SUBVENTION REPORT
FINDINGS REVEALED
The Business Visits & Events Partnership
(BVEP) has revealed the findings of its
UK Subvention Policy and Bid Support
Practices for International Conferences
and Events Report, highlighting an increase
in the request for funding and in-kind
support, particularly amongst association
and charity organisations. Crucially, it also
cited a significant amount of business being
lost to overseas destinations, due to better
subvention offering and support provision
outside of the UK.
The research was commissioned with the aim
of updating the information contained in the
previous report from 2011 into subvention and
bid support practices as well as to inform and
guide the work of the newly formed Events
Industry Board and its objective of identifying
and winning more major international events
to the UK.
Research was collated with feedback from
largely UK based direct and professional
conference organisers as well as UK and
international convention bureaus and
destination marketing organisations.
Findings also highlighted the real
importanc e organisers place on having the
right combination of subvention including
infrastructure, welcome and convention
bureau support, quoting; ‘The most important
thing is that all stakeholders in the destination
need to be on board with the bid and critically
‘want’ the business…. a joined up approach
will undoubtedly win the confidence of the
event buyer who is placing the business.’
The UK destination that was identified by
organisers as leading the way in the provision
of subvention funding was Glasgow, followed
by Liverpool and to a lesser extent Belfast.
Speaking of the results, Michael Hirst OBE,
Chair of the BVEP says; “The report gives
a clear and insightful look at the state of
subvention funding practice in the global
marketplace. The areas that it has identified,
not only give some guidance to where the
focuses need to be for the Events Industry
Board but also some key learnings for the
wider industry as a whole.”
The research for the UK Subvention Policy
and Bid Support Practices for International
Conferences and Events Report was
undertaken by The Right Solution and Tony
Rogers Conference and Event Solutions. The
report is available to view here.
Glasgow identified in report as leading the way in the provision of subvention funding
21