Graduate Conferences Executive

This two-year graduate program features four six-month rotational placements across key conference disciplines to deliver commercially successful global events. In Production, the graduate will conduct market research to write topical agendas and source industry speakers.

We are looking for a passionate, driven, and resourceful Graduate Conference Executive to join our expanding global team on our two-year graduate programme. This is a great opportunity for someone with no/limited Conference work experience to establish and grow their career in Conferences. You will be tasked with delivering commercially successful, well attended and critically respected conferences.

In our conference graduate programme, you will have the opportunity to work across several conference disciplines including Operations, Production, Marketing and Sales. The placements within each team will be six months long so you can develop a full understanding of what the team does and get involved with projects and the day-to-day work.

You will benefit from being exposed to career opportunities which offer a rich and varied career for intellectually curious and commercially driven minds. You will need to be flexible, adaptable, and able to work in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Have the opportunity to work in four different functions within conferences.

• Have a mentor in each function to help guide and support you in your learning and career goals.

• Gain hands-on experience working alongside teams of passionate people.

• Have access to industry training through LinkedIn Learning and Mennta (industry knowledge) training programmes.

• When the programme ends, feel confident contributing to the global Conference team in Argus Media.

• Be considered for a full-time role, commensurate to your skills and the needs of the business, at the time of the programme’s conclusion.

• Gain access to company benefits and be rewarded with an attractive graduate starting salary, along with salary step increases throughout the programme.

Production Responsibilities

• Using desk and telephone client research write topical and focused conference programmes reflecting the needs most pertinent to the sector

• Identify the leading names in each sector and secure these bellwethers as speakers on every programme

• Build and understand a market map for each conference with insight into the value and strength of each buy-sell relationship

• Understand how market developments will impact the sectors in which you operate

Operations Responsibilities

• Carry out basic venue searches

• Manage speakers, sponsors and partners once they have signed up to the event, liaising closely with the Conference Producer and Sponsorship Manager

• Ownership of decisions relevant to logistics: supplier choices; leading on-site team of the running of the event from start to finish; ensuring logistics are coordinated and the on-site experience runs smoothly to meet expectations

• Organise and produce conference set design, signage, and networking app

Sales Responsibilities

• Strategise and collaborate with the sales team to drive conference sponsorship

• Research and find new leads on specific conference campaigns

• Become an expert with the company CRM system, by uploading contracts and creating sales reports

• Be an active selling member of a conference, through direct engagement with customers looking to purchase meeting rooms.

• Attend weekly sales meetings and deliver pipeline updates showing progress within the sales funnel

Marketing Responsibilities

• Gain hand-on experience working alongside a team that plans and executes multi-channel marketing campaigns for conferences.

• Manage the creation of marketing materials such as digital banners, online brochures, website visuals, and social media content (including AI-powered videos).

• Build and schedule emails and social campaigns.

• Identify marketing partners, cultivate relationships and coordinate activity with industry associations and media.

• Help manage budgets and raise purchase orders; track bookings and campaign results and support mid- and post-event reporting using data and analytics

Skills and Experience

• A graduate, tracking to achieve a first/2:1

• Ability to learn quickly, multi-task and to work in a fast-paced environment

• Creative thinker

• Strong research and analytical skills, strongly numerate.

• Fluency in English. Other languages are an advantage

• Self­­-motivating, well-organised, and inquisitive by nature

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Benefits

• Competitive graduate trainee salary with step increases throughout the programme

• 25 days annual leave

• Group pension scheme

• Group healthcare and life assurance scheme

• Subsidised gym membership

• Season ticket travel loans

• Cycle to work scheme

• Extensive internal and external training

• Hybrid working after probation period

Our rapidly growing, award-winning business offers a dynamic environment for talented, entrepreneurial professionals to achieve results and grow their careers. Argus recognises and rewards successful performance and as an Investor in People, we promote professional development and retain a high-performing team committed to building our success.