West London

Experienced and reliable administrator who is calm under pressure required for this role. Experience in diaries or event management preferred. One to two hours a week intially until 25 September. Most of the wedding planning has been done but need someone to co-ordinate with suppliers and myself etc by email and fax (keeping paper copies/or forwarding emails to me essential). Due to the nature of the event – references required. Must live in West London as may be required to help out on Saturday 25 September. Paid hourly.
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London
£35,000 – £50,000

A skilled Java J2EE developer with security clearance (or the ability to gain clearance) is required to join a highly successful global technology company in London. This will be working in cutting edge Java J2EE development in a challenging yet rewarding environment and with exposure to the latest skills in the J2EE framework such as Spring, Hibernate and Agile.

Successful Java developers for this role apply to this role in London will receive exposure to many of the cutting edge Java technologies such as Spring, Hibernate, EJB and OOAD within the J2EE framework. Therefore previous experience of such technologies will be a benefit though not essential.

This is an urgent and excellent opportunity with interview slots available immediately for the right Java J2EE candidates.
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London
£40,000

Further information
The PR Manager will be responsible for leading the strategy and implementation of communications campaigns across the channels and websites in the UK. The successful candidate will manage PR agencies on designated projects and will oversee the PR intern on a day to day basis. This position will also work with the Communications Director to support corporate, trade and internal communications initiatives as required. The role will require constant liaison with the Commercial Marketing Manager and Senior Brand Manager to help identify and co-ordinate key opportunities for PR activity. In addition, regular contact will be necessary with the International communications team to ensure the announcements and features are co-ordinated with news being issued by other UK-based teams.

To lead the strategy and implementation of innovative PR campaigns across the channels and websites in the UK.
To execute PR campaigns with a view to maximising positive exposure for the channels and the network.
To brief and manage external agencies on designated projects.
To liaise with all relevant teams internally to ensure clarity and transparency of press information.
To look for and develop opportunities to reinforce the positioning of the brand through strategic partnerships
To support the Communications Director in devising PR strategies for the network in line with the overall business objectives and on crisis communications
To support wider trade and corporate strategy as required.
To manage the day to day workload for the PR intern.
Contributing to the annual and quarterly PR plans for the network
Liasing with journalists to sell-in news and feature stories.
Writing and distributing press releases, statements and Q&A’s as appropriate.
Managing events and press attendance, including travel and hosting responsibilities on press trips.
Preparing briefing documents for PR agency, providing them with the materials they need and monitoring their output and results.
Managing coverage review / analysis.
Providing information for trade and internal communications, as required
Collating reports for management/International as required.
Responsibility for press budget
Briefing the PR intern and monitoring his/her output.

Essential Requirements
Solid previous media PR experience.
Proven ability to deliver high-impact intergrated PR campaigns
Strong writing skills
Solid understanding of UK media landscape
Established journalist contacts across a broad range of media
Clear understanding of target audiences

Desirable Requirements
Experience of TV/Kids/Youth sector
An enthusiastic, can-do attitude
The ability to manage multiple projects and to work under pressure when required
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London
£40,000

Further information
Well-established events agency is seeking an experienced Project Manager to join their expanding team. This person will definitely need to have strong agency based fmcg experience and be used to client handling and development, full end to end event management, running budgets and overseeing complex projects. In return a first class salary is offered together with the chance to work with a fun, lively, outgoing and highly successful team.
Source

London
£32,000

Further information
This is an exciting opportunity working in a small association within the communications industry. My client is looking to hire an experienced Events and Training Manager to plan, lead and deliver a series of events and training seminars. You will be responsible for all logistics, including venue sourcing, supplier negotiation, budget management and client liaison. In addition to this you will be responsible to content generation and programme development. Your role will involve researching the industry, talking to key figures and identifying hot topics and programme content for events moving forward. This is much more than an event manager’s role in that you will be involved in the direction and the strategic development of the event portfolio for the business. It is imperative that you have a proven track record of not only managing the logistics for an event, but you also have experience of researching and developing content ideas. You will be managing 1 member of staff so a background in man management would be beneficial.
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Planning a successful public relations campaign and planning PR events and meetings consist of many small steps that should be considered during the planning in order to convey one’s corporate hospitality. Making sure that the PR events are properly planned will help to ensure the event has an inspiring and successful outcome. PR events are usually planned in categories ranging from creativity to the mundane financial aspect. All aspects of the event are important when planning and each step and aspect should be given full attention.

