Events & Marketing Executive – Maternity Cover

Maritime Transport is looking for an experienced Events & Marketing Executive to help develop and deliver our programme of internal and external events during a period of maternity cover. The role focuses primarily on event planning and delivery, alongside responsibility for branded merchandise and coordinating company charity initiatives.

Working closely with the Marketing and Communications General Manager and the wider team, you will contribute ideas, research options and turn agreed plans into well-organised events. You will take ownership of event delivery, coordinating venues, suppliers, logistics, attendee communications and support on the day, while working within agreed budgets.

The programme includes exhibitions spanning several days, customer hospitality and employee engagement events, including management strategy days and Christmas parties. Several events overlap during the spring and summer, so planning ahead and managing competing deadlines will be important.

You will also manage branded merchandise for events and wider business requirements, coordinate charity activities such as dress-down days and national gifting initiatives, and support the team with other marketing and communications activity as priorities allow.

This role would suit someone who enjoys the practical detail of events, writes clearly, builds good working relationships and is confident taking an activity from initial planning through to delivery.

About Maritime Transport

Maritime Transport is a strong, growing business with a reputation for recognising and rewarding hard work. Our road and rail logistics operations bring together colleagues, customers and partners across the UK.

Our Marketing and Communications team supports the business through events, communications, design and employee engagement. From organising an external event to sharing a colleague’s story or coordinating an employee initiative, the team helps bring Maritime’s activities to life.

You will work closely with colleagues across the business and external suppliers, with design, editorial and communications support from the wider Marketing and Communications team.

Why work for Maritime Transport?

• Competitive salary.
• 25 days’ holiday plus eight bank holidays.
• Group personal pension.
• Employee assistance programme.
• Discounts on MSC cruises for yourself, family and friends.

Your responsibilities

Event planning and delivery

• Work with the General Manager and colleagues to develop the events programme, contributing ideas for formats, venues and activities that meet agreed objectives and budgets.
• Plan and deliver internal and external events, including exhibitions spanning several days, customer hospitality, management strategy days and Christmas parties.
• Establish event requirements, responsibilities and deadlines, maintaining clear plans and keeping colleagues informed of progress.
• Research venues and suppliers, compare quotations and make recommendations for approval.
• Coordinate bookings, catering, accommodation, transport, equipment and other event requirements.
• Manage invitations, attendee information, responses and briefing documents, working with the team on design and communications.
• Coordinate event materials, merchandise, deliveries, set-up and collection arrangements.
• Track planned and actual expenditure against agreed budgets, maintain accurate cost records and seek approval for any proposed additional spending.
• Coordinate risk assessments, relevant venue and contractor documentation, and other event requirements with the appropriate colleagues and suppliers.
• Attend events where required, supporting set-up and delivery and resolving practical issues as they arise.
• Gather feedback, review results against agreed objectives and record final costs, using these findings to recommend improvements for future events.

Merchandise

• Manage branded merchandise for events, staff initiatives and other agreed business requirements.
• Monitor stock levels, carry out stock checks and plan replenishment around upcoming demand.
• Research products and suppliers, compare prices and quality, and arrange samples where appropriate.
• Work with the design team to ensure artwork and products meet brand requirements.
• Coordinate approvals, orders, deliveries and distribution within agreed budgets and timescales.
• Maintain accurate stock, supplier and order records.

Charity coordination

• Coordinate agreed company charity initiatives, including dress-down days, seasonal fundraising and national gifting campaigns.
• Liaise with charity partners and colleagues across Maritime to confirm requirements, encourage participation and organise collections and deliveries.
• Work with the wider team to prepare and distribute supporting communications, keeping information and deadlines clear.
• Maintain records of activity and any expenditure, gathering updates and photographs to share outcomes through company communications channels.

Working with the wider team

• Work with colleagues responsible for design, editorial standards, content scheduling and communications to secure the support each event or charity initiative needs.
• Provide clear briefs, information and deadlines for invitations, graphics and supporting content.
• Draft copy for event and charity communications and contribute to internal communications, with editorial support and approval from the relevant colleagues.
• Share updates, photographs and feedback for use across company communications channels.
• Agree support requirements for larger events early, keeping responsibilities and deadlines clear.
• Support wider marketing and communications activity where required, with priorities agreed with the General Manager alongside core event, merchandise and charity responsibilities.
• Maintain plans, contacts, templates and records to support continuity and an effective handover at the end of the contract.

Experience and skills

Essential

• Practical experience planning and delivering events from initial brief through to completion.
• Ability to contribute ideas and turn agreed requirements into workable plans.
• Strong organisational skills and experience managing multiple deadlines independently.
• Confidence dealing with venues, suppliers and colleagues at different levels.
• Experience obtaining quotations, tracking expenditure and working within agreed budgets.
• Good written communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, accurate copy for invitations, employee updates and other routine communications.
• Strong verbal communication and close attention to detail.
• A practical approach to solving problems and adapting when arrangements change.
• Confidence using Microsoft Office and digital tools to manage plans, information and deadlines.

Desirable

• Experience delivering exhibitions, corporate hospitality or employee events.
• Experience sourcing branded merchandise, purchasing products or managing stock and orders.
• Experience coordinating charity, fundraising or employee participation initiatives.
• Experience writing engaging copy for internal communications or marketing activity.
• Experience using Canva to create or adapt materials within established brand guidelines.
• Experience working across multiple business locations.
• Familiarity with project-management tools such as ClickUp.

Personal qualities

You will be organised, reliable and comfortable taking ownership of your work. You will enjoy working as part of a team, be willing to get involved in practical event delivery and remain calm when priorities or arrangements change.

You will bring ideas for improving how we work while maintaining clear communication and following agreed approval processes.

Maternity cover and working arrangements

This is a full-time, fully office-based role at Felixstowe, with normal working hours of 08:30–17:30.

The preferred start date is November 2026. The contract is expected to run for approximately 14 months, allowing for maternity cover and handover. Exact dates will be confirmed.

The role involves travel to Maritime locations and event venues, occasional overnight stays and occasional work outside normal office hours, including evenings and weekends.