FC is a fast-growing company and is continuously recruiting for a variety of jobs
Below you will find job descriptions, written by people who are currently in the roles.
Whilst immediate opportunities can be found on the Current Vacancies page we are always looking for talented people who might be suitable for any of the positions described below.
Conference Producer (new events)
Oliver Saunders
As I write my thoughts on the role of a Conference Producer at FC Business Intelligence, I am on my way to Chicago to host a conference on advanced biofuels. My conference of choice isn't suave or sexy but to the business leaders of my particular industry, it is vital enough to warrant over $1500 per ticket to attend. So, how did I end up flying 4000 miles to put on a conference and what did that entail?
The job: Well, to start with, I spent a month finding out about my industry - by reading and by calling the people that make the industry tick. From that research, I can find out what are the business critical things for my industry at the moment and their business problems. Once I know that, I can devise a theme, an agenda; a speaker line up, venue and an exhibition that can help meet those challenges.
But that process is only half the battle - no one attends a conference they don't know about. So I devised a marketing strategy and spent 4 months carrying it out. This might include any marketing channel from direct mail to online webinars; whatever gets the message out best.
Finally, I will find myself on the way to the event, to network and to make the conference the best experience it can be for our delegates.
The myths and the facts - what the job is and what it isn't!
It isn't…
Exotic Travel - Travel is often a great perk to the job - but you could just as easily end up in plain old London. The important thing is that we place our conferences based on business need and not holiday destination. It's not necessarily about glamorous travel!
Events Management - If you're interested in managing the logistics and setup of events then you are much better suited to our venues team - the Producer's job is to make money through delegates and sponsorship, not to arrange the logistics.
But it is…
Teamwork - Just because you have individual accountability doesn't mean you're on your own. You will have support from your sector head and wider team. They will come to events with you, introduce you to the key people and train you on the processes.
Finding opportunities to grow the business - This job is all about being entrepreneurial. How we can best serve our customers and make big returns in the process is what being a Conference Producer is all about.
Networking - It's all about people - whether it be on the phone, in person or via email and social networking. You need to be able to speak to people at the highest levels of business and do so confidently; it's an absolute necessity for any Producer!
So, why should you become a Conference Producer?
The role is diverse and autonomous with the Producer being personally responsible for 4 conferences per year. And every day, you're dealing with different people in different parts of your industry.
The rewards can be great. The profit share is generous for COs and its it's set in stone so if you're your conference is making good money, so are you!
Finally - FC is a great place to work. Everyone at FC has the kind of 'get up and go' that means there's always good stuff going on. In the last 8 months, I have had the opportunity to go skiing, white water rafting and to visit Thorpe Park.
In short, if you've got that can do attitude, a good work ethic and a sense of humour - you will fit right in at FC as a CO.
Conference Producer (established events)
Katherine O'Reilly
As the producer of one of FC's biggest and most established events, my job is to drive the event from inception to successful completion. What this means is that for up to 6 months, whether full-time or as part of my day, I think about and act on the information collected straight from the biggest players in that industry. This starts with research, where I delve into the growth areas, areas of uncertainty and change, and key changes in the business models for the part of the industry that I'm focusing on. It doesn't stop until I have a real understanding of the challenges members of this community are facing, and what would attract them to a meeting of industry members.
I speak to the right executives from the companies that are doing the newest and most innovative work in this space. Knowing that business intelligence and networking are key to movement and success in this niche area, I work towards devising a conference agenda that feeds the needs of executives that want to get ahead. I create a website that drives those genuinely interested in this market to start interacting with our brand, and collect the details of members of this community.
With my ideal agenda in hand, I go to the most interesting and respected members of the community and invite them to speak. I call, email, speak to colleague and secretaries - whatever it takes to get the best people involved. I use my research to identify the key marketing channels that will help me reach this community, and negotiate marketing deals with magazines, websites and journals. I work with my colleagues to identify the companies that should sponsor the event, and help sell the benefits of supporting a dynamic meeting place for this community.
With a highly relevant agenda populated by the best speakers possible, I create marketing material that will make the benefits of getting involved in the event clear and exciting. I work with designers and copy writers to make sure my message is clear and focused, and use offline and online marketing to spread the word about the event. I use social media including blogs, community websites, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and other new techniques to reach the community via multiple channels, and through interesting and sometimes unexpected means. I also work with my sales team to ensure that we reach out to people and help them make arrangements to attend.