The PR events planning process takes time and effort and is not an entirely exciting task. The PR events planning tasks are commonly viewed as one of those things that must be done instead of one that wants to be done. Planning PR events often lacks the satisfaction and personal sense of accomplishment that many planners receive from special event planning. However, depending on the type of planning, it can be the exact opposite and may prove to be an easy and smooth process. It all comes down to the way the planning is approached.

The objective of PR planning is to figure out the best and most beneficial way to accomplish the goal. The basic concept is simple and straightforward, but the added steps to include creativity and provide the extra touches can make the planning process confusing and time consuming. While it may be easier to just apply the basic and simple steps to the planning, the success of the event depends largely on presentation. Taking the extra time and applying the effort will increase success rates and make the event much more intriguing and appealing. There are generally two types of PR events planners. Those with traditional views who set goals, identify the objectives, and then create the steps to achieve the goals. Contemporary planners add the creativity component.

They add strategy and organisational tactics to the planning. The use of strategy is a very powerful and important aspect in the planning process. Strategic planning defines the framework and goals for a long-term process. Some planners choose to employ tactical planning instead, which focuses on a specific time period rather than the entire life of the project.

When preparing to plan PR events, team building events, training courses, sales presentations, product launches, exhibitions, annual general meetings, seminars, conventions, or awards ceremonies planners must be aware of the necessary steps to follow to plan successfully. Many times these steps are varied and personalised to give a boost to the event. However, the baselines should be followed to be sure that nothing is overlooked during the planning process. The planning will be time consuming and will include multiple meeting sessions, trainings and conferences. Everyone involved in the planning should have the same goals and work as a strong team to make every step of the planning effective and beneficial; the first and most important step is to establish an audience and goal identification.

The questions posed here should be whom the organisation’s target audiences are, why the audience is important and what view does the organisation want the audience to have; these are important factors to consider in order to ensure that the PR events will actually be presented to those with an interest in the organisation. The audience is the key to success during an event and those in the audience should have relevance and an importance to the organisation. Once the target audience has been selected, the next step is to explore the relationship already existing between the organisation and the members of the audience. This falls under the planning category of reporting research findings. When planning these steps, include questions of what the audience’s view is of the organisation, what issues and appeals are important to this target audience and which media does the audience trust and use. Having the answers to these questions help to ensure that the most effective media sources are being used to reach the target audience.

The last area to consider is assessment and plan development. This is where the first two stages of planning are integrated and built upon. The important questions to consider are how the audience’s view differs from the desired one, what message themes will have the greatest impact on this target audience, what are the best ways of reaching this audience and who will serve as the organisation’s contact when working with the audience. This final step will identify the most effective and efficient means of reaching the target audience.
The three key steps to planning PR events should be the basic guideline followed during the planning process. Audience and goal identification, reporting research findings and assessment and plan development are the areas to focus on when planning.

If these areas are overlooked, the PR events will not be targeting the correct audience and will not be a successful event. Having defined goals for the purpose of the event is essential. It is the first and most important step in any planning process and it is what the rest of the event is planned around. If the goals are not clear a proper audience will not be selected and the outcome could be devastating and a waste of time. Since so much time and effort goes into the planning process, it is imperative to make sure every step of the planning is covered and the event will be presented to the correct audience. These steps will provide the foundation for successful and effective PR events.
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Your job as an event planner doesn’t stop with the meeting in the company boardroom. You may be call upon to organise an employee appreciation event, an awards dinner, a product launch, the celebration of a company milestone, a gala recognising a long time employee’s retirement, an incentive event for the company’s sales force, a fundraising event, a holiday celebration…the list goes on and on.

These types of affairs differ from your typical corporate business meeting, and you face unique issues and pitfalls when planning them. Rave program reviews are generally the result of the blood, sweat, and tears you devote to the project. A well-designed and well-orchestrated event is analogous to a good stage production. It’s all about getting your act together and performing the right show for the right audience.

The following are 10 tips that zero in on the nitty gritty elements that can help earn your efforts glowing reviews (and make your mom really proud of you). As you begin each planning program, a key question to ask yourself is, “how can each activity engage the participant’s interest?”

Tip #1: Decide When to Stage Your Event
Timing is everything. The decision about when to hold your event is determined in large part by what type of event it is. Ask yourself, is the event better suited for the day or evening? Do you want to hold it during the week or on a weekend? If your event doesn’t have a deadline, would it be best to hold it during a specific season or time of year? Make sure to check that your event doesn’t overlap with any religious holidays, and it’s probably best to avoid scheduling during major sporting events.

Tip #2: Map out A Location
The first order of business is to decide whether to hold your event indoors or outdoors. However, outdoor events have several major considerations, the elements being number one on the list. Think tents, portable flooring, electric generators, and space heaters, in addition to a well thought out contingency plan. Also, be aware that speeches and audiovisual presentations are notoriously difficult to stage outdoors.

