Wedding Planner

If you enjoy helping people create unforgettable milestone moments, a career as a Wedding Planner might be for you.  Wedding Planners can be self-employed, or work for a hotel or wedding venue.  Find out more: Wedding planner | Explore Careers | National Careers Service.

Corporate Event Manager

If you enjoy structure and strategy, you may enjoy planning business and corporate events such as conferences, exhibitions, product launches, and company team building days. Events manager | Explore Careers | National Careers Service

Festival or Concert Producer

A Festival or Concert Producer will lead and oversee strategic planning , event-site production and stakeholder coordination of large festivals and concerts.  You could work for a large organisation such as the BBC: Jobs and Careers with the BBC.  This is a fast-paced and exciting role - ideal for those who love music, arts, culture, or entertainment.

Party Planner

A party planner organises and coordinates various events like parties, baby showers, and corporate functions, handling everything from client meetings and budgeting to vendor coordination and event execution.

Events Decorator

Do you have a flair for decorating venues for parties and events? An event decorator is responsible for the physical appearance and overall atmosphere of an event. This can include everything from selecting the right colour scheme and decorations to setting up furniture and managing the layout of the event space. Find out more: How to become an event decorator (Definition and skills) | Indeed.com UK.

Related Careers You May Not Have Considered

Venue Manager

Oversees event spaces like hotels, stadiums, halls, leisure centres and community centres.

Catering Coordinator

Helps plan menus, tastings, and dining experiences for events.

Social Media & Event Marketing

Promotes events through digital marketing campaigns, content creation, and online engagement.

Audio/Visual (A/V) Technician

Makes events look and sound amazing using lighting, sound, and multimedia equipment.

Hospitality & Tourism Roles

Hotels, resorts, cruise ships, and travel destinations rely on people who understand event logistics and guest experiences. You can read more in our FutureSmart Careers blog: Careers in Hospitality Leisure and Tourism.

What Skills Do You Need?

You don’t need years of experience to get into a career in event planning - just enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. Helpful skills include:

• Organisation
• Creativity
• Communication & networking skills
• Problem-solving
• Teamwork
• Time management
• Basic budgeting

How to Get Started!

Experience is key in this field of work.  Here are easy ways to gain work experience:

• Volunteer at school events or community events
• Help organise club meetings, fundraisers, or competitions
• Ask a local event company if you can shadow them
• Apply for an internship with an events company
• Network: Attend industry trade shows and conferences to network with vendors
• Keep a portfolio with photos of events you’ve helped organise

Qualifications and Entry Routes

You can complete an NCFE qualification in Event Planning: NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Event Planning | NCFE

Although a degree is not essential to secure a role in this field, there are some degree options available:

• Events Management - BA (Hons) at Cardiff Metropolitan University
• Event Management - BA (Hons) at Southampton, Solent University
• Events Management - BA (Hons) at Arts University Bournemouth
• Events Management at University of Plymouth
• Event Management - BA (Hons) at University of West London

Why Event Planning Is a Great Career Choice

Event planning is perfect if you want a job that is:

• Creative and exciting
• Different every day
• Social and people-focused
• Impactful - your work becomes someone’s favourite memory
• Flexible - many planners work freelance and set their own schedules

Whether you want to work with artists, brides, executives, influencers, or entire communities, there’s a role in the event world for you.

Useful Links to Explore Event Careers

These sites offer job profiles, courses, industry insights, and professional networks:

• National Careers Service (UK) — Events Manager Profile A clear breakdown of entry routes, duties, salaries, and required skills. https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/events-manager

• UCAS -Guide to a Career in Event Management: Events management | UCAS

• The Power of Events — Careers Hub A UK hub showcasing real careers across the events industry. https://www.thepowerofevents.org/careers-hub

• Association of Event Organisers (AEO) Industry body offering news, connections, and sector insights. https://www.aeo.org.uk

• Institute of Event Management (IEM) Professional pathways, standards, and training resources. https://event-managers.institute

• Meeting Professionals International (MPI) A global association offering mentorship, training, and networking. https://www.mpi.org

• Free Online Level 2 Certificate in Event Planning (UK) A great starting qualification for young learners. https://freecoursesinengland.co.uk/event-planning/

 Conclusion

A career in the Event Planning industry offers a dynamic blend of creativity, organisation and connection with a variety of different people with the opportunity to make the role your own. Whether you want to plan big events or smaller celebrations, there is plenty of scope to grow and evolve in this industry.   If you have strong communication and organisational skills, can think on your feet, and are passionate about planning memorable experiences that people will never forget, this could be the career path for you.

At FutureSmart Careers, we have fully qualified careers advisers ready to help. Our mission is to provide careers guidance, knowledge and resources so that young people can make confident and informed choices about their futures. If you would like careers guidance or support for students in your school, college or child, please get in touch at enquiries@futuresmartcareers.co.uk.

Images sourced from Freepik.