After months of driving the conference from a mere idea to one of the industry's most respected networking events, I travel to the conference and make sure everything pan's out as it should on the day. After months of working in the area I don't miss the opportunity to meet with the best people in this area, and start the research for next year's conference while I have a coffee with them. And so the cycle starts again, as I look for new ways to tap into a fast-moving, ever-changing business area.
Head of Sector
James Taylor
I came to be a Head of Sector at FCBI after around 18 months at the company as a Conference Producer and later, as a Team Leader in the New Business sector. As a result my progression has been "gradual"; there was no sudden promotion as I ticked off a prescribed set of criteria.
FCBI is a genuine meritocracy where responsibility is given as soon as you have proven you can handle it. Not only have I had to prove I am capable, to a certain extent I have had to create the opportunity myself through my work as a Conference Producer.
Many of the sector heads created the teams they now manage by carving out a business in a new market where they spotted an opportunity. I did this in 2009 when I put together the company's first Nuclear conference which over the last 2 years has grown into business generating over £1.5m a year in its own right.
Through this progression from Conference Producer to Head of Sector I've constantly been asked to take on more responsibility. I've never being allowed to settle in my comfort zone. I've been challenged to find new opportunities for my team, resulting in sustainable revenue streams. I am responsible for the training and personal development of 11 members of staff, all with different job functions and a diverse range of personality types.
I have to make difficult decisions that will impact the future of my business on a daily basis and I'm always striving to hit weekly, monthly and yearly targets. In short, it's at times stressful and never an easy ride - but it has been uniquely rewarding. I can honestly say that at 27, I can't think of many companies that would offer the chance to learn what I have or gain the same level of exposure to fundamental skills that are crucial to the success of any business.
At the time of writing I am managing a sector that is expected to deliver £3.5m of revenue in the coming year through a portfolio of products that will keep at least 11 individuals busy for 9 hours a day, 5 days a week. (When I joined the team in 2009 there were just 3 of us making £600k a year!)
To achieve this I've had to develop a comprehensive business plan that I present to both my Finance Director and Managing Director. (This, by the way, needs constant re-evaluation depending on both internal and external changes.) I have to train and develop my team, keeping them motivated with targets, incentives and encouragement. I have to make tough decisions around hiring people and sometimes deal with difficult problems, ensuring I come up with realistic solutions. I have to make sure that as a team we are constantly making improvements to the way we do business, whether it's how we design a brochure to the way we track the effectiveness of our marketing.
On top of this I might be asked to help the company find a new HR solution or help train our telesales team. It's important that everyone, not just Heads of Sectors, contribute to companywide projects. So things never stand still and ensuring that my team are happy and motivated by itself keeps me constantly challenged - it's not just work issues that crop up but also understanding what is going on in people's personal lives too. That kind of interaction with people plays a huge part in the satisfaction I take from the role.
It's an extremely challenging and diverse job and it's certainly not for everyone. (Becoming a Head of Sector is just one way to progress at FC and is by no means the aspiration of all Conference Producers). However, it is a role that I have loved every minute of. Having the opportunity to build a business from scratch with the support network at FC to fall back on has been the most rewarding, challenging and interesting enterprise I have ever been involved with.
When I joined the company as a Conference Producer 3 years ago I would never have thought I would be running my own sector, with all challenges and lessons that have resulted. I feel extremely fortunate to have been given this opportunity and can't see the learning curve slowing down anytime soon!
Research Executive
Carlos Marquez-Salazar
Research Executives initiate, develop and manage research projects with the objective of producing two main products: 1. Online, data-rich, industry research resources and 2. Standalone business intelligence reports.
At its core this is a project management role, but in practice responsibilities are considerably more wide-ranging. Executives conduct their own market research, devise and compile comprehensive research briefs (topics to be researched and outcomes required), negotiate with and commission authors, editors and other suppliers. Thereafter they not only play an editing role, but also devise and commission the creation of a wide range of marketing materials.
So, effectively, a business plan for every product is put in place and Executives have overall responsibility for delivery and driving commercial performance. Success requires careful planning, excellent communication and strong people management skills…especially as many of the specialist analysts commissioned to produce products work remotely.
