At Clarion, our people are at the absolute heart of what we do. We’re proud that our core values of PASSION, CARE, IMAGINATION, and TRUST define the way we carry out our work across all of our exhibitions and conferences.

If you share our values and want to be a part of a successful, dynamic, and creative global business then we want to hear from you.

The Opportunity:

We are looking to recruit a temporary programmer, taking responsibility for producing time-efficient visit programmes for senior visitors attending one of the largest defence events in the world. DSEI UK will take place in London (ExCel) 9 - 12th September. Event or customer service experience will be a distinct advantage, alongside knowledge of the international defence and security sector.

This customer facing role requires persuading VIPs to take meetings, requiring an excellent telephone manner, the ability to problem solve, and go the extra mile to assist and engage with exhibitors and VIPs. The role requires a very well organised, methodical, and enthusiastic individual with a genuine can-do attitude. Successful candidates will have the desire and ability to engage confidently at all levels, both face-to-face and over the phone. They will have excellent communication skills and be commercially astute, self-sufficient, self-motivated, and a team player. Impeccable standards, attention to detail, and strong support staff ethic are essential. Customer service and sales experience, especially in the event/exhibition and/or defence industry would also be a distinct advantage – a skill called upon when dealing with private office staff and their VIP principals to mediate and ‘sell’ an exhibiting company’s request to meet with them.

This is an ideal opportunity for someone looking to establish themselves within the event/exhibition industry, or network with the international defence and security sector. Some candidates in similar roles within the DSEI organising team have gone on to take up full-time positions either within Clarion’s defence and security portfolio of events, elsewhere within the Company, or with a defence industry supplier.

The contract will run from 2nd June 2025 up to and including 12th September 2025.

Key Responsibilities:

• Coordinating VIP Delegation programmes for DSEI UK 2025.
• Focus on liaising with exhibitor clients and possibly outer offices of International VIP Delegations.
• Producing time-efficient visit programmes, matching the products and services offered by exhibitors with the capabilities that our VIP visitors are interested in.
• Acting as the main point of contact for DSEI UK exhibitor clients regarding online VIP Delegation visit requests; handling all VIP Delegation visit request enquiries.
• Ensuring all visit programmes and correspondence are completed to a professional standard and in a timely manner.
• Coordinating any operational requirements for VIP Delegations.
• Developing and maintaining excellent relationships with MODs, Embassy/High Commission defence
  staff, exhibitors, sponsors, international promoters, partners, and the rest of the show team.
• Working onsite (ExCeL, London) during the build-up and open period of DSEI UK as required (8th - 12th September).
• Acting as host/escort officer at the exhibition, escorting the most senior visitors attending DSEI UK.
• Communicating regularly with exhibitors onsite during the exhibition period, keeping them abreast of any changes to VIP programmes and helping them to engage with VIPs who may have chosen to walk the floor freely at their own behest.
• Representing Clarion Defence and Security in a professional manner.

Knowledge, Skills & Behaviours:

• Organised with strong attention to detail.
• Great phone etiquette.
• Confident and people oriented.
• Excellent written and verbal communicator.
• The ability to work both independently and as a team player.
• To work calmly under pressure.
• A tenacious ‘can do’ approach to work.
• Good listener; customer-driven responsiveness.
• Persuasive with strong negotiation skills.
• Ability to handle and counter objections.
• Resilience and persistence.
• Ability to communicate with people at all levels.
• Ability to tailor communication to the audience.
• Organised and takes pride in their work.
• Previous knowledge of military protocol would be a distinct advantage.
• Ability to speak a foreign language, ideally Japanese, German, Italian, French, Turkish, Spanish, Dutch, or Arabic would be desirable.
• Recent knowledge of the defence sector, MODs and/or Special Forces (especially USA), and their organisational structures will also be a distinct advantage.

About Clarion Events

Clarion Events is one of the world’s leading event organisers, producing and delivering innovative and market-leading events since 1947. (https://clarionevents.com/welcome)

Clarion Events embrace diversity and equal opportunities in all that we do. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.

Clarion is private equity backed and owned by Blackstone. Blackstone is one of the world’s leading global investment funds, investing capital for the long term in order to build successful, resilient businesses. (https://www.blackstone.com/)

Our purpose is to deliver exceptional customer outcomes and experiences, by making every connection count.

Our vision is we want every one of our products to be a market leader in customer satisfaction and delight.

• 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays
• End of year wellbeing shutdown (closed for the last week of the year)
• Celebration day off (e.g. birthday, Diwali, Eid, etc)
• Summer Hours in August (3pm finish on Fridays)
• Helping Our World (HOW) Days – one paid day per quarter to carry out charity work
• Pension Scheme
• Private Medical Insurance
• Health Cash Plan
• Wellbeing Library (MYNDUP)
• Mentoring Programme
• Subsidised Café
• Season Ticket Loan
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Free on-site gym and shower facilities
• Free eyesight tests
• Free flu vaccination – offered on site once a year for all employees