The
Events Industry Alliance (EIA) has launched its new manifesto and key policy
asks in its second parliamentary event as it look towards the next general
election.
A cross-party group of MPs, including government ministers and
members of the shadow cabinet, in addition to CEOs from across the business
events industry were guests at the reception on Tuesday (17 October).
Working
on behalf of the Association of Event Organisers (AEO), the Association of
Event Venues (AEV) and the Event Supplier and Services Association (ESSA) the
alliance’s main objective is to represent the business events industry. The
manifesto aims to ensure the interests of business events in the UK are
effectively represented, understood and communicated to government across its
key pillars of ‘Becoming the world’s meeting place’, ‘Growth’ and ‘Developing
skills and people’ to unlock the industry’s full potential as one of the
biggest engines for growth in the economy.
Those in attendance at the launch included shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell and tourism minister Sir John Whittingdale, who is holding the position while Julia Lopez is on maternity leave.
Andrew
Harrison, director, EIA said: “The EIA represents a wide variety of businesses,
each essential to the success of the industry, acting as a catalyst for growth
by bringing together investors, innovators and customers from around the globe
to do the deals that drive international and domestic trade.
“Our
new manifesto advocates for their best interests and we hope that policymakers
gain a fuller understanding of the untapped potential they could help our
industry unlock.”
The
EIA also published its top three policy asks: creating incentives for growth,
measures to reduce trade friction and increase access to markets and government
taking a strategic view of business events, using them to advocate for and
raise the profile of key sectors whilst stimulating trade.
Marija
Erzen, co-founder, Solutions 2, ESSA chair and newly appointed EIA chair, said: “I am so pleased that the EIA has managed to build on the success of
last year’s parliamentary event and use this momentum to communicate what we
need to see from policymakers as a unified sector.”
Pre-pandemic,
the industry steered £11 billion of trade into UK business. In 2022 the impact
is £9.4 billion, bringing 99,000 jobs and 6.1 million visitors to the UK.
Erzen
added: “As shown by our latest economic impact study, we are a resilient
industry and though we have not yet reached 2019 levels, we are close. That said,
we need the right support and better recognition of the business events
industry’s potential to grow this resilience further and allow the industry to
contribute to the UK’s economy, on a national and global level.”
The
EIA brings together organisers, venues and the supply chain providing goods and
services to the sector. This unity is what enables us to have a significant impact.”