Tip #3: Consider Unique Environments
Hotel meeting rooms can get old very quickly and the thought of a unique environment can immediately add interest and excitement. Consider retreat centres, cruise ships or yachts, museums, stately home, sporting venues, and theatres. Realize that many of these venues work well for special functions, but they don’t necessarily have adequate meeting facilities and equipment. Make sure you do your homework beforehand and abide by the “Meeting Planner’s Golden Rule” – never select a venue without having seen it in person!

Tip #4: Set the Stage
The program plan you choose stems from the purpose and participants. Your four main considerations include:
What is the main emphasis of the program – educational, business or social?
What are your financial criteria – generate revenue, break even, or be a company expense?
What are your participants’ expectations?
What is the optimum ration of educational, business, and social programming?

Tip #5: Create the Right Atmosphere
One key to a successful special event is to seek out entertainment or decorations that are unique and fun to spark excitement and add the right ambiance. Think outside the box and consider all sorts of amusements – strolling musicians, magicians, chefs’ demonstrations, palm readers…anything out of the ordinary. Novelty is the key to your success. Keep in mind that entertainment that rave about can also come in the form of an elaborate coffee bar or startlingly beautiful champagne fountain. Remember to check all decorating plans with the venue in advance because many have restrictions on what they allow. For example, many establishments forbid helium balloons.

Tip #6: Create a Memorable Theme
Creating a theme for your event helps make it easier to organize food, décor, and other accessories, such as giveaway items. Select a theme that fits your participants. Consider choosing from the following categories:
Fashion: The Roaring Twenties or an Evening at Ascot
History: The Garden of Eden or a Renaissance Fair
Politics: Fourth of July Celebrations or Women’s Lib (political and historical)
Popular culture: Wizard of Ox or An Evening with Dr. Seuss
The arts: An Italian Affair or A Night at the Oscars

Tip #7: Integrate the Theme
Don’t consider a theme unless you are prepared to follow it through your entire event. Don’t limit it to a few posters on the walls, which just add lip service rather than real ambiance. For the most impact, integrate it before, during and after the event. Reflect your theme in your invitations and in any party favours that guests take home. Your theme should complement the tone and content of your event. Advise speakers and discuss with them how they can incorporate, but not overuse it in their remarks. A few extras to consider when integrating your theme:
Make sure the theme is general enough that it is unlikely to offend anyone, and that it is meaningful to your group.
Develop a meaningful slogan or message to go along with the theme to add a little extra when you promote the event.
Consider having a special logo designed to enhance the theme and its possible message.

Tip #8: Hire a Professional Photographer
A photographer is a great addition to almost any event. Guests appreciate a visual reminder of the fun time they had at your affair. Arranging to have family portraits taken at an employee appreciation event shows your employees that you care about them as individuals. Guests at more formal affairs enjoy having their pictures taken while they’re dressed up for a night out. Decide whether you want a photographer to roam among your guests taking candid shots, to set up in a central location to take posed shots, or both.

Tip #9: Entertain the Group
Participants look forward to the entertainment segment of a program. They want to have fun, enjoy themselves, and let their hair down, particularly after stressful and demanding sessions. So guess what? Your participants’ stress reliever now becomes your stress maker. You have a true responsibility to choose the right entertainment for your group. Some options include the following:
Music: Your choices include a band with or without singers, a soloist (instrumental or vocal), a disc jockey, or even karaoke.
Spectacle: Consider hiring a magician, juggler, comedian, mime or hypnotist.
Theatre: Arrange a dinner theatre performance, a one-person act, a murder-mystery experience, or corporate theatre (which involves using professional or amateur actors to dramatize a company’s image, a new product, or the history of an organization).
Games: Involve your participants by planning individual games, such as a treasure hunt, or an event with a game show format, such as “Jeopardy” or “Hollywood Squares.”
Video or slide show: A picture is worth a thousand words. For a retirement dinner, consider creating a slide show featuring the guest of honour’s accomplishments. For a sales meeting, provide a video demonstration of a new product.

Tip #10: Hire The Right Talent
As you think about hiring your entertainment talent, find out where and for whom they’ve previously performed. Make certain that you view a demo video. Watch for the quality of their performance and the audience reaction. Check out their references and ask some pertinent questions:
Would you hire them again?
How flexible, reliable, and easy to work with were they?
How would you rate their act?
What do they do well?
What part of their act could use improvement?
What were the demographics of your audience? (You want to make sure that this act would be a good fit for your participants.)
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