Summer events season is here, and so are the festivals, sports and celebrations we all look forward to. The UK has experienced a notable increase in the number of festivals, concerts and sporting events in the last few years, not to mention high profile events at UK venues, such as Wembley and the AO Arena.
These events and hospitality businesses, such as restaurants, bars, and hotels, rely heavily on teams of staff to run efficiently and successfully during the summer seasons, which are considered one of the busiest times of the year, rivalled only by the festive period in December. Key roles, including food and beverage staff, kitchen teams, and front-of-house management, are essential for smooth operations. The summer rush often prompts an increase in recruitment drives as venues and businesses seek additional staff to handle the influx of customers, festival and concert goers, and guests.
For many job-seekers, summer events and festivals offer the opportunity to gain valuable experience in the hospitality industry and flexible working benefits, especially for recent graduates looking for summer work post-university.
What are the benefits of temporary summer work?
Flexible and temporary hospitality work during the summer can have many benefits, including:
Skills development
Develop valuable skills, such as customer service, team work, time management and problem-solving, as well as specific skills related to a desired career path, i.e. event management.
Networking
Meet and connect with professionals in the event and hospitality industry, potentially leading to other opportunities in the future.
Work experience
With the fast paced and sometimes unpredictable nature of events and hospitality, exposure to different job roles and working environments can be a rewarding benefit and enhances your CV with practical experience that stands out.
Supplementary income
Earn an additional income during the summer, which can be especially beneficial for students and graduates, or those between permanent jobs.
Enjoyable work environment
Working at festivals, concerts and sporting events can be fun and exhilarating, offering a unique work experience compared to traditional jobs. There can also be perks, such as free entry and behind the scenes access.
Our tips for securing events and festival work
Of course, with so many benefits to working at events, such as music festivals, concerts or sporting events, competition to secure the various different roles is high. Here are our top tips to help job seekers understand how to position themselves for a variety of event related opportunities.
Polish your CV
Tailoring your CV to the specific roles you are applying for can help you highlight relevant experience and skills that the employer is looking for. Reading the job description fully, including both required and desired skills and experience, is also a big part of this as it increases your chances of getting noticed by employers.
Utilise job boards and recruitment agencies
By registering with recruitment agencies, specifically those who specialise in events and hospitality, you can often gain exclusive access to job listings and can match you with roles that fit your skills and experience.
Network and use social media
Social media platforms can be valuable tools for staying up to date with a preferred industry or venue. By connecting with industry professionals on LinkedIn and following pages related to festivals, sports events, and concert venues can be a great chance to get up to date notifications on any job announcements or upcoming recruitment drives. Networking can also lead to job referrals and insider information about upcoming opportunities.
Get certified
Look into obtaining specific certifications or completing hospitality training courses, such as food handling, security licences, or first aid training. Having industry specific certifications and training demonstrates a commitment to the role and can make you a more attractive candidate to employers.
Be flexible and open to different roles
Being flexible with the job role you are open to can be a great asset to many employers as it offers versatility. Flexibility increases your employability in the events and hospitality industry, especially if you are just starting out, and it helps broaden your experience and skill set.
Showcase your passion
Make sure to highlight your enthusiasm for festivals, sports or music throughout your application process and research the venue and event that you are applying for. Employers in hospitality want passionate candidates who are excited about the work and will bring a positive personality to the role. This type of enthusiasm can set you apart from our candidates and make you more memorable.
Events and hospitality at Berry Recruitment
Berry Recruitment has considerable experience in recruiting for Catering and Hospitality, building teams for events such as weddings and corporate conferences, as well as for major sporting and music events. Branch Manager and Events Specialist, Pete Higgins, talks about Berry’s focus on catering and hospitality and what he enjoys most about recruiting for the industry:
“Hospitality and events is all about recruiting the right people for an event, building a great team who can deliver something special to the client. For me, this is the most satisfying part of my job.
At Berry Recruitment, our goal is to execute a fantastic event with world class hospitality, filling all types of roles from the kitchen to front of house. Supporting these events, many of which are held over a number of days, is an incredible experience for anyone wanting to be in this industry.”
Pete Higgins has 25 years of experience working in the hospitality industry, starting as a Kitchen Porter in his teens and progressing to Team Leader, working at events for high profile companies, such as BMW and Mercedes.
Now, as a Manager, Pete specialises in Catering and Hospitality for major events across the UK, including the British Grand Prix, concerts for artists such as Take That, Pink and Beyonce, and sporting events at Wembley and Ascot Racecourse.
The busy summer season has started off strong with Berry recruiting for Royal Ascot, securing positions for bartenders, wait staff, and kitchen staff, and serving an average of 1000 guests a day. Our team has also been kept busy at Wembley, providing a team of managers and front of house staff for the Champions League Final and their main restaurant, which seats 1200 guests; as well as the additional restaurants on site.
