Power to the people
Rick Stainton , founder of The Power of Events , reveals how the initiative ’ s launch will help the industry into 2023 and beyond
The Power of Events ( UK ) is a not-for-profit company established in 2022 to deliver a much-needed platform . Due to be launched in February , it aims to provide an overview of the UK events industry that allows everyone to explore all the elements that make up this diverse industry .
The platform has unilateral support from its defined seven core sectors and the four key industry communities , which it will profile and signpost all visitors to : trade associations , support organisations , industry media publications and 10 UK University event faculties .
It is designed not to duplicate or compete with any other existing association or organisation ’ s activity – as a map with a directory it gives them all uniform support with a full profile and link to their dedicated sites .
So , what ’ s the need for The Power of Events ?
The Covid pandemic highlighted a huge challenge the industry has always had – how do we describe our events industry ; its multiple sectors , world leading supply chain , the communities that are at its foundation , its contribution to the UK economy and society ?
Now is the time for a positive legacy from the last three years of upheaval , to help make the whole industry across the various sectors fully aware
of the bigger picture . Consequently , it can be also used by those with the remit to showcase this to external media , government , investors , grant holders and most importantly the future generation of event professionals .
One key benefit is to help secure the best future talent for our industry , ensuring we are best positioned and considered versus other competing industries . University graduates and school leavers have a first port of call to explore a map of the events industry - its breadth of opportunities and the various communities that can facilitate their introduction and integration into a career as an event professional . Universities inform us that only circa 40 % of event graduates enter the industry – the need and opportunity is clear .
There needs to be a clarity of recognition of our broad range of job roles , expertise and skillsets deployed across all sectors . Currently academic institutions do not have an accepted model or robust data to present the industry ’ s sectors or the supply chain , as a tool to use to attract talent
Rick Stainton
and deploy in their course modules . Indeed , most say the majority of applicants see either running a major music event or a wedding as core to the industry – credible as they both are , to be a fully inclusive , diverse and representative industry into the future , a broader and more accurate knowledge base is needed .
The vast majority of the industry is made up of SMEs within the supply chain , underpinned by an essential freelance network who often work across all the seven core sectors ; an expansive variety of event types and sectors . Leveraging the power of this unity hugely boosts demonstrable economic and cultural impact , employment and export data , and cross Four Nations representation – offering boosted firepower for those lobbying Government , seeking investment and attracting talent – effectively presenting the power of the UK events industry as global leaders in our field .
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