H.E.A.T up your future at Ayrshire College!

Whether you are a school pupil, adult returner or a current student, and you want to H.E.A.T up your future, there will be lots of exciting and diverse opportunities for you to choose from. We have spoken to people working in this vibrant sector who showcase the best of what Ayrshire has to offer in the Hospitality, Events and Tourism industry.

Nicole Drummond is an Events Officer for South Ayrshire Council and has recently been the face of Ayrshire and Arran Tourism, with the ‘Take a Different path’ video.

We asked Nicole to tell us more about her career in Events:

“My love of events started at school. I was always really involved with pupil events.  At the time, a teacher suggested that I would be well-suited to a career in events, so I took this on board and ended up studying Events Management at university.

Once I left university, I went on to work as a wedding coordinator, then worked in a company that organised conferences in Glasgow.

I love now working in Ayrshire on small and large events with South Ayrshire Council.

My days really vary. In South Ayrshire we have a range of events on at any one time, such as small gala days, to the Air Show.  I’m involved with all aspects of the events that are run by the council, eg HolyFest, and the Christmas Lights Switch On.  Later on this year we have GoFest, which is a half-marathon, 10k run and cycle sporting event, as well as music festivals, such as BurnsFest.

I also assist with events that are held on South Ayrshire Council grounds or properties.  We can help with the organisations who are running the events.

We are involved from start to finish with events, so from initial ideas to the booking and organising, marketing, funding information, liaising with other companies and departments within the council, through to delivery and de-rig on the day.

Our department also works closely with Ayrshire and Arran Tourism.  Depending what we’re working on, we are out and about doing recces of sites etc.  I recently worked with VisitScotland on the ‘Take a Different path’ video.  The video was such a lot of fun to work on.  It covers all of Ayrshire and so I got to go to places I’d never been before, like Millport!

Advice I would give anyone looking to get into Events as a career would be that communication is key in this role, and is crucial to the success of any event.  No one day is the same.  It can be stressful at times, you need plenty of energy, but if you have a love for events, enjoy a fast-paced environment and are organised, I would say that these are key to the job.

It’s a really rewarding career with great progression opportunities and where hard work is really recognised!”

Click here to apply for courses in Hospitality, Events and Tourism.