ABPCO
SITUATIONS
CHANGE
BUT CORE
VALUES
REMAIN
THE SAME
THREE YEARS AGO, ABPCO identified
Excellence, Learning and Belonging as the
three central values to the association’s
offering. They clearly define who we are
and what we do as an association. They
were first voiced and created in a meeting
of the executive board in a time when
physical distancing didn’t exist in common
vocabulary and it was unimaginable to
think that our entire industry would spend
months with the pause button firmly
pressed.
Yet here we are, events globally are still
written by Heather Lishman
Heather Lishman, association director of
ABPCO says that the fundamental principles
of being a PCO have not changed
largely on hold in the way we know them
and our whole industry faces an unknown
future. Yet there are still so many positive
stories out there from amongst our
membership and surprisingly, ABPCO’s
three pillars are more relevant than they
have ever been before.
Excellence has been demonstrated
through the quality of the work our
members continue to deliver for their
clients. Whether it is supporting the
cancellation of events, the switch to
digital or the innovation of creative new
www.aenetwork.co.uk
concepts that will usher in the brave new
world of hybrid events.
Learning has likewise been best
demonstrated by our own switch to digital
and hybrid. Both have been talked about
for years, mentioned in the quiet corners
of networking events and considered a
dark art that would “never take off.” Yet
here we are, using every tool in the digital
box as we find solutions to client events –
staying one step ahead of them as we add
value and demonstrate our talents. Even
the team here at ABPCO have been on a
steep learning curve as our own events
have gone digital as we deliver varied and
invaluable content every couple of weeks
to our members.
However, it is perhaps the sense of
belonging that has never been stronger.
Despite being apart from each other we
have been coming together, supporting
each other, offering advice and making
our association stronger than ever. Online
roundtables, coffee mornings or simple
one-to-one meetings have kept us talking
and sharing. We have kept our spirits up
through simple acts of kindness, reaching
out to each other and above all else being
there on the other end of a phone or
camera.
Much will undoubtedly chang as
we emerge into the post-Covid world.
ABPCO’s focus on belonging will
however always remain and as we move
forward, we intend to increase our voice,
supporting our colleagues and letting the
world know just what we are capable of
and why membership has never been so
important.
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