“I was attracted to the course at BU because it offered a good combination of academic and vocational study. The course offered modules in all areas of business, including finance and economics, which helps to keep your options open."
Events management graduate Hannah Carter has hardly had chance to pause for breath since completing her degree at BU in May.
Hannah went straight from finishing her course one day, to taking up her first full-time role the next.
She is now employed as a Junior Events Manager with Corporate Events, an integrated event production company with corporate clients including Heineken, Muller, Nationwide and BMW. On her second day, Hannah was part of a team supporting a major awards ceremony for the pensions industry.
It’s a career which Hannah has been keen to follow since her teenage years. She said: “I have always been super organised, so event management felt like a good area for me to explore. When I was at school I completed an online careers profile, and events came out as one of the top options.
“I was attracted to the course at BU because it offered a good combination of academic and vocational study. The course offered modules in all areas of business, including finance and economics, which helps to keep your options open.
"It also helps if you go on to work for a small company, because you are more likely to be working across a range of areas. At the time of applying, BU was ranked top for events management in the country.”
In her third year, Hannah spent a year-long placement with Groupia, a company specialising in organising stag and hen dos.
She said: “My placement was amazing. I learnt so much about working with clients, generating quotes and generally pitching in with everything the company did. It reaffirmed for me that this was the area I wanted to work in and I spent my final year looking for relevant jobs ready for when I finished.”
In her final year, Hannah benefited from the university’s Student Talent Employability Engagement Programme (STEEP).
“The programme offered practical tips to help you secure employment," she said.
"Simple things, like updating your LinkedIn profile to say you are seeking work, really do help. I began to get approaches, including the invitation to apply for the role I am in now. My advice to others would be to make use of tools like LinkedIn and to put your CV out there. It definitely pays to be proactive.”
With a busy first few weeks under her belt, Hannah is thoroughly enjoying her first paid role in the events industry. She said: “I love seeing something through from the initial pitch to delivering the final event. There is a real buzz about it, particularly seeing how every small detail combines to create a really impressive atmosphere. When the client is pleased, it brings huge job satisfaction.”
Find out more about studying BA (Hons) Events Management at BU