Real world experience puts Derby at the top

Events management courses at the University of Derby have been described as the best in the UK by the head of one of the industry’s leading professional bodies.

Steve Heap, General Secretary of the Association of Festival Organisers, said that experienced lecturers at the University’s Buxton Campus made their courses stand out from the crowd.

“I think you do the best job here,” said Steve at the campus’s 2015 Industry Networking Day, which attracted professionals from the worlds of event management and tourism who come each year to discuss how the University can meet their industries’ needs  – and look out for fresh talent among the undergraduates.

“The difference between Derby courses and many of the other universities is that Derby is run by people who have run events.”

Steve, who has been running events himself for 40 years, is now looking out for the professionals of the future: “We in the AFO believe professionalism is a state of mind, not a state of income.

“The enthusiasm of the first years is always rewarding, as are the knowledge and skills of the third years. They are already speaking the language of professionals - they know what you mean when you say Purple Guide (the industry’s ‘bible’), infrastructure and contracts,” he said.

“The people here have been well enough trained to become the next generation of event professionals. Derby events management courses are very well respected in the industry.”

Other industry experts who came to the Networking Day included representatives from the National Trust, top hotels such as the Waldorf Astoria and Holbeck Ghyll,  and leading spa brand Elemis.