Feature
being lost to the industry
forever.
Make no mistake a failure
to support the events
industry is a failure to invest
in the ‘bouncebackability’
of the UK economy. We
all know it is not going
to be business as usual in
the world as we look to
jump start the economy
whilst coping with this new
disease and the precautions
it demands we take as a
community. But it is clear
that at a time we will need
UK business fighting for
every advantage, scrapping
to exploit every opportunity,
and battling to re-build and
grow, the likelihood is that
without the full support
of UK government at this
difficult time, the skills of
the UK event industry will
not be there to service them
at a time when accessing
those services will be more
important than ever to
British business.”
Chris Stewart, director,
Smart Display and
Exhibitions Ltd
“We accept that there is
going to be congestion and it
will be a very testing exercise
to deliver for both existing
and rescheduled events,
but in our opinion, looking
at the current landscape,
it’s a good problem to have.
The exhibition industry is
adaptable, hardworking and
resilient but that the moment
we are also very exposed and
feel very fragile.
“We’ve had news through
this morning that the
rescheduled IFAT show in
Munich originally due to
take place in May and then
rescheduled to September
has now been cancelled
all together. Hopefully
this isn’t the start of a new
wave of cancellations as I
feel a blanket abandoning
of events over the Autumn
period would be the final nail
in the coffin for many in the
industry.”
Liz Turner, director,
The Event & Exhibition
Partnership Ltd & The eep
Safety Team Ltd
“It is very hard to give an
informed judgement as to
whether we will or won’t be
short of staff, there are so
many IF’s at the moment.
All we can do as a team and
a company is to prepare
to be ready. To do this we
have kept in touch with our
team, supported them, doing
on-line training to keep their
skills up to date, to motivate,
kept communication going
Chris Stewart
and most of all getting funds
to them to keep going.
How long this will last is
a question none of us can
answer, so planning and
communication to not only
our team but the wider
industry family is key so
we can come back as one
winning team. Planning will
be key during the Autumn
months as one Team.”
Nigel Targett, MD, Symbiosis
“Unfortunately, it’s going to
be a summer of casualties
in the sector that even the
Chancellor won’t be able
to save. Symbiosis are in a
lucky position that we have
reserves to see us through
the medium term. The
immediate extending of the
Furlough towards the end of
the summer would go a long
Liz Turner
way to help everyone.
“Our loyal supplier network
has crossover in case of
shortfall pre pandemic. I
don’t envisage any problems
with suppliers. Our
Freelance crews are always
paid on time by Symbiosis
and with booking as far in
advance as we can - we feel
our freelancers will be ready
to start back on the tools.
“Unemployment in the
sector will be at an all-time
high therefore freelance work
will be the natural course for
these people who only know
exhibitions – maybe a small
silver lining?”
The Name in EVENT HIRE
0800 458 5701
[email protected]
Charles Wilson Engineers Ltd
36 — May