The Power of Events is extending its UK Schools Engagement Programme with a new Leeds region, marking the next phase of its nationwide rollout to connect young people with careers in the events industry.
The not-for-profit organisation, launched in 2023, has already engaged more than 106,000 students during its first academic year through 350 school visits across the East of England, Birmingham, the South Coast and Hertfordshire. A full Year 1 report is now available on its website.
The Leeds expansion will begin with school engagements from spring 2026, targeting more than 10,000 young people in the first year. Ambassador registration is now open, with event professionals encouraged to volunteer via the Schools Engagement Programme portal.
The move is backed by a group of Leeds