Courses Profile: Events Management

Many of you are already involved with the Exhibition and Events industry but we still get a lot of enquiries asking about the options for getting involved in the Events and Exhibitions industry. This is a particularly important time for school leavers, university leavers and also many people with many people looking to change careers given the economic situation.

One of the options right now and now available online is the option of Home study for a course such as 'Events Management - NCFE 3 Level' (equivalent in England to A & AS Levels or NVQ Level 3 level). This type of Events Management course is available online with GNT Home Learning.

The issue for many people now is the concern over the debts which a university course can mean and also finding course fees in general can be costly. The benefit of the home study option is the chance to work whilst also studying and this perhaps is an idea for building a career path in the 'Events Management' industry.

If you are determined to get into the industry and via the university route, there are some excellent courses. See our previous blog posts on Event Management Degrees.

Exhibitions & looking ahead to September

September is always a great month for exhibitions in the UK with arguably some of the best and most interesting shows which take place annually, take place in this month. There is literally a hundred or so major exhibitions during September and thus far too many to talk about on this blog. Some of my favourites though are the:

Speciality Chocolate Fair: For a chocolate lover such as myself, this show is a real treat and I never need any persuading to attend this show. If you have never tasted chili chocolate or 100% chocolate then this is your chance. This show takes place in London at the Olympia exhibition centre 5th, 67th and 77th September 2010. More info on http://www.specialityandfinefoodfairs.co.uk/

World of Learning Exhibition: I have attend this show a lot of times and I enjoy this show particularly because I see so many old friends there now. I also love the concept of education and learning and I see this as one of the most positive shows of all in the annual exhibitions calendar. (Takes place 28th and 29th September at Birmingham's NEC).

Shepton Mallet Antiques & Collectors Fair - Although perhaps not a large exhibition as such, it is one September show which I always enjoy visiting. If you have an interest in antiques then this is one of the best annual shows in the UK.

------Brought to you from Clip Ltd - UK Exhibition Stands Specialists.

Using Exhibitions As A Form Of Direct Marketing

When planning to exhibit at an exhibition, you may be conscious of the fact that you will be stood literally within metres of your competition. You might immediately wonder if competing so closely can be of benefit. The fact is is that if you were not exhibiting then your competitors will be in attendance anyway, so why not be there competing.

There are many reasons to exhibit especially for example, when you consider that you will be dealing with a targeted market at exhibitions, with the people who do walk through the door clearly people have chosen to attend such an event. This would suggest that they have some involvement or genuine interest with regards to your field. Also if you have a genuinely good product, exhibitions also give you a very good sales environment on which to push for new business. What can be very important is getting your sales area perfect. Choosing the right exhibition stand design and the right spot will all affect how well you do.

Exhibitions are also fantastic for doing live demonstrations and for companies who for example, sell portable pop-up display stands, using an exhibitor's exhibition to demonstrate this pop-up banner, is the perfect opportunity. The product being sold becomes more tangible for the potential customer and the sales job potentially becomes easier.

This type of direct marketing can also be considered by some people to be quite positive in that people who want to be sold to, are the ones being targeted this way. No junk email, no cold calling. This type of direct selling can be considered a positive way of connecting with future customers and the relationship from the beginning tends to be one which is built on more familiarity and understanding, with both parties having met face-to-face from the beginning.

In terms of sales leads and actual sales, percentages can be high, due to high number of quality visitors at these exhibitions. Someone attending the London Caravans Exhibition in Excel exhibition centre for example, are likely to have a serious interest in caravans and similar products. You can potentially make more leads in a 2 or 3 exhibition than you might in a few weeks worth of cold calling.

Having an exhibition stand at an event will cost a certain amount but the cost offset against the number of sales leads can mean that it is a worthwhile venture. Try it once!

Events & Exhibition Management Training

If you want to get into events and exhibition management and want to take a qualification in this area, there are a few companies in the UK who run courses.

Event Management Training Ltd based in West London are one such company and they offer courses specialising in practical skills, with training by industry professionals in the areas of Event Management and Public Relations. The full-time Postgraduate Diploma Course in Event Management, runs for 6 months with arranged work experience. The business also run evening Diplomas.

The AEO (Association of Exhibition Organisers) offer various training courses (select the 'Training' link on their website - link above) to view all of their courses. The AEO have courses running almost every month, including on subjects such as 'Selling Face-To-Face', 'The Launching New Shows Course' and 'Winning Exhibition Telesales'.

There are a number of University courses for Exhibition and Events Training. The University of Surrey offer an International Events Management course and this is perhaps one of the best options for those looking to get 3-4 years of solid training.

Click here to learn more about exhibition planning.