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The creation of four new government departments will affect the way the events industry is represented in government
How Whitehall shake-up will affect exhibitions
The creation of four new government departments will affect the way the events industry is represented in government . The latest revoling door of ministerial changes has been met with cautious optimism by the exhibitions industry . With energy no longer linked to the business department , the Department for International Trade axed the events industry is hopeful more focus can be placed on the value of events businesses .
Rishi Sunak said the combined Department for Business and Trade led by Secretary of State Kemi Badenoch , will “ support growth by backing British businesses at home and abroad , promoting investment and championing free trade .”
South East Cambridgeshire MP Lucy Frazer becomes the 13th culture secretary in as many years- with the digital remit removed from DCMS .
Frazer vowed to focus on building the economy and describing her remit as covering “ the most exciting and fastest growing parts of the UK economy .”
The business events industry will also have a dedicated minister , Stuart Andrew , who has cross departmental responsibility between the Department of Culture , Media and Sport and the Department of Business and Trade
Sunak ’ s shake-up is intended to spur the economy with insiders hopeful of the benefits of the trade portfolio more closely linked to government policy on business and industrial strategy .
Sunak and Badenoch last year said they wanted to place less emphasis on quickly signing trade deals and more emphasis on boosting exports and inward foreign direct investment .
Chris Skeith , CEO of the Association of Events Organisers said : “ We ’ ve long said we are much more akin to business , and have built strong relationships with BEIS as well as the sector ’ s home department of DCMS .
“ Key to future success is to have someone responsible for events across every single government department , as the industry cuts across every sector , every department and every region . That said this presents an opportunity for the sector to be placed in a department with a pure ‘ business and trade ’ remit , and any change brings opportunity as each new or changing department settles on their priorities .”
AEV director Rachel Parker said having a minister with crossdepartmental responsibility would help . “ We look forward to meeting with
Stuart Andrew ,” she added .
ESSA director Andrew Harrison said : “ After the past three years we ’ ve become accustomed to the revolving door of ministerial appointments , especially so within the DCMS . Of course it impacts what we do , but our own experience is that civil servants who work within government groups stay consistent , advisors stay consistent and we maintain our position in ministerial dairies who will be briefed by those advisors .” EN
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