Feature provided copious amounts of feedback on the current situation within our sector , and garnered the support of many constituency MPs .” It worked . The All-Secure Standard culminated in the All Secure Expo Pilot event at the BDC , London , on 2 September 2020 , which clearly demonstrated that a return to live events during the Covid-pandemic was perfectly plausible - at the time . As Andrew Harrison , ESSA director explained , the importance of the success of this event seemed critical at the time , saying : “ The All Secure Expo Pilot was the event industry at its best ; hundreds of people from every sector worked tirelessly to show the government , and the world , that we could deliver Covidsecure events .” The EIA , and more importantly , its combined association members , had conceived , designed , built , and delivered a business expo event in central London , during the pandemic – in only a few weeks from start to finish . This astonishing achievement was emblematic of the EIA ’ s strategy – to work with the government and authorities to bring events back as quickly as possible , but only when truly safe to do so . Of course , we all know what happened next . The retraction of the industry ’ s ‘ go date ’ by the Government was a disappointment after such a concerted effort , but there was no alternative course of action but to lock the country down . It was a hammer blow to many businesses , especially in the supplier sector where SMEs dominate , and the pain and anger were evident . There was naturally a certain tension between an industry that relies on bringing thousands of people together in close proximity , and a national requirement to do exactly the opposite . The EIA understood that sector-specific support was essential , and the individual associations were able to represent the needs of their members , but the EIA needed to make the case for the industry in a different light . Lobbying for earlier reopening , or earlier lockdown relaxations would have contradicted the EIA ’ s commitment to a constructive and positive relationship with the government . EIA board member Max Bull summed it up when he said : “ If we maintain collaboration in a polite , pragmatic and practical way , we will return and we must be seen as the ‘ enabler ’ that can help switch on and support the more visible sectors such as hospitality .” With the second lockdown in effect , the EIA once again began planning with the government for a new go date , but the R rate remained steadfastly high . After Christmas , any hopes of an early go date were dashed with a further national lockdown . It ’ s a fact that governments of every persuasion understand and act on specificity - a

TIMELINE OF ACTIVITY

FEBRUARY

Headsup wellbeing toolkit launched

APRIL

Cross association events recovery working group forms

JUNE

Project Confidence launched

EIA write to Chancellor asking for a go-live date

AUGUST

E-guide edition release with Covid-19 appendix

OCTOBER

334 event companies countersign EIA letter to PM proposing event industry hibernation scheme support package

DECEMBER

Lockdown 2 ends , industry reopens in tiers

EIA sign NDAS with PHSC regarding test events

Within 2 weeks 18m people have X-mas cancelled and placed in tier 4

EIA engage Finsbury PR for 6 months

JANUARY

First two cases of Covid-19 are recorded in UK

MARCH

PM urges people to work from home PM places UK in lockdown EIA write to PM and Chancellor to support supply chain and event sector

MAY

PM announces phased reoppening for June

JULY

EIA and mia join forces and write to PM to express disappointment at nonrecognition of event sector for reoppening

Reopen date of 1 ^st October obtained after further pressure

All secure standard released

SEPTEMBER

A Y E A R LIKE NO OTHER

All secure expo takes place at BDC

PM announces sector reoppening delay , associations respond

Project Confidence turns into project Recovery

JSS fails to impress

NOVEMBER

Lockdown 2 begins

Gov approval of all secure guidance and pilot event findings . Video of event released

Project Confidence joins One Industry One Voice

Business events approved to restart from December , capacity controlled

March — 23

Exhibition News March-April 2021 | Page 23