At a Glance
- Tasks: Create unforgettable events while maximising revenue and building strong client relationships.
- Company: Join a dynamic team in a fast-paced event planning environment.
- Benefits: Enjoy bonuses, health plans, discounts, and generous holiday allowance.
- Other info: Flexible hours, social events, and opportunities for career growth await you.
- Why this job: Be the creative force behind memorable events and drive their success.
- Qualifications: 2+ years in event planning with strong upselling and client management skills.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Acting as the primary client partner, you will bring each brief to life with flair and precision, curating memorable experiences while driving strong commercial outcomes. In this fast‑paced, client‑facing environment, you will build lasting relationships, identify opportunities to enhance and elevate each event, and maximize revenue through thoughtful, strategic upselling while carefully protecting margin. You will also play a crucial role behind the scenes, producing detailed and accurate event documentation that ensures seamless execution. While the Operations Manager leads on‑the‑day delivery, you remain the strategic lead for the client, guiding decisions, maintaining momentum, and ensuring every element aligns both creatively and commercially. This is an opportunity for someone who thrives on ownership, enjoys building relationships, and is motivated to deliver events that are as profitable as they are unforgettable.
Key Responsibilities
- Client Relationship Management
- Act as the main client contact from confirmation through to event completion
- Establish detailed client requirements and translate briefs into tailored event solutions
- Conduct tastings, planning meetings and venue site visits
- Advise confidently on food, beverage, staffing and production options
- Build long‑term relationships to drive repeat business
- Revenue Growth & Upselling
- Identify and secure upselling opportunities across menus, beverages, staffing and event enhancements
- Recommend premium upgrades and experiential additions
- Increase average event spend through intelligent client guidance
- Monitor budgets and protect agreed margins
- Demonstrate strong commercial awareness throughout the planning process
- Event Planning & Coordination
- Produce high-quality, comprehensive event sheets and function documentation
- Liaise with kitchen, operations and external suppliers
- Lead internal pre‑event briefings
- Ensure accurate and timely communication across departments
- Manage timelines, logistics and production requirements
- Event Delivery
- Attend events in a client-facing capacity
- Manage client expectations on the day
- Remain calm and solutions-focused in live environments
- Innovation & Product Awareness
- Maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of current food trends and market expectations
- Identify opportunities to enhance product offerings
- Contribute ideas that elevate the wider portfolio
What You’ll Bring
- Minimum 2+ years’ experience in event planning within event catering or hospitality environments
- Proven client-facing experience managing events from confirmation through to delivery
- Demonstrable experience in upselling and increasing event revenue
- Strong understanding of event catering operations and delivery
- Experience managing multiple events simultaneously
- Excellent organisational skills and high attention to detail
- Confident communicator with strong interpersonal skills
- Commercially aware with understanding of margin and cost control
- Calm under pressure and adaptable in live event environments
- Flexible approach including occasional evening and weekend work
What’s In It For You?
- Quarterly performance‑related bonus
- Access to Medicash health plan, including dental, optical, 24/7 mental health support helpline, virtual wellbeing tools
- Complimentary shuttle bus to and from Canada Water station (morning and afternoon)
- Exclusive restaurants and bar discounts via the CODE app
- Fresh, healthy breakfast and lunch served daily by our in‑house chef
- Starting holiday allowance of 27 days (plus bank holidays), increasing with length of service
- Free on‑site parking at our Head Office
- Incentive trips for high performing employees
- Cycle to work scheme
- Recommend a friend scheme – earn up to £1,000 when recommending a friend to work with us
- Regular social events throughout the year
- Two complimentary event tickets per year and discounted tickets for friends and family
- Enhanced maternity and paternity leave and pay – subject to length of service
- Interest‑free travel loan
- One paid volunteer day each year
How To Apply
If you’re passionate about events, love building relationships, and want to be part of a team that delivers exceptional experiences — we’d love to hear from you. Please submit your CV and a short introduction outlining why you’d be a great fit to talent@smartgroupltd.co.uk.
MOVING VENUE: EVENT PLANNER employer: Smart Group Ltd
At Smart Group, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and supportive work culture. Our team enjoys a range of benefits including a quarterly performance-related bonus, comprehensive health plans, and generous holiday allowances, all while working in a dynamic environment that encourages personal and professional growth. With opportunities for innovation and creativity in event planning, plus unique perks like incentive trips and regular social events, we are dedicated to making every employee feel valued and empowered.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land MOVING VENUE: EVENT PLANNER
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research their past events, understand their style, and be ready to discuss how you can elevate their offerings. This shows you're genuinely interested and can bring fresh ideas to the table.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Attend industry events, connect with other event planners, and don’t shy away from reaching out on LinkedIn. Building relationships can lead to referrals and insider info about job openings.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising your pitch. Highlight your experience in upselling and managing client relationships. Use specific examples that showcase your ability to drive revenue and create memorable events.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team and ready to dive into the exciting world of event planning with us.
We think you need these skills to ace MOVING VENUE: EVENT PLANNER
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Flair:When you’re crafting your CV and cover letter, let your personality shine through! We want to see how you bring events to life with creativity and precision. Use examples that highlight your unique style and approach to event planning.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application for this role. Highlight your experience in client relationship management and upselling, as these are key aspects of the job. We love seeing how you’ve made a difference in past roles!
Be Detail-Oriented:Since we’re all about seamless execution, pay attention to the details in your application. Ensure there are no typos or formatting issues, and present your information clearly. This reflects your organisational skills, which are crucial for the role.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you’re keen on being part of our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Smart Group Ltd
✨Know Your Client Inside Out
Before the interview, research the company and its past events. Understand their style, clientele, and what makes their events stand out. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you're genuinely interested in how you can enhance their offerings.
✨Showcase Your Upselling Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully upsold in previous roles. Be ready to discuss specific strategies you used to increase event value and how you maintained margins while doing so. This will demonstrate your commercial awareness and ability to drive revenue growth.
✨Demonstrate Your Organisational Prowess
Bring along a portfolio of your past event documentation, such as event sheets and function orders. Discuss how you manage timelines and logistics, and be prepared to explain your process for ensuring seamless execution. This will highlight your attention to detail and organisational skills.
✨Be Ready for Live Scenarios
Expect situational questions about handling challenges during events. Think of examples where you remained calm under pressure and found solutions on the spot. This will showcase your adaptability and client-facing skills, which are crucial for this role.
