Events Manager
About Us
Established in 1984, Westcoast Ltd is a privately owned company that distributes leading IT brands such as Dell, HP, HPE, Microsoft, Lenovo, Apple and many others to a broad range of resellers, retailers and office product dealers in the UK and beyond.
Westcoast has grown to become the number one UK distributor for many of our vendors and customers, employing more than 1,600 people across the UK, Ireland and Europe. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of everybody at Westcoast the company is flourishing, and group revenues have seen a sharp increase in recent years to £4.2 billion in 2023.
The company is consistently ranked in the Sunday Times Top Track of the 100 Largest Privately-owned UK companies and in 2024 Westcoast has again been named as the largest privately-held business in the Thames Valley region., Westcoast’s largest distribution centre is in Andover, and it is here that we are opening a new AI enabled Innovation Centre where we will host events (in person, webinars, training sessions, coding days, tech demonstrations, exhibitions and more), as well as private hires.
Job Role
This role is best suited to someone with previous experience in a briefing centre, or aa background in event management / conferences and meetings / project management.
As the Event Manager you will spearhead marketing efforts to make our brand-new centre a success! You will serve as the vital link between Westcoast’s overarching marketing strategy and vendor-specific initiatives. You will plan, run and host events at the centre, and drive bookings through your strategy and promotion.
You will have focus on cultivating and managing relationships with internal Westcoast marketing account managers, aligning on MDF (Marketing Development Funded) plans to advise on how the centre can be utilised. This will also entail positioning our AI enabled centre’s capabilities to vendors, leveraging these partnerships to unlock incremental funding opportunities. You will devise and implement content strategies aligned with vendor plans, utilising our state-of-the-art facilities to produce engaging materials such as webinars, videos, and case studies.
Additionally, you will collaborate closely with the sales team to identify prospective customers who could benefit from utilising the facility, while also coordinating logistical requirements for onsite activities.
Both independently and through agency partnerships, you will create content such as videos to showcase the centre, and to provide compelling content for Westcoast’s partners and vendors.
You will oversee the booking system for the centre, ensuring seamless scheduling and preparation for hosted sessions. Alongside the facilities manager, you will also manage day-to-day operations to maintain the centre's reputation as a premier destination for events, demonstrations, and training sessions.
Monitoring performance metrics and evaluating ROI will be essential, providing insights to drive continuous improvement and strategic decision-making.
Key Responsibilities
- Coordinate all aspects of event planning and execution (numbers, accommodation, catering etc) including collaboration with sales teams, vendors, and service providers to ensure seamless on-site experiences for attendees.
- Develop and execute a comprehensive strategy to elevate the centre and Westcoast brand, leveraging vendor relationships and aligning with corporate objectives.
- Serve as the primary liaison between vendor marketing account managers and internal teams.
- Facilitate the unlocking of incremental funding opportunities through strategic alignment with vendor initiatives.
- Drive the creation of compelling on-site content, including webinars, demos, and case studies, either independently or through agency partnerships, to support event objectives and enhance attendee engagement.
- Collaborate closely with sales teams to identify target customers for events and provide necessary support to meet their on-the-day requirements effectively.
- Drive bookings and seek out opportunities.
- Oversee day-to-day facility management alongside the facilities manager, ensuring the centre is well-prepared and equipped to host events efficiently.
- When required, meet, greet and host customer events, ensuring a premier experience.
- Monitor the ROI of events and marketing initiatives, conducting thorough evaluations to identify areas for improvement and optimize outcomes effectively.
- Maintain clear and effective communication channels with internal stakeholders, external vendors, and partners to facilitate seamless coordination and execution of marketing and event strategies.
- You will be required to visit the Westcoast headquarters in Theale (at least) once a month.
