THE UK EVENTS INDUSTRY BOARD
TIME FOR THE UK EVENTS INDUSTRY TO STEP ONTO THE STAGE
renewed commitment of this government to harness the power of the events sector, to help the UK achieve its full potential through increased inward investment and export sales, is an extraordinary one and one which I hope the events sector will grab with both hands.
Nick de Bois Chair UK Events Industry Board
I was recently asked why I had wanted to become a Member of Parliament before the 2010 election. Put simply, I felt it was time for me to move on from being just a cross between a commentator and an arm chair critic of government( of any persuasion), and instead try to shape and influence outcomes that mattered. Since leaving parliament in 2015 I don’ t take any different view now, which is one of the reasons I was happy to take on the role of chair for the new UK Events Industry Board.
Having enjoyed a long career in the events industry starting and running my own business, all too often I would lament the lack of support from government for the business tourism sector, it’ s lack of understanding for what we contributed in jobs, in taxes and in reputational standing through the respect that the UK events sector commands across the world. Above all, I regretted the perceived lost opportunity for Britain’ s wider economic benefit that could be achieved should the events sector be able to work in partnership with government. Simply lamenting this state of affairs was not enough, which is why the present opportunity we have with the
For the first time that I can recall, government is now playing its part with the strategy and funding to support the sector and help it win new events and congresses for the entire UK, and support those existing ones that have the ambition and ability to become leading international events in their own right, staged here in the UK. Publication of how this will work in practice is due next month and is evidence of this renewed government commitment, encouraged and driven by the industry itself.
Since January, the Department for Culture Media & Sport( DCMS) and the new UK Events Industry Board have been working together and forging ahead with its plans. VisitBritain is back on board with business visits & events, and has launched the Events are GREAT campaign, to great acclaim, with further funding and resources. Meanwhile the BVEP and its many partners are doing great work on research into subvention and what influences international buyers into choosing event destinations. And they are not just working alone. All these groups come together on the Events Industry Board, along with industry experts and regional tourism agencies to help forge an integrated response that is focused on helping win new business events for the UK. That of course is good for Britain and good for the events sector.
Events have so much to offer UK plc. They support the industrial strategy of the UK by positioning Britain as a centre of commerce and attracting companies and industries to do business in our country. They are
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