entertaining your community

Introduction

Events/entertainment officers, plan, develop and promote entertainment and special events, within a local authority area. They try to provide something for everyone – whatever their interests or age. Events could include theatrical shows, exhibitions, concerts, conferences, Christmas fairs, festivals, sports meetings and craft fairs.

Work Environment

Events/entertainment officers normally work a standard 37-hour week, however there is sometimes a need to work during evenings and weekends whilst attending events.

They spend some of their time in the council offices and some of their time travelling around to visit venues.

Daily Activities

Events/entertainment officers often work within either the leisure services, marketing or tourism departments within the council. As an events officer your duties might include:

• thinking up new ideas for events and gathering information on events or attractions in other parts of the country;
• attending meetings with other council officers to discuss ideas and make decisions on which ones to take forward;
• turning those ideas into strategic plans and, eventually, a programme of events;
• liaising with neighbouring authorities to avoid duplication of events;
• applying for grants, funding or sponsorship;
• making decisions on how to use available funds most effectively and closely monitoring budgets;
• deciding on venues and liaising with venue managers;
• co-ordinating all the people involved in putting an event together;
• booking artists and performers and negotiating their fees;
• writing press releases and/or marketing materials, or liaising with marketing departments;
• dealing with the media to ensure that events are well promoted;
• arranging photo opportunities;
• evaluating the success of events and writing and presenting reports.

Skills & Interests

Events/entertainment officers must be:

• well organised and able to work to deadlines,
• good communicators and able to present their ideas clearly,
• able to negotiate,
• highly motivated and enthusiastic,
• good at planning and organising,
• imaginative,
• able to juggle several tasks at once,
• capable of managing entire projects and co-ordinating lots of people.

Entry Requirements

Although there are no set entry requirements for this job, people with some previous experience of event organisation and marketing may find it easier to gain a position.

Most new entrants have a degree or equivalent – useful subjects include marketing, arts administration, business studies, leisure and tourism, and recreation management.

It may be possible to enter at assistant level and attend college part time to gain N/SVQs or an Apprenticeship in Arts and Entertainment or Cultural Heritage.

Estimated salary range

£14,000 - £19,000 per year.

Please note that salary information is a guide only and there may be local agreements in place. For further information about salaries for particular positions, please contact your local council directly.

Future prospects & opportunities

Depending on the size of the council, it may be possible to progress into a managerial position. There may also be opportunities to move into similar areas of work, such as arts administration, tourism or recreation and leisure management.

Related Occupations

Follow this link to view a list of all related occuptions in Entertaining Your Community.
Alternatively, follow this link to view all career profiles placed in the same job area.

Further Information & Services

Creative and Cultural Industries www.cciskills.org.uk

Institute of Leisure and Amenity Management www.ilam.co.uk

You may find further information about this area of work in your local Connexions service/careers office/school careers library - under MA or O.

What should I do next?

Look for current local government Events/Entertainment Officer vacancies in the following places:

• LGjobs.com - the official recruitment website for local government.
• Weekly, bi-weekly or monthly jobs bulletins produced by local councils themselves, available from libraries, community centres, town halls/main civic buildings and central council personnel departments.
• Local council websites.
• Local newspapers
• National newspapers - The Guardian is particularly well known for its public sector job advertisements on a Wednesday.

Find out about the council and get some work experience if possible by:

• Making the most of work experience placements arranged through your school, college or university.
• Contacting councils close to your home to find out about the work experience opportunities they offer.
• Talking to someone who does the job you are interested in - ring your local council to see if someone can spare some time.
• Making an appointment to see a careers adviser for more specific information about jobs and training.