My journey into the Events Industry

When I was at school, I never knew what I wanted to do and thought I wanted to be a Radiographer - yep, I know. But I was never great at science or that academic, so that idea very quickly fell on its feet just as soon as I decided upon it.

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So fast forward to 2013, when I dropped out of Sixth Form because I hated it so much and enrolled on the Business Studies course at my local college two days before I was meant to start Year 13. During this time, I worked in a family-run pub as a Kitchen Porter, Waitress and Commis Chef - so basically a multitasker. I massively surprised myself and finished up my college course with Distinction*. But I STILL was clueless about what direction to go into career-wise, so I decided to take a year out and work full time as a Chef at the pub I was working at.

This gap year turned into two years, but this was when I started attending more events; concerts, a couple of festivals and volunteering with GirlGuides for the first time. I feel in love with the sense of community and feeling of togetherness and the atmosphere of the events industry, and then it suddenly occurred to me that that was a career path for me and had my heart set on the events industry. It was actually after an awful shift as a Sous Chef that I picked the courage to apply for university and ended up going to the University of Greenwich in 2017. And it was the best decision I have ever made.

Whilst at university, I worked as a Waitress and volunteered at several events, mainly corporate, but it still made me realise that this is the industry I want to go into. I also did some more volunteering with Girl Guides, and it's that sense of creating something unique and helping others have a great experience that draws me in so much.

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COVID virtual 'graduation'

So where are we now

Just over a year into the pandemic, almost a year of being a graduate - I am living back in Kent with my Dad and Sister, currently trying to relocate to a local Girl Guides unit to continue my volunteering but I have now run several zoom meetings with my previous unit as a leader and going to stay with them to help them out with finding more girls and the occasional zoom. I have created an event-specific Instagram account and gained some fantastic friends though it who inspire me every. Single. Day.

I have started a unpaid internship with an Events company and have been with them for three weeks working as a Project and Events Assistant and trying to work out what type of events work is for me. I may not have a paid role, or be where I thought I would be a year on from graduating, but I keep reminding myself that things will fall into place and just to continue with what I am doing now. Putting myself out there, attending industry events, networking and building on my skill set ready for the future.

If you are reading this and you are an Event Grad or student, or maybe you're not in the events industry at all. Just know that everything you do now is preparing you for the future and your opportunity will come.