Recruitment
Let the good times roll !
Trevor Foley , chairman of tfconnect , is very bullish on the career opportunities now presenting themselves in our sector
ell , we knew that 2024
W was going to be a positive year for the industry ! Halfway through , this is certainly the case in all areas and for all indices of the business . This , of course , is a good thing for peoples ’ careers in the industry .
What we know from the first half of 2024 is that business travel continues to boom , as do industry events , with record attendances and high levels for rebooks that already point towards another great year for the industry in 2025 .
Characteristically , in the first half of the year , we have seen strong launches , relaunches and continued growth in sector-leading events . Events serving our own sectors have been testament to that growth , including IMEX and those run by the various industry associations around the world . In addition , we are seeing lots of ‘ buzz ’ on LinkedIn and plenty of talent / career talk with organisers , venues and contractors alike .
We see many industry players hiring for the traditional roles of Event Directors / Managers , Portfolio heads , Regional leaders and Sales & Marketing roles .
What is equally good news is that there is always a top pool of candidates who are very much available for these roles at mid and senior levels . With continually growing confidence , we are also seeing many companies now looking to hire for succession planning purposes .
It is equally good to see that some industry players are successfully recruiting from outside our industry , bringing new talent and experience into our space . A particular case in point is the NEC in Birmingham , UK . New CEO , Mel Smith has been dealing with a much-needed culture change in the business , a hangover from Public Sector ownership days , and is hiring for dozens of positions . The speed of change is impressive and successful candidates are joining the NEC from inside and outside the industry .
WE ARE HIRING
Above : Trevor Foley
Additionally , the heat continues to rise on M & A activity in the industry . Hiring the right people to make sure that top calibre teams are in situ for the various ‘ beauty parades ’, is also taking place .
We continue to hear of growth in all areas of the global industry , other than mainland China . Also , many associations are reporting significant growth in long-term events as communities become more supportive of their sector events .
Perhaps the greatest challenge now lies in finding time to take a breath . Behind the front lines , there is also progress in key areas such as diversity , health & safety and sustainability . All of this is good news for new careers in our industry . Our industry knows that it needs to continue to have ‘ wins ’ in these areas , such that our clients and stakeholders continue to support what we do .
Taking sustainability as a case in point , we know that the more we can do to connect buyers and sellers at our events , through 1-2-1 meeting offerings , speed networking etc , the more we achieve in helping our customers meet more efficiently and effectively in one place . Finally , perhaps the greatest current plus point for our medium , is that of now being the main environment where ‘ cold calling ’ is possible . Reaching potential customers is ever more difficult by phone or email , so the trade show or conference floor comes ever more into its own as the ultimate environment for connecting buyers and sellers . EW
50 Issue 4 2024 www . exhibitionworld . co . uk