Strength in unity
The business events industry plans to work in a more united way to lobby support from government . Issues facing the industry were highlighted at the Business of Events Policy Forum , at the QEII Centre on 2 November . Emily Wallin reports
Theresa Villiers MP , chair of the All
Party Parliamentary Group for Events , told the events industry that the government is taking them seriously .
Speaking at the Business of Events Policy Forum Villiers , Villiers said : “ I realise now that the events sector is far more broad than just a muddy field in Glastonbury .
“ The pandemic was devastating for the sector and I have been impressed by the resilience and the impression I have taken away is that in this country we are very good at events and it is a crucial way to amplify our strengths .”
Robert Wright , managing director of Davies Tanner and founder of The Business of Events , highlighted the fact that the events industry has long been “ undervalued and misunderstood ” by government .
Events professionals in attendance raised concerns that the industry was viewed as just Glastonbury , the Commonwealth Games and Eurovision and often failed to take into account the 75 % of business events that are smaller and mainly domestic .
Asked how high on the government ’ s agenda business events are compared with other issues , Villiers said : “ I think it is taken seriously and I have obviously raised it on a number of occasions . We had particular champion in Nigel Huddleston and it ’ s a shame he ’ s no longer in that role .
“ There is a recognition in government of the importance events play for the economy . COP26 was one of the biggest events in the aftermath of Covid , even on matters as fundamental as climate , we are not going to deliver on them or be
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