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Big Interview |
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Scotland , the ultimate objective for Journey to Change , is being seen at the centre of where important discussions happen .
Now of course , the host of the event is the UK Government , it ’ s not the Scottish Government . Therefore , it is absolutely critical that the bits we are in control of work well . So , we need to ensure seamless delivery , logistically sound hotels and venues , confidence and the ability to do an excellent job .
What happens in the discussion halls , is less in our control . But it ’ s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Glasgow and it ’ s the biggest business event ever to come to the United Kingdom . MF : What should event organisers
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be looking to learn from the legacy of COP26 ? NB : There are two types of legacy from COP26 . One is that COP26 truly shows what legacy can come from a business event . It ’ s that sense of civic pride that we saw in London nine years ago at the Olympics . If something comes out of COP26 like a Glasgow paper or Glasgow agreement , I think that would be a brilliant opportunity to show that business events can be part of policy delivery . It ’ s the ultimate chance to demonstrate this is a conference , look at what it does . It ’ s people meeting face to face , even Greta Thunberg is an advocate of in-person meetings .
From an operational point of view , it demonstrates to Scottish
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“ COP26 has the ability to put Glasgow the map . I think for Scotland , the ultimate objective for Journey to Change , is being seen at the centre of where important discussions happen .” |
people that we host events very well . From a sustainable point of view , we feel strongly that it ’ s not about ‘ we travelled to business events ’, it is ‘ how ’ we travel . I think the discussions at COP26 have to be at that high level . It ’ s about elevating the discussion and not just about doing the little things .
MF : What does the events sector look like in Scotland , now restrictions are being lifted ? How does the domestic market compare to the international market in terms of what you are seeing today and how you expect that to evolve over the next 12 months ? NB : Like the rest of the UK , the Scottish market is gradually emerging . In the past few weeks , we have hosted some big association congresses . I think we are almost parallel with England ’ s restrictions , there are very few signs of lockdown . But I think the business events sector must tread carefully . We have been talking for 18 months about how professional we are and how we have a compliant audience , and I think we are at the stage now where we must prove it and show that business events can be part of the solution and that they are not part of the problem .
There ’ s also still the debate in Scotland about the vaccine passport . The Scottish Government is proceeding with it but , of course , it ’ s not an event vaccine passport , it ’ s proof of vaccination for all circumstances . Business events are exempt , but we are going through discussions about some of the standard elements where there are over 500 people . It ’ s all a degree of caution . I think if the app works as a QR code and can read QR codes from other countries , it ’ s going to be fine . Nearly every country is using the same app and the same technology , and it ’ s one download which lasts a year , so it isn ’ t hugely onerous .
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