Agency Grass Roots Meetings & Events has appointed an events management graduate following Meeting Professionals International’s (MPI) inaugural MPI Connects event in April.
The MPI Connects event, which took place at Westminster University in April, was designed to bring together industry employers and new talent who are looking to make a start in the events industry.
As a result, Grass Roots Meetings & Events has appointed Takara Patrick, a Bournemouth University events management graduate, to the role of events coordinator.
Grass Roots Meetings & Events operational director Sue Massey said: “The MPI Connects event was a great opportunity, which not only benefitted the jobseekers but ourselves as employers.
“Off the back of the event, we have been able to employ a fantastic graduate in Takara and we are excited about her future in one of our client implant teams in London. The whole idea of bringing employers together with those searching for careers within the industry should be applauded.”
C&IT’s State of the Industry Report has revealed that recruiting new talent is the top challenge facing event agencies in 2015, with Smyle managing director Rick Stainton stating: “The top challenge for anyone at the moment is talent. There doesn’t seem to be any. It’s very difficult to find really good, multi-discipline, multi-sector experience or talent out there.”
The MPI Connects event was attended by more than 50 event management students who were advised to ‘take the initiative, pick up the phone’ and demonstrate a thorough understanding of the industry to find employment.
Hamish Reid, UK commercial director at MPI, added: “One of our main aims is to aid students with the transition between full-time education and finding a career.
“MPI Connects was created for the sole purpose of connecting jobseekers and students like Takara to potential recruiters so for a global company such as Grass Roots to hire as a result of the event is a real success.”