Cautious optimism
iming is everything . I am writing this missive exactly seven days before prime minister Boris Johnson outlines his ( latest ) timetable for reopening the economy . So , by the time you read it , the outlook may be one of despair , elation , or anything in between . Oh , the joys of traditional print journalism .
Anyway , regardless of what the prime minister has or has not said , I am hoping you will find this issue of Conference News slightly more positive reading . It – almost – feels like a normal magazine again .
Let ’ s see : I have chosen to make recruitment a key theme this time as I think it is a real positive in 2021 ( p32 ). Of course , there is no glossing over the fact that many venues and suppliers have been hung out to dry , but agencies have fared rather differently . Many were dealing with online events before , but even they have had to adapt and hold the hands of their clients over the last 12 months and the results are there to see . I spoke to nine agencies of different sizes and there is a recurring theme : they are scaling up and looking for new recruits .
Off the back of this , I invited expert events recruiter
Robert Kenward to contribute advice for employers looking to bring on board new talent . Don ’ t miss it ( p28 ).
Elsewhere , I spoke to Alexandra Korotkova , founder of MICE VAT , on how UK events businesses can recover VAT paid overseas and in Europe , now we have left the EU ( p20 ). And on the subject of Brexit , more details have emerged surrounding working visas and the transportation of event goods across the continent ( p17 ).
On our website , you may have picked up on several positive news stories revealing that agencies are seeing live bookings slot in for the second half of 2021 . Pay close attention to these stories , things are picking up .
Of course , One Industry One Voice and its campaign , # WeCreateExperiences , continues to work hard in the background working to restore confidence in the sector . Timing , though , is everything .
Back to this issue , there may be some odd mention here and there of the pandemic that-shall-not-be-named , but by and large there seems to be a murmur of optimism around the parish . Unless , of course , the prime minister has served us up another treat in the days after I write this .
Martin Fullard Editor Conference News www . conference-news . co . uk