Any industry is only as good as the sum of the talents within it. We encourage the development of talent in a number of ways:
Involvement in our working groups provide unparalleled opportunities to learn from the very best in each field. We actively promote the development and sharing of knowledge and best practice that creates a rising tide of capability.
Participation in our annual conference gives you access to a broader range of content and personnel from all functions of venue management. It is a unique chance to gather venue teams into a single location with a programme of content centred on the practicalities of delivering truly world class, inspiring events. The conference provides an unrivalled platform for discussion, networking and information exchange.
To help individuals develop their career or for members to grow their organisations, we provide a recruitment centre offering essential information for job seekers and employers alike.
This recruitment centre allows members to post jobs, and for anyone and everyone to browse and then be taken to the vacancy website to apply.
The recruitment centre offers help to those wanting to join the events industry, make the next move or to find the essential candidate to fill a key vacancy. Members can post their job vacancies here, to try and fill their positions.
Our salary survey is essential reading for anyone who needs to benchmark salaries for different job roles.
Colm Graham, Head of Exhibitions - ACC Liverpool
“One of the most powerful things about the AEV is the Working Groups”
Ian Taylor - Managing Director - NEC
We asked our members...
To take a "Talent" survey..
Following the March 2018 AEV Board Meeting a new Steering Group was created to look at Education and ways we can share best practice and find solutions to the challenges surrounding talent management. This group will be looking at training and career development, recruitment concerns and ways we can improve skills and cross-functional working practices.
At the inaugural meeting in May it was agreed we need to seek a way to encourage the next generation to focus their direction towards the Events Industry. There are clearly many ways in which this can be achieved and we would like to explore how talent is currently being addressed / offered across our UK members.
With that in mind a survey was issued looking at internships, reasons behind recruitment, apprenticeships and talent opportunities.
The results of the survey is available to all members, and is available in our member zone - log in to view!
WE catch up with the venue winners of the Exhibition News class of 2018 30 under 30 to explore their route into the industry.
The accolades were awarded to Natalie Prew, Lindsay Ackers and Lucy Taylor of BDC, SEC and ExCeL London respectively. Only 3 venue organisations were represented on the list, and all are AEV member venues.
Alden Arnold, AEV Project Manager met with the winning trio to explore their route into the venue industry...
Congratulations on being on EN's 30-U-30 listing! A great accolade and experience. What do you enjoy most about that honour?
Natalie Prew
What made you want to pursue events and what attracted you to working on the venue side of the events industry?
Natalie Prew
My route to now is rather unconventional. After GSCEs I completed a BTEC in Hotel/Restaurant/Event Management. This included placement at Twickenham Stadium. It was there where my light bulb moment struck – my interest in venues rocketed.
It was during the UK Venue Show when I met Max Bull (from BDC) who put me in contact with his team and I secured a one year’s placement for my University degree. 4 years later I am now where I am today. Working on the venue side of events has many benefits. Its location is fixed for one but you get to experience a kaleidoscope of content that comes to you and its great (and a proud moment) to see a space adapt to suit a variety of needs.
Lindsay Ackers
Lucy Taylor
You are of Event Managers or Marketing Communications working groups.
Natalie Prew
Lindsay Ackers
Lucy Taylor
Through this collaboration has it helped you develop your career path?
Natalie Prew
It has definitely helped me think differently and the working group output gives me key takeaways to consider. This collaboration has expanded my network – when based at a venue you only tend to meet people that come to us. The diverse community AEV achieves and as members we can tap into will certainly keep me within venues for many years to come.
Lindsay Ackers
Lucy Tayor
In your opinion, what is the greatest millennial myth?
Natalie Prew
Lindsay Ackers
Lucy Taylor
“We are lazy”. It’s simply not the case - in this industry anyhow. I think the biggest millennial myth is that there is a myth! I feel it’s been created by the media to blame something on my generation! If we were that lazy then there wouldn’t be these 30 under 30 awards! It’s always hard to change people’s opinion on a generation however I’ve always had the mind-set of working hard to get what/ where you want and that it isn’t simply handed to you.
2019 looms. What do you think will be the greatest challenge facing our (venue) industry?
Natalie Prew
Sustaining sustainability. The AEV Conference helped support this growing concern but it will be interesting to see if venues regardless of size maintains their good intentions.
Health & Safety and qualities of stand builds. I’ve seen the quality of break downs lesser over recent times – perhaps pressure is felt to vacate the venue. Venues need to maintain and encourage strong unified working. Event venues are evolving but so are the needs of the organiser.
Lindsay Ackers
For SEC it will be our continued expansion into 2019 – our campus grows and that will bring its own challenges and opportunities, I am sure. I think organisers will increasingly need to work and keep their events fresh, but I believe that presents a fantastic opportunity with venues being able to provide support from that aspect. We’re more than just bricks and mortar, we are experienced events professionals.
I think as the world is continuously changing, there’s always going to be significant focus on safety and security, which goes hand in hand with crisis communications and PR. I also think sustainability is only going to become more and more prominent, so venues are going to have to adapt greatly to reduce their footprint.