Work Placement in Events

When my university lecturers mentioned the words ‘work placement’ to me, making endless cups of coffee and photocopying is what immediately sprung to my mind. Luckily these tasks couldn’t be further away from the projects I have been involved in at Mosaic Events, a placement which has offered me a diverse range of tasks, each of which I have thoroughly enjoyed. 

After working in an events company for a year before I started York St John University I knew the industry was something I really enjoyed. However, after a year of chair covers, children’s parties and stressed – out brides, it was the corporate side of the industry that I wanted to get involved in. 

As a student at York St John University studying Business Management and English Language we were encouraged as part of our course to undertake a placement to gain experience in the wide world of work so  this was an opportunity to gain some essential events works experience. 

The Benefits of my work placement

•  ‘Behind the scenes’: When researching different career paths it is hard to get an insight into the workings of the business, a work placement lets you do just this. Something which I have learnt from my placement is the amount of paper work which needs to be completed for each event taking place. I don’t think I have ever seen as many spreadsheets as I have in the past two weeks!
•  ‘Networking’: I got to the point last week where I had made so many phone calls I was starting to forget who was concerned with each event! Even if at first talking to strangers takes you out of your comfort zone, you can see how many people are involved in the organising of any one event and what their roles entail. You get a wider perspective of the industry and it never harms to get your name out there to different people. Plus you get to have a good chat with a wide variety of people, something I never turn down.
• ‘Strengths and Weaknesses:’ I have found events management will seriously test you!  Organisational and communication skills are essential so you will quickly realise what you excel in and what needs work! I definitely need to work on my short term memory to remember all these phone calls!
• Have fun! : Don’t be fooled, I have learnt events management takes some serious hard work. Despite the pretence of glamour and glitz planning, events take massive amounts of organisation. Despite this, I believe the industry is a fun one to be in. The satisfaction when an event plan comes together is brilliant and the buzz of trying to sort last- minute hitches and problems definitely keeps you on your toes.

Whilst working at Mosaic I can honestly say I have learnt so much about the business of ‘events’. It has confirmed that this profession is one that I would like to pursue and has given me an insight into the possible options open to me when I finish university. Most of all I have had fun and made some new friends along the way!

And even though I had to say goodbye to my student life of nights out, daytime TV and duvet days I have enjoyed my placement so much, I can honestly say three weeks just wasn’t enough!

Ruth Turner

If you would like to share your work experience in events or would like to write a blog for Mosaic Events please email: sarah@mosaicevents.co.uk