Most importantly , it will be completely free to all users , independently funded , and designed as a resource for all event institutions and professionals to personalise their engagement according to their needs .
Initial work has been completed on an operational model , data capture methods , and development priorities , and taskforce members and association supporters have been presented the plans resulting in very positive feedback of support , with a few questions and constructive suggestions which are essential and encouraged .
If you ’ re not aware of the work to date , please visit www . oneindustryonevoice . co . uk and / or follow on social media channels as the plan develops to launch in the coming months .
Night Time Industries Association CEO Michael Kill is among the many to support the project . He said , “ Following an extremely tough trading period for businesses , supply chain and workforce , the one positive take from such a devastating time is the sense of community that has galvanised people across sectors , even ardent competitors . The One Industry One Voice group has exemplified the true meaning of collaborative working and sets its stall out to collectively retain the cross-industry working practices that we have so longed for , prior to this pandemic .”
Production Services Association ( PSA ) chair Dave
Keighley commented , “ My view and that of the PSA , is we support OIOV in this mammoth task with the aim of creating a data hub for the whole events industry , it can only be a good thing . As the industry moves forward post- Covid , it is essential that we have the tools to help us grow and most importantly open up our industry to the wider world . We need to have a resource that efficiently guides newcomers to the best places , be that companies , venues , associations and key individuals to have access to accurate and current information about how our world works and how best to get involved . The PSA is ready to help in any way we can and we wish you all the best with your work over the coming months .”
Industry-wide support So far , it has received unprecedented support from all the main key associations , hundreds of leading businesses of all genres and sizes as well as industry leaders from across the seven main sectors . Some have rightly suggested it is “ very ambitious ” to unwind decades of institutionalism found in some corners , particularly those perhaps with a historic inward focus within this often disparate and fractured industry .
The status quo was ultimately exposed as the pandemic required clear , consistent , collaborative messaging from well-organised industries that were most affected by the trading restrictions and associated lockdown measures . This had to start from within the industry , to then provide the same professional and impactful messaging to key stakeholders in the outside world .
Many of the associations across the industry worked brilliantly and tirelessly , representing and showcasing the impact on their own sectors , but there was no existing forum for them to align , work closer together , share plans and insights so as to further boost all their work – effectively leveraging the power of unity as other industries such as travel or hospitality have done for years .
This was not just my view . At its inception , BVEP chair Simon Hughes and I spent months asking thousands of businesses , associations and event professionals across the core sectors for their views ; 99 % responded with the same opinion and agreed on the need for something to change .
There was a consistent ask for an evolved collaboration to showcase the wide spectrum of businesses and expertise within the £ 84bn events industry , the
“ OIOV ’ s new revolutionary digital platform will essentially be the go-to comms hub for anyone that wants to learn more about the wider industry .” world-leading diverse skills its 1.5 million event professionals deploy and the broad range of experiences created , alongside the key contributions to society and the economy with credible and consistently quoted data .
This core ask is exactly why the challenge and hence the ambition is so big , relevant and important for the future sustainability , reputation and understanding of the unrivalled ‘ Power of Events ’, for the benefit of all that work to create live experiences and the next generation looking for a career in events .
Over the past 18 months , a fast-developing informal structure of support has centred around the OIOV taskforce and action groups consisting of associations including BVEP , LIVE , AEO , AEV , ESSA , MPI , HBAA , NTIA , WhataboutWeddings , AIF , PLASA , PSA and many others .
Support has also come from the core industry media publications and shows , including International Confex , The Meetings Show and IMEX , as well as many industry leaders from outdoor events , live music , corporate and experiential agencies , organisers , suppliers , and venues across the UK .
This has been operated on a purely voluntary basis with all supporters donating their time for free , working on a virtual basis with no centralised team or infrastructure – but now it needs to evolve to be fit for purpose for the future environment post-pandemic and beyond .
The future is now ..
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