January Review: Classroom Learning to Live Event Practice
- The Event School London
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
January has marked a confident and purposeful start to the year at The Event School London, with students across multiple programmes already embedded in live learning, professional environments and industry-facing activity.
New cohorts
We were delighted to welcome a new cohort of students onto our full-time Wedding Planning and Event Planning programmes this month, alongside the our January part-time Diploma in Event Management.
Across both study formats, students have begun structured, face-to-face training that blends professional frameworks with applied, real-world delivery. From the outset, learning is grounded in how events operate in practice, preparing students to think commercially, creatively and operationally.
Full-time
Our full-time students are now mid-course, attending three days a week of in-person training at Novotel London ExCeL, a location that places learning at the heart of London’s global events scene. Situated on the doorstep of ExCeL London, one of the world’s leading international exhibition and conference venues, and moments from Immerse LDN, London’s newest immersive entertainment district, the setting itself forms an integral part of the student experience.
Live event planning projects underway
A major milestone this month has been the start of live event planning projects for full-time students. Working in teams, students are applying their learning directly to practice, developing professional timelines and itineraries, producing detailed risk assessments, shaping media and social media strategies, and researching, sourcing and evaluating venues, caterers and event suppliers.
To support this process, students have undertaken guided site tours of potential live event venues including Good Hotel London, known for its sustainable ethos and flexible event spaces overlooking the Royal Victoria Dock; Crowne Plaza London Docklands, a large-scale corporate and conference venue; and Sunborn Yacht Hotel London, a distinctive floating super-yacht venue offering a very different guest and operational experience.
These visits enable students to assess layout, capacity, access, technical considerations and guest flow, while understanding how venue identity and operations shape event design.
Site tours bringing theory to life
January also saw students visiting a range of established London venues to contextualise theory within live environments. These included Central Hall Westminster, a Grade II listed venue with a rich history of hosting conferences and large-scale events; De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms, an iconic central London venue renowned for its grand event spaces; St John’s 73 Waterloo, offering contemporary, versatile spaces with strong sustainability credentials; and The Conduit, a private members’ club combining hospitality, purpose-led programming and premium event delivery.
Site tours of Wimbledon and Wembley Stadium form part of our students’ exposure to major events and sports venues. At Wimbledon, students explore how heritage, brand protection and operational precision combine to deliver one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world. At Wembley Stadium, the focus shifts to scale, crowd management and the complex logistics behind major international concerts and sporting fixtures.
Together, these visits help students understand how different venue models operate at the highest level and how event planning principles adapt across formats, audiences and global expectations.
These site tours allow students to analyse how different venues position themselves, manage operations and deliver guest experience across corporate, social and purpose-driven events.
Industry events and live exposure
Industry engagement continues to be a core teaching tool with students making. valuable connections with venue professionals, event suppliers and London's leading planners.
Diploma participants attended the RSA Venue Showcase, stepping inside RSA House, home of the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. Behind its elegant Georgian façade, students explored a curated collection of 13 distinctive event spaces, gaining insight into how heritage venues adapt to modern event demands.
They also visited Bleeding Heart Crypt, the atmospheric medieval crypt in Ely Place, frequently used for private dining, weddings and special celebrations. The visit provided valuable perspective on working within historic spaces and managing guest experience in unique environments.
Full-time students stepped out of the classroom and into the industry at EAG Expo at ExCeL London. From immersive technology showcases to future-focused conversations with exhibitors, the visit focused on understanding how exceptional consumer experiences are designed, delivered and evolved. It was learning through observation, questioning and engagement rather than theory alone.
Global learning through virtual masterclasses
January also marked the start of our virtual masterclass programme, extending London-based expertise to learners around the world.
These live online sessions enable international participants to access current industry thinking, practical insight and professional development, while maintaining the Event School’s emphasis on applied learning and relevance.
Careers, placements and mentoring
Full-time student, Felix (sports event management), began a professional placement this month, as an Events Planning Assistant, with English University Sports, gaining exposure to large-scale sports operations and governance.
Other full-time students reached the midpoint of their one-to-one career mentoring programmes. These personalised sessions are delivered by industry leaders supporting students with career clarity, professional positioning and next-step planning. Including:
Emma Murray-Jones - a luxury planner who's events in the UK and abroad have taken place at iconic venues including The Palace of Versailles, The Victoria & Albert Museum, Kensington Palace, and The Dorchester
Charlotte Ricard-Quesada - offering bespoke high-end planning to ultra high net-worth clients in the UK and Europe
Alex Spargo - a festival and major event specialist who's clients include Glastonbury, Live Nation, Beastival, BluesFest and Kingdom of Winter)
Teaching and guest expertise
Teaching this month has been led by a strong faculty of industry professionals and experienced educators, including:
Siobhan Craven‑Robins has spent over 25 years planning bespoke luxury weddings across the UK and internationally, including high-profile celebrations at venues such as Kensington Palace’s Orangery and Claridge’s, and has designed bespoke weddings featured in Hello, Vogue and Daily Mail while also organising interactive live weddings for GMTV’s broadcast audience.
Nick Oxborrow, founder of Fabulation, has led the creative delivery of bespoke corporate and brand events for international clients across Asia and Europe. His impressive client list includes Silicon Valley giants such as Netflix, Facebook and Microsoft and international luxury brands such as Soho House, Chanel and LVMH.
Rachel Williams brings extensive venue and operational expertise to education, underpinned by senior roles in commercial hospitality and events management that have included 15 years with etc.venues, and as an Account Manager for Excel London.
Veronica Perazzo has built her career in premium hospitality and events environments, working across global hotel and venue contexts including PCMA Convening EMEA 2025 in Rotterdam, and on events for Frameless, Diriyah Gate Development Authority and the Future Fashion Assembly
Gabriel Clark, a senior operations executive with over 15 years of experience delivering complex, high-profile events across global sport, live entertainment, and brand-led experiences, including with Liv Golf, SailGP,IMG and Arena Europe
Students also welcomed guest speaker Jennifer Patrice, who delivered a focused session on diversity, equity, sustainability and inclusion, encouraging students to consider their responsibilities as future event professionals.
Electives underway
Our Winter Term Event School Electives are now in progress, with students this month choosing specialist subjects in Wedding Planning, Digital Leadership and Literacy, and Venue Management.
These electives allow learners to tailor their studies, deepen specialist knowledge and align their training with individual career ambitions.
School outreach and careers pathways
January saw The Event School London continuing its commitment to early careers outreach and education. Lecturer Medina Williamson has been actively engaging with students through a series of careers events, sharing insight into pathways into event management, the breadth of roles within the industry, and the skills required to progress.
This month, Medina represented the School at careers events at Churchmead School and Wakely School for Girls, as part of the Learning to Work careers programme, supporting young people to understand how professional training, practical experience and industry-aligned education can lead to sustainable and rewarding careers in events.
January has been a month defined by energy, engagement and professional momentum.
With live projects underway, industry access embedded into teaching and students actively applying their learning, the year has begun exactly as it means to continue!