It's worth noting that producing a market-leading piece of work is only half the battle. Ensuring that everyone in the target market knows about it is just as vital…in other words: Marketing. The advantage of the FC setup is that the research team products can piggy-back on both the wide and deep industry contact bases and the considerable marketing capabilities of the conference teams. Research Executives don't actually do the marketing, but communicate closely and frequently with the industry teams on campaign planning, execution and performance.
"In my opinion the most satisfying aspects of this role is its variety and the high level of responsibility you have on your projects. The day to day work is mainly office based, but we do occasionally travel to events to present some of our findings and to help promote our products. It's a steep learning curve, but the skills I've developed and the experiences I've had in the role have been more than worth the hard work!"
Marketing Manager
Charlotte Wright
I joined FC 2 months after I graduated with a BA in Drama and English from Loughborough University and have now been here for 18 months.I started in telemarketing, but FC made it clear from the start that progression into new roles within the company was encouraged, as long as you worked hard and showed promise.
When I first started I knew that you could move towards Conference Producer or Business Development roles, but I didn't realize that I'd be given the chance to work specifically in marketing. I worked on a few marketing projects, realized that this is where my skill set seemed to fit, and expressed that I wanted to do more.
After about 7 months of getting some worth-while experience on the phone (which definitely helps when brokering marketing contracts now) I had an interview with my (now) Sector Head and the head of marketing at FC. I got the job and am now marketing manager for Telematics Update. I love working as part of a team and being involved in the whole marketing campaign from event launch to the conference day itself. I am responsible for ensuring the team follows best practice. This involves analysing our campaigns and deciding what message we should be putting in front of what audience and when it's the right time to do it.
I make sure that we are record results, track and measure our campaigns, so we can be sure what is successful for us. Ultimately we want to generate conference revenue and marketing is a fundamental to this. Tracking gives us an indication of how we can improve and what areas of our campaigns need particular scrutiny or attention.
It is also crucial that we continue to grow our database so we can support new events and penetrate new markets. I am also responsible for ensuring we have strong external marketing campaigns in place. I work with the marketing coordinators on securing media partnerships. This involves convincing relevant publications, associations, magazines and other online communities to send out our message to their readership.
As well marketing our new business intelligence reports, the sector websites and training the Conference Producers on new marketing practices, I also test new techniques for communicating with our audience. It is important that we continue to evolve and raise the bench mark so we can achieve better results and more interactions with our audience year after year.
Simon (FCBI's Head of Marketing) and his team have been doing extensive research into how many quality leads we need to ensure a successful event and how to find them. I run tests to find out which email style works for us and to find out where our leads come from, to contribute to his data and research. It is great to be involved in the overall development of the company and to be the one actually writing some copy. Writing is one of my favourite elements to the job!
This doesn't mean that I deploy all the conference marketing. Conference Producers are still responsible for deploying their campaigns, but I am there to offer guidance and ensure our marketing activities are the best they can be.
It is certainly challenging as you have to juggle several conferences and responsibilities and I still have a huge amount to learn! The job is new to FC too!
One thing I have learnt is that our marketing strategy is always evolving and this is my favourite aspect of the job. It's fulfilling because we are always experimenting with different marketing channels or strategy. For example, this week we are running a webinar on a new software platform and with particular outcomes in mind. I'm nervous, but it will be a huge achievement if we our approach works and we deliver the results we're shooting for.
Business Development Manager
Manni Pattar
Hi I'm Manni Pattar - Business Development Manager at Telematics Update. I've been at FC for almost 18 months now and this why is I like my job…
I went to university in London, got a degree, travelled a bit, got a masters and then wasn't really sure what to do. I fell into recruitment and then moved into business consulting for a few years. This is where I decided that my best assets are my ears and my brains, and I wanted to use them to improve my life. So I moved to FC looking for an opportunity to sell things that are of high value and that are recognised as market leading. Also, I was looking for a fresh challenge to work in a company where I would be working within innovative and fast paced markets.
I am a Business Development Director here for one of the FC brands, Telematics Update. My role in essence involves gaining the interest and building rapport with key strategic decision makers in my market. Then to leverage these relationships to understand their problems and how we are best placed to solve these problems. Finally, I sell our solutions to the markets we serve. Most of my time is spent researching markets, speaking to decision makers, working closely with colleagues and closing deals.
