The latest Event salary survey paints a picture that is not as negative as readers might expect. Although concluded in November last year, it was during a period when the economy was rapidly downturning, and demonstrates that the event industry is in rude health. Here are some of the standout figures: - Prospects for promotion:
This category makes difficult reading for people working in hotels: 18 per cent said prospects for promotion were poor. In the industry as a whole, only seven per cent shared this view.
"Generally, the larger the company the more chance of promotion. Hotels are usually large companies so something else is happening here," says ESP Recruitment director Liz Sinclair. "The rest of the survey shows hotels are really suffering. Overall, though, the message is good, things haven't changed much on last year."
Only two per cent of staff in internal commercial conferences said promotion prospects were excellent. This is compared with event management agencies, at 17 per cent. Only eight per cent of in-house events teams said promotion chances were excellent.
- Do you have to change job to get promotion?
A total of 69 per cent said their best chance of promotion was to either move out of the industry or to another company within it.
Venue-finding agencies and brand experience agencies fared well, with 60 per cent and 54 per cent respectively saying the best chance of promotion was to stay within the company, so a job in these areas seems to offer the best career progression.
- Do people recognise the event industry?
In all, 46 per cent said the event industry has come a long way, but still has some way to go. "Universities are being more proactive and now understand what an event career is," says Sinclair.
- Salary
The average salary across the industry increased by 5.35 per cent. Hotels fared very badly again: in 2007 all respondents in that sector said they had received a pay rise, but in the latest survey 14 per cent had not received any pay increase.
Sport/music/PR and brand experience agency professionals received, on average, at least a six per cent pay increase.
"Brand is a buzzword now. Professionals with experience in this area are sought after and getting nice pay rises," says Sinclair.
- Hours of work
Hotels suffer again. Despite the lack of pay rises and prospects for promotion, staff work on average 46.14 hours a week. Those in charity roles spend the least time at work - 39 hours. "In our experience hardly anyone leaves the industry because of the hours; they understand the job requires working late," says Sinclair.
- Motivators at work
Most people are motivated by personal development, although there is some change across the various sectors of the industry.
"This fits in with the fact that people think they have to leave their job to get promoted. People get bored of running the same events, they want a variety of projects," says Sinclair. "In the corporate sector, where you might expect money to be the main motivator - it's among the best paid - variety is the number one motivator. In the charity sector, understandably, money is only the fifth most chosen factor."
BENEFITS
What people want:
- Bonus/profit share
- Flexible working hours
- Company pension
- Medical insurance
What they get:
- Pension
- Bonus/profit share
- Medical insurance
- Flexible working hours
"Charity was the only sector that wanted non-financially motivated benefits more than bonuses, pensions etc," reveals Sinclair. "Most people put bonuses and profit share at the top of their list of most important company benefits. This actually contrasts with the research into motivators at work, where most respondents said it was personal development and not money that motivated them."
- Reasons why people leave their jobs
"Redundancy was only up one per cent since 2007, but we expect 2009 to be worse - there have been more cases since the survey," says Sinclair.
Job dissatisfaction and a lack of prospects for career progression are the main reasons people move job.
At hotels seven per cent leave because of long hours, the average across the industry is only two per cent. Redundancy appears to be highest within venue-finding agencies, which at 30 per cent is double anywhere else.
