What does building back better mean for events ?
Tom Clements , National Outdoor Events Association president , considers the opportunities for the event industry to evolve in the wake of Covid-19 while safeguarding the specialist skillset of its workforce .
One of the phrases that we ’ re all going
to have to get used to over the next few months is # BuildBackBetter . Although we ’ re not through the disruption of the pandemic , the nation appears to be trying to get back on its feet , we now have a vaccine which is inspiring confidence in markets and consumer perceptions , and there is a general feeling that we ’ re able to look and plan for a more positive future .
# BuildBackBetter is a slogan that crosses a number of agendas ; to build back in a way that encourages growth and prosperity for all , as soon as possible . It crosses political , social , economic and industry disruption and is about returning stronger , more learned . There is also a sustainable angle which is more specific to # BuildBackBetter21 . Green issues will continue to grow as we move into next year and , globally , citizens are putting pressure on businesses and governments to build back economies that are kinder on the planet .
I ’ d like to add a third angle , on behalf of our industry ’ s associations and starting with our own National Outdoor Event Association . Since the beginning of the
“ Future events can no easier repurpose scaffolders from a building site to erect a stage as the medical profession can get a brain surgeon to replace a hip .” pandemic , we ’ ve known that the industry , as we know it , has changed and possibly changed forever . We ’ re now living in an age of pandemic and we ’ ve looked to understand what our future could look like . What are the challenges we will face and how can we tackle them head on ?
So , how does a new NOEA look to address the future , a return to prosperity , while still representing the very best in sustainable business practices ?
As far as sustainability is concerned , for me , this is more about the sustainability of our businesses . As an industry , we have long been leaders in environmental initiatives and , if our businesses succeed , then we can continue to be a net positive for the world . But we need to be sustained first ; at the moment , we ’ re the endangered species . At NOEA we ’ ll be supporting the industry with many initiatives of our own , as well as laying our weight behind those that underline the positive impacts that major events have on society . But we ’ ll be asking for something in return .
That brings us on to our own # BuildBackBetter approach as an industry . Here , the key for us is to retain the knowledge and experience of our current industry . If we lose it to redundancy and bankruptcy , we put future events at risk .
Knowledge is hard won , experience is hard gained and specialist experience is hard to find . Imagine the call for firework experts on New Year ’ s Eve , specialist caterers on Hogmanay , or health and safety experts on the first day of the racing season , only to find that they are not there anymore . Major events that return will need specialist security companies , crowd management , even something as simple as car parking takes skill and experience ; events are a specialist environment . Future events can no easier repurpose scaffolders from a building site to erect a stage as the medical profession can get a brain surgeon to replace a hip .
As an association , one of the big focuses of 2021 should be to keep what we have and replace , as quickly as possible , what we have lost . We need to be at the forefront of upskilling , reskilling , protecting and recruiting great talent wherever we can . It ’ s a crucial battle , an urgent one for the professionalism and the safety of what we do .
So , our hash tag takes on a different meaning and it is for associations like NOEA to lead the way . It forms a crucial part of our 2021 strategy and we recently announced a number of new appointments to the NOEA board which will help us realise this ambition . As an industry we don ’ t have large office buildings and districts in city centres , we operate in fields , show grounds and venues ; what we do is temporary and transient . Our value is in our people and we need to safeguard the reputation we have right now as having the very best in the world .
National Outdoor Events Association president Tom Clements
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