Cover Feature
“EN challenged the minister, asking her if a ‘few lines
is all they could come up?’ despite being told that
every agreement they reach with the EU is likely to
have an impact on the event industry”
Department for
Digital, Culture,
Media & Sport
The UK Government’s International
Business Events Action Plan
2019-2025
The UK Governments’s
International Business
Events Action Plan, June
2019
Additionally, the objectives set out in the
International Business Events Action Plan
need to be fully implemented and additional
objectives set. The trade media can best serve
the interests of the Board by communicating
its work and inputting issues that relate to
the Board’s terms of reference so these can be
considered, and advice given to ministers as
necessary.”
When asked how the EIB thinks the
government should work with the industry? And
what’s the EIB’s wish list or goals? Hirst adds:
“The government already has strong working
relationships with the industry, not only through
the EIB, but through the representation from the
BVEP, on which sit all the leading industry trade
bodies. In additional the EIB has undertaken
and will continue to do so a series of roundtable
with different sector interests, such as venues,
organisers and destinations.
“There is also an Industry Leaders Panel which
is chaired by the Minister and enables business
leaders to input directly their concerns. There
is an overall recognition of the need for a bold
approach to the sector to take advantage of
the opportunities afforded by business events
in growing trade and investment, knowledge
exchange and Britain’s place in the world.”
In the UK, numbers of delegates and exhibitors
is a relatively small numbers apart from a
few sectors. It suggests we are losing a small
number of exhibitors from Europe but it’s not
tariffs. What exhibitors are concerned about
is standards. If our standards diverge from
Europe, exhibitors will have to check they are in
line with ours and it could become a significant
box ticking exercise and for some it may be too
inhibitive and may not bother with the UK.”
Since challenging the minister around skills
gaps, after reading an impressive 84 page
report created by EIB’s Sarah Wright, which
raises concerns around attributing codes so the
government can accurately measure workforces,
a spokesperson for DCMS said: “With regards
to work on the EIB’s skills and talent taskforce,
we have engaged with the sector on Standard
Occupational Classification System (SOC codes)
and are awaiting updates from the Office for
National Statistics (ONS).”
In addition to the questions sent to the
minster, and on the advice of a contact at No10,
EN was asked to send a separate set of questions
directly to Boris Johnson that called for a
dedicated minister for events, and asked does
the PM feel the existing plan is adequate support
for one of the UK’s largest sectors? or does he
feel adequately informed to be able to negotiate
deals with the EU with minimal impact to the
event sector? No response at time of print.
EN has since contacted the newly appointed
secretary for the Department of Culture, Media
and Sport, Oliver Dowden, requesting a meeting
to be set up next month to discuss the potential
of establishing a new Strategic Industry
Panel that represents a broader spectrum of
businesses across the industry. EN
EVERY DETAIL MATTERS
Chairman of CloserStill, Philip Soar, believes
the government could learn a trick or two from
other major European cities and that differing
standards could lead to a drop in exhibitors
from Europe. He said: “Key events in most
major European cities are subsidised and there
is much deeper integration between organisers
and governments. We need a department
that is prepared to put money behind events.
Governments do a lot more in other cities in
Europe.
March — 21