I work international markets and so it's imperative that I am on the phone as much as possible talking to clients. This means even though we are talking about significant business deals, most interactions will be across telephone and email. So if you aren't comfortable with all types of sales, cold, direct, consultative, then this might not be for you. Travelling is always an option here at FC, indeed, in the last year I have travelled to Detroit, Chicago, New York, Amsterdam, Paris, Sao Paulo and Shanghai through business trips. This has been an amazing bonus of working here, but again, remember, you might not feel like that at 5am as you get the taxi to Heathrow on a Sunday morning L
This job is hard, it's a lot of work, a lot of thinking, a lot of deadlines and a lot of problems that have be solved on a daily basis. Having said that, I have had so many highlights here at FC in the last few months I will try and list a few briefly!
Firstly being able to take ownership of projects, building them from scratch and then seeing them blossom has been ever so satisfying. Working with emerging markets, being able to visit and learn about new cultures has been fantastic.
On the social side; the Crazy Luau Party, company ski trip, various parties at work, my colleagues and the proximity to Old Street / Shoreditch are all winners!
Venues and Logistics Co-ordinator
Jo Lamontagne
The Venues team work for all in-house business sectors, who are, in effect, our clients. We see the Conference Producers as the "Head" and we are the "Hands". They come up with the research and content for the show and we put it into practice.
We are the point of contact for our clients, exhibitors, and contractors should they have any venue related queries, and vice versa from the venues' perspective. We are responsible for finding and booking the venues and secondary suppliers (i.e. AVs, designers) and dealing with all the operational aspects of the scheduled event, including the smooth operation of the event when it happens. Multi-tasking is the key as we can often be working on up to 3 shows in one month and we have no time for mistakes. Attention to detail is a must.
Once a show has been given the go-ahead, we then work alongside a sales manager, our accounts team, customer services and the conference organiser. We're responsible for regularly communicating on the progress of the show as well as updating budgets and negotiating with suppliers. When we've selected a venue for a show, we're in control of all the operational elements of that show, and will be the main point of contact from then on. We work with a variety of Venues, ranging from 4 or 5* hotels to Convention Centres for larger shows.
Criteria for the Venues Team
- Team player- we work with clients and suppliers from all around the world so you should expect that attitudes to work can differ. Patience is the key.
- Attention to detail- an understanding of the event is crucial. We aim to think out of the box and see the event as a jigsaw where we create the pieces to make it all come together.
- Problem solver- a lot of our job is creating solutions to problems. We want someone who is able to think on their feet in unfamiliar surroundings. The ability to stay calm in situations like this, is essential.
- Negotiator- rule # 1 in Venues is that we never accept the first price that is given to us. We need a strong individual who isn't scared to ask for the earth, and more!
- Working to a budget- you must understand the importance of minimalising all costs and being able to record the information in company sales reports.
- Strong administrator- must be highly organised both in yourself and co-ordinating others, to ensure overall deadlines are met.
- Motivation- able to work independently and take responsibility for all aspects of the job in hand. We want you to take ownership of your events to make them successful.
Client Services Co-ordinator
Tracy Collins
In our department communication is key. We run the bookings, subscriptions and account management of all our customers, be they conference delegates, online magazine subscribers, sponsors or report buyers. We deal with top level executives and must be professional and informed at all times. We provide excellent customer service and are always willing to go the extra mile or two if need be.
Accurate data is the lifeblood of our company, and one of our important roles is to ensure that the correct data goes in to the right part of our database the whole time. As a client service representative you will be given sole responsibility for managing your database, customer billing and credit control for events. You will also be expected to take initiative and ensure pre- and post-event briefings with our own Conference Prodcuers go well. On the day of the event you will be expected to run or support on-site Registration.
You'll need amazing attention to detail and the ability to work fast and accurately to tight deadlines. Although the office has a relaxed atmosphere and we all have fun at work, we all work incredibly hard especially during peak season when we are expected to put in extra hours.
Being pro-active and using initiative along with common sense is part of day-to-day work practise. As a member of Client Services you will be part of a dynamic and supportive team, with the chance to progress within the company as you develop your skills. Progression comes in many forms, Sales and Marketing, Venues and Logistics, Organising and producing your own events, are just a taste of where you could find yourself further down the line!
In addition the jobs described above the company recruits Telemarketers, IT experts and Finance professionals periodically, as well as Interns to support different business Divisions on an annual basis.
