At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead sales strategy for exhibitions and events, driving revenue and building key relationships.
- Company: Olympia Events, a renowned venue known for exceptional customer service and community engagement.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career progression, and a commitment to sustainability.
- Why this job: Shape the future of exhibition sales and make a real impact in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Proven sales experience, strong relationship-building skills, and strategic thinking.
- Other info: Join a high-performing team dedicated to innovation and community support.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
As our Head of Sales (Exhibitions & Events), you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Exhibition sales at Olympia. Reporting directly to our Sales Director – Events, this is your opportunity to take the lead on delivering a bold, forward-thinking strategy that fuels our ambitious commercial growth and supports our wider business vision. In this role, you won’t just be responding to the market – you’ll be anticipating it. You’ll bring a sharp understanding of industry trends, emerging opportunities, and the competitive landscape, using your insight to forge powerful relationships, influence key decision makers, and unlock new revenue streams.
Maximise revenue and ensure full sell-out of all Exhibition Hall spaces (Grand Hall, National Hall, West Halls and the new Central Hall), delivering against EBITDAR expectations and the commercial targets set out in our Masterplan. Deliver and execute a high-impact sales strategy in partnership with the Sales Director – Events, creating compelling proposals, negotiating contracts, producing sales collateral, and embedding profit and loss processes to guarantee event profitability.
Cultivate powerful relationships across UK and international corporate and consumer markets, nurturing new and lapsed clients to drive repeat business while championing Olympia’s Exhibition offering and guest experience. Build effective processes and cross-functional collaboration, developing systems that support business growth, driving efficiencies, and working closely with Olympia Estates Services, partners, and suppliers to align with wider destination goals.
Lead, develop, and grow a high-performing sales team, setting clear KPIs and targets, recruiting future talent, and creating an aspirational progression structure that supports the business’s growth ambitions. Continuously improve your knowledge of Olympia Events’ sustainability programme – the ‘Grand Plan’. Complete all training provided and promote sustainability practices to meet our Grand Plan objectives. Follow and promote all sustainable workplace policies and procedures, and seek ways to make your department more sustainable by taking an active role to initiate change.
Commitment: Olympia Events is fully committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all children, young people and adults at risk (vulnerable groups) who attend our premises. We may require any successful applicant to undergo a DBS Check before commencing work. Olympia Events is committed to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion and expects all its people to have a positive commitment to EDI by treating others fairly and not committing any form of discrimination, victimisation, or harassment. It also promotes positive working relationships among employees and stakeholders.
Qualifications: Extensive high-value event and sales experience, with a proven track record of delivering successful sales strategies, understanding industry trends, navigating complex markets, and consistently exceeding revenue targets. Exceptional relationship building and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to influence at all levels, present to diverse audiences, and communicate with clarity through compelling written and verbal messaging. Strong strategic and analytical capabilities, enabling you to interpret situations quickly, develop plans aligned with business objectives, and provide sound guidance in fast-paced, high-pressure environments. A self-driven, highly organised approach, with excellent attention to detail, the ability to work autonomously while being a committed team player, and the integrity, discretion, and professionalism required for a confidential commercial environment. A proactive, positive attitude and the technical proficiency to match, including confident public speaking skills and strong competence across MS Office applications.
Olympia Events is more than an exhibition venue, conference centre and live-event space – it’s an inspiration. Against a backdrop of grand Victorian architecture, the seven connected spaces inspire engagement and enjoyment. Olympia Events is recognised in the industry for exceptional levels of customer service and support, and our numerous awards are testament to our clients’ satisfaction. Beyond the walls of our venue, Olympia is on the ground; we work to invest in people, strengthen our communities, and protect the environment.
Head of Sales - Exhibitions & Events - London in City of Westminster employer: Legends Global
Contact Detail:
Legends Global Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Sales - Exhibitions & Events - London in City of Westminster
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry folks at events, trade shows, or even online forums. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Research the company inside out. Know their values, recent projects, and what makes them tick. This way, you can tailor your conversations and show you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to talk about your experience and how it aligns with their goals. A confident, clear presentation of your skills can make a lasting impression.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Sales - Exhibitions & Events - London in City of Westminster
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the role shine through! We want to see how excited you are about shaping the future of Exhibition sales at Olympia. Share your vision and how you can contribute to our ambitious goals.
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your extensive high-value event and sales experience in your application. We’re looking for someone who understands industry trends and has a proven track record of exceeding revenue targets, so be specific about your achievements!
Be Clear and Compelling: Your written communication should be crystal clear and engaging. Use compelling language to describe your skills and experiences, especially your relationship-building abilities. Remember, we want to see how you can influence key decision-makers!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Legends Global
✨Know Your Market
Before the interview, dive deep into the current trends in the exhibitions and events industry. Understand what’s hot and what’s not, and be ready to discuss how you can leverage these insights to drive sales at Olympia. This shows you’re not just a candidate; you’re a thought leader.
✨Showcase Your Relationship Skills
Prepare examples of how you've built and maintained strong relationships with clients and stakeholders in previous roles. Be ready to discuss specific strategies you used to influence decision-makers and drive repeat business. This is crucial for the Head of Sales role!
✨Demonstrate Strategic Thinking
Think about how you would develop a high-impact sales strategy for Olympia. Bring ideas to the table during your interview about how you would create compelling proposals and negotiate contracts. This will highlight your strategic capabilities and readiness to take on the role.
✨Emphasise Sustainability
Familiarise yourself with Olympia's sustainability programme, the 'Grand Plan'. Be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to these objectives and promote sustainable practices within your team. This aligns with the company’s commitment to sustainability and shows you’re a good fit.