Catering Events Manager careers guide

Getting into events catering careers

So many unforgettable gatherings involve food and drink. From a music festival to a wedding, birthday party or glam awards ceremony, catering is a BIG part of putting on events that are remembered for all the right reasons.

As an events manager, you can combine your catering and leisure industry knowhow. Catering is one of many elements you’ll juggle to make an event run smoothly.

Working hours

As a catering events manager you might work up to 40 hours a week. This might include weekends, evenings and public holidays, when people are likely to celebrate with social gatherings involving food and drink. As a private events planner or catering planner you are more likely to set your hours, but you are still likely to work evenings and weekends!

Useful skills to put in your CV for events management jobs:

• Self management skills will help you be organised when it comes to managing people, food deliveries, time and tasks. Every catering event needs to be planned and perfect on the big day!
• Problem solving skills – it’s always going to be non-stop chaos before the main event. Every day will bring new challenges. The food wasn’t delivered, the cakes are the wrong design, the lighting you wanted is too expensive for the budget, it’s an outdoors venue but it’s scheduled to rain… whatever the problem, you are more than up for the challenge!.
• Communication skills – you’ll be a natural when it comes to getting the best out of people. Whether you’re talking to clients, suppliers or production crew, you’re comfortable in their company and make your needs very clear while helping them feel inspired and part of the event.

Top tip: Brush up on your negotiating skills

When it comes to negotiation, there’s a good price and then there’s a best price. You have to juggle things being safe and looking (and tasting) good with the budget you have to spend. When it comes to making your budget stretch, negotiation is all about taking a price that’s set in stone and getting more for your money. Ideally, with some diplomacy so that the supplier likes you and wants to work with you again.

How do you get these skills?

Vocational qualifications and work experience will help you build these skills over time.

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School, College And Training

You’ll usually need at least five GCSEs or their equivalents at grades 9-4 (A* to C) including English, and maths to do this job.

What counts most is your experience. You can leave school and get started by building work experience in all kinds of areas, from hospitality and catering to leisure, travel and tourism.

You can also do college and university courses in events management. These will help you get the inside story on what you really need to know. They can also be a great way to get structured work experience as part of your learning – and work experience counts for a lot with this job.

PLUS: Any degree related to management helps you open a lot of doors in the future, in a wide range of industries and roles.

Apprenticeships

Events management apprenticeships are very much a thing. You’ll earn a salary while working in an events-related role, often being taken under the wing of an experienced events manager. You’ll also get structured learning and the chance to reflect on what you’ve learned. This will lead to an industry-recognised qualification.

College, University and Degrees

Food management college courses and university degrees will give you the opportunity to gain further hands-on experience in catering events management as part of your course.

Career Progression

As you build your skills, experience and little black book of contacts, you’ll be ripe for taking on bigger projects with more responsibility and higher salaries. Ever wanted to become a catering events manager for the next UK Olympics? Someone has to do it. Why not you?

You could work for a catering or events management company, but you could also progress to work freelance or set up your own catering events management business.

Hospitality Management Training

If you are currently working in a restaurant role you could develop your management skills by taking a relevant hospitality qualification such as:

• Level 3 Diploma in Hospitality Supervision and Leadership
• Level 4 Diploma in Hospitality Leadership

Hospitality Graduate Schemes

If you are interested in joining a graduate recruitment scheme you will need a degree. These schemes are usually available with large restaurants and fast-food chains. Having a degree in the following subjects could be beneficial when applying; business or management, hospitality management or hotel and catering.

Structured management training schemes for graduates generally last between 12 and 18 months. During this time, you could expect to gain practical experience within each function of the restaurant and be assigned a mentor to help you during your initial months.

Who Can Help?

Many professional bodies also offer a range of training opportunities, including activities that count towards continuing professional development (CPD). Find out more below:

• Hospitality Guild – lists training courses including college-based qualifications and apprenticeships, regulation and licensing courses, and CPD options.
• Institute of Hospitality – offers a range of hospitality-related qualifications, professional development workshops, webinars, online courses and networking events.
• UKHospitality – hosts various events across the year and provides publications and resources for members.
• Caterer.com – this hospitality jobs board offers lots of vacancies including early career roles to get you started.

Work Experience Tips

Gaining relevant work experience is can also be a key component to landing your dream role!

If the venues you want to work at don’t offer work experience placements, you should consider finding part-time, weekend or summer jobs in restaurants. This way it could be possible to gain experience as you study or apply for positions.

Look for work as a crew member at large events or exhibitions. This can help you build industry contacts while adding a relevant notch to your CV.

Build up personal experience through organising events and activities as part of your social life. Why not organise a charity event at your school or in your local community, like a fundraising cake sale?

You can build up work experience for catering events manager careers even when you’re still at school.

• Working with the client to see exactly what they want
• Agreeing the money and deadline side of things with the client
• Brainstorming original ideas for events
• Researching anything the event might need, from venues to equipment and entertainment
• Hiring and overseeing the work of caterers, security and any other teams contracted in to do a specific job for the event

• Managing staff and teams of people to carry out their jobs
• Making sure everything is done with health, safety and insurance needs in mind.
• Promoting the event to get the word out
• Checking everything is working smoothly on the event itself. Your mobile phone will probably be buzzing all day.

• Events apprentice
• Events management apprentice
• Events assistant

• Events crew member
• Events manager

These employers all carry our Youth Friendly Employer Mark. We work with them to make sure that they are providing great support and opportunities to young people.

Click on an employer to find out more about them and the youth-friendly opportunities they offer, from work experience and apprenticeships through to graduate schemes.

What would you like to know about catering & hospitality careers? Maybe we can help!

• Front of House vs Back of House – what’s the difference?
• Interview tips for hospitality & catering jobs
• What hospitality & catering apprenticeshps and degrees are there?
• 5 hospitality & catering career myths busted
• What types of jobs are there in the hospitality & catering industry?

See all

These employers all carry our Youth Friendly Employer Mark. We work with them to make sure that they are providing great support and opportunities to young people.

Click on an employer to find out more about them and the youth-friendly opportunities they offer, from work experience and apprenticeships through to graduate schemes.