At Forge Holiday Group, we don’t just do holidays, we create unforgettable moments.
With award-winning brands like Forest Holidays and Sykes Holiday Cottages, we’re 1,700+ people strong and powered by four values: One Business One Team, Keep it Simple, Grow & Learn, Sustainable Impact.
Own Our Events. Shape Our Strategy. Grow Our Reach.
We’re looking for a strategic, commercially minded Events & Engagement Manager to own and grow our events channel across Sykes Holiday Cottages and the wider Forge Holiday Group.
This is a role for someone who wants to own a programme, build a strategy, and make events a genuine driver of owner acquisition and brand engagement, across our national and regional events as well as online channels.
What You Need To Know:
- Salary: Up to £38,000 per annum
- Working Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am until 5:30pm - Some evening and weekend flexibility will be required due to the nature of role.
- Location: Ideally based in or around Chester, this role can also be based anywhere in the UK. It will involve regular travel across England and Wales, with occasional travel to Ireland and Scotland, then at least one visit to our Chester head office per month.
- Reporting to: Senior Marketing Manager (Regional & Events)
About The Role:
We have an established events calendar, spanning nationwide trade shows, agricultural shows, industry events and webinars - and we’re looking for someone to take ownership of it, bring their own thinking, and shape it into something even more impactful.
Your ownership will span the agency events calendar, our webinars and online events offering, the regional brand events programme - supporting regional teams as they run activity across the UK and Ireland, and the development of lead generation partnerships with third-party suppliers.
We’re not just looking for someone to execute. We want a strategist who will put their own stamp on the programme, identify where we can go further, and build on solid foundations to drive real commercial growth. You’ll work closely with operational, marketing, sales and regional teams to ensure everything is commercially aligned and generating measurable impact.
What You’ll Do:
- Develop and deliver the agency's events strategy to drive owner acquisition, brand engagement and commercial growth.
- Own the agency-wide events calendar, ensuring all activity is effectively planned, resourced and delivered.
- Set and report on event KPIs, ROI and pipeline performance, using insights to continually improve activity.
- Lead the planning and delivery of trade shows, agricultural shows, exhibitions and corporate events from concept to evaluation.
- Manage venues, suppliers, logistics, budgets, catering and health & safety, including risk assessments.
- Work closely with Property Recruitment, Brand, Marketing and Regional teams to coordinate event planning, promotion and delivery.
- Manage event staffing, brief teams and oversee seamless on-the-day execution.
- Own and develop the webinar and online events programme, including content planning, delivery and performance analysis.
- Support regional brands across the UK and Ireland with event planning, guidance, best practice and hands-on delivery where required.
- Build and manage lead generation partnerships with estate agents, developers, housekeeping companies and other industry partners to create referral opportunities.
- Represent the business at industry events and networking opportunities to expand brand presence and generate new business leads.
Who You Are:
A confident, strategic events professional who combines big-picture thinking with impeccable execution.
You’re not waiting to be told what to do, you see the opportunity, build the plan, and make it happen. You’re as comfortable presenting a strategy to senior stakeholders as you are managing a supplier on the day of an event. You thrive in a fast-paced environment, manage your time brilliantly, and take genuine pride in the quality of every experience you create.
Essential Experience
- Proven experience in event management, with a track record of both delivering events and shaping event strategy.
- Demonstrable experience using events as a lead generation tool, with an understanding of how to convert event audiences into commercial pipeline.
- Experience managing an events calendar across multiple formats (live, virtual and hybrid).
- Strong project management skills with the ability to manage several events simultaneously.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Experience managing budgets and supplier relationships.
- Data-driven approach - comfortable setting KPIs and reporting on performance.
- Confident working independently across multiple locations with a high degree of autonomy.
- Full UK driving licence.
Desirable Experience
- Experience in travel, hospitality, leisure or property sectors.
- Familiarity with webinar platforms and online event delivery.
- Knowledge of the UK holiday let or property market.
- Experience supporting regional or distributed teams with event activity.
What We Offer
- Annual bonus scheme linked to company performance
- ✈️ Generous holiday allowance + extra days with long service
- Option to purchase extra holiday days if you wish
- A day off for your birthday
✋- 2 volunteering days per year
- Enhanced parental leave (24 weeks maternity, 3 weeks paternity at full pay)
- Pension scheme with employer contributions
- Discounted and last-minute stays at Forest Holidays and Sykes Cottages for you, your friends & family
- ️ Special offers and discounts designed to enhance your overall wellbeing
❤️- Health cash plan & life assurance
- Training & development opportunities
- 24/7 mental health support
- Employee savings scheme
- Long service awards and company event
Inclusion & Belonging: We believe our strength comes from diverse perspectives and experiences. We encourage everyone to bring their authentic self to work, and we actively welcome applicants from all backgrounds. If you need adjustments during the recruitment process, our team will be happy to help.
Ready to make your mark? Apply now - or share with someone who’d be a brilliant fit for this role.