SALARY SURVEY: Average wage (£)
EVENT CO-ORDINATOR
Exhibitions: operations executive 25,000
Production company: production co-ordinator 22,750
Agency events management: event/account co-ordinator 22,000
Hotels: C&B co-ordinator 19,750
Commercial conferences: conference co-ordinator 24,500
Charity/public sector: event/conference co-ordinator 23,750
Corporate in-house: event co-ordinator 25,750
Venues: event co-ordinator 22,250
Not for profit (NFP) 25,500
EVENT EXECUTIVE
Agency events management: event/account executive 25,500
Venues: operations/event executive 22,000
Conferenc & Incentive Travel Agency (CITA): event/account/operations executive 23,500
Commercial conferences 25,000
Corporate 28,000
Charity 25,000
NFP 26,000
EVENT MANAGER
Exhibitions: operations manager 35,000
Agency events management: event/account manager 30,500
Hotels: C&B manager 31,750
Production company: production manager 38,000
Production company: logistics manager 35,150
Production company: technical manager 45,300
Venues: event manager 32,000
Event services: project manager 32,300
Commercial conferences: conference manager 33,000
Charity/public sector: event/conference manager 32,000
Corporate in-house: event manager 38,000
Sport/music/PR: event manager 32,000
CITA: event/account manager 30,000
NFP 34,000
EVENT DIRECTOR
Exhibitions: operations director 48,250
Agency events management: account director 50,000
Hotels: director of events 45,000
Production company: head of production 57,750
EVENT DIRECTOR
Production company: head of logistics 52,000
Venues: operations director 54,000
Event services: project director 62,000
Commercial conferences: conference director 54,000
Charity/public sector: head of events/conferences 45,000
Corporate in-house: head of events/conferences/roadshows 70,250
CITA: account/operations director 46,000
NFP 53,000
Commercial conferences: producer 29,750
Commercial conferences: senior producer 35,500
MARKETING EXECUTIVE
Exhibitions: marketing executive 25,500
Venues: marketing executive 24,750
Commercial conferences 25,700
Charity 26,000
NFP 28,000
MARKETING MANAGER
Exhibitions: marketing manager 35,000
Venues: marketing manager 39,800
Commercial conferences: marketing manager 33,250
Charity 32,500
NFP 33,000
MARKETING DIRECTOR
Exhibitions: marketing director 50,250
Commercial conferences: marketing director 48,000
REBECCA WILSON, ESP - WOULD YOU WORK OVERSEAS?
A total of three per cent more people are prepared to work overseas, compared with last year, reflecting a maturing of the industry. Here's what ESP's Rebecca Wilson has to say about working abroad.
"There are two types who choose to work abroad: the career junkies with a hunger for new experiences who become professional expatriates; and the people who feel they have had enough of their home country and have nothing to lose, then come home after experiencing expat living.
Over the past few years the event industry has witnessed a huge increase in jobs overseas, particularly in the Middle East. Attractive, tax-free salaries, fantastic weather and excellent career opportunities were a great pull that many took advantage of. So has it all changed now that the global economic crisis has taken hold?
The answer is yes. The current recession has not miraculously missed out those cash-rich areas of the world that believed themselves to be immune. Despite recent widespread redundancies, the general opinion is that places such as Dubai will experience a short, sharp shock and much quicker recovery than most countries.
There are still exciting opportunities across the world, but unless you are very senior there aren't the cash incentives. Ask yourself these questions:
What are your current commitments? Would you miss your friends and family? How well do you adapt to new environments and make friends? Do you have a sense of humour? What would you miss out on in three years?
Having just relocated to Dubai myself I am naturally biased - I have learned a huge amount about a diverse business and social culture, gaining career development and variety at work.
But home is where the heart is; England has its own great culture, coast and cities. Is the grass greener? Well, nothing ventured nothing gained, I say."
ARTHUR SOMERSET, FREELANCE EVENT CONSULTANT
Does the event industry get the recognition it deserves from the public (in comparison with, say, the advertising industry)?
Everyone loves the event industry and thinks that it is all rather fun and a great job to do, but the sector needs to communicate the value and power of events, as well as the industry as a whole.
Is the quality of graduates coming into the industry good?
I have not seen a single university syllabus, but experience is what counts, rather than qualifications.
Have salaries across the industry improved (relatively), and do you think they are competitive?
Probably not as competitive as advertising at the top end, but this may be because there are far fewer large event companies.
It's not a nine-to-five job. Are the long hours an issue?
No. With the advent of mobile phones, texting and the Blackberry, no one works nine to five anymore. The event industry is a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week job.
Is the industry more robust than it was ten years ago, during the last stock market fall?
It is bigger, more professional, and the clients have more belief in events. However, the margins are smaller. The industry needs to reposition itself: events are still regarded as frivolous by the press and by some financial directors. This has to change.