Leader
Contents
Chief writer’s letter
WE WERE BETTER OFF SOLO
AS WE GO TO PRESS, we’re just days
away from Valentine’s Day. The shops
are full of heart-shaped tat, and
there’s flowers on every corner.
But while the world is busy
celebrating the joys of love and
partnership, it’s worth remembering
the value of independence. You can
stay up past your bedtime, you can eat
pizza whenever you want…and your
association conference doesn’t have
to explain its vision to a third party.
The question is a prominent one
within the association sector: should
you organise your events in-house, or
use external agencies? I don’t have
any exact numbers, but circumstantial
evidence and conversations I’ve had
around the industry suggest the ratio
is about one in five. That is, for every
one association which puts on their
own events, another four are using
third parties to do it for them.
It might just be an issue of
perception. NAEC Stoneleigh
managing director Chris Hartley says
that “most associations don’t think of
themselves as event organisers,” and
that they’re missing out on a world of
potential business because of it. But
why should they?
Editorial
Editor:
Martin Fullard
Chief writer:
Stuart Wood
Business
Managing director:
Julian Agostini
Group publishing
director:
Liz Agostini
In this issue, we speak to some
organisers who have been successful
by taking a DIY approach to their
events. We find out why and how they
took the plunge, and what advice they
can offer to associations thinking of
doing the same.
We get our wellies on and head up
to Coventry for DairyTech, an event
organised in-house by the Royal
Association of British Dairy Farmers
(p8-9). We also check in on the
finalists and eventual winner of the
‘in-house’ event category at ABPCO’s
Excellence Awards (p5-6).
The world of association events
might not be mainstream yet, but it
could do with a bit more of an indie
spirit. And remember – we liked it
before it was cool.
Designer:
Kateryna Smirnova
Production manager:
Elizabeth Nixon
Subscriptions
Subscriptions executive:
Matthew Williams
Do it yourself
page 5
In-house call
page 6
Milking it
page 8-9
ICCA Association Community
page 10
Don’t panic
page 13
Hit rewind
page 15
Open arms
page 17
Dear Rob...
page 18
3
Digital
Website:
aenetwork.co.uk
Stuart Wood
Chief writer,
Association Event
Network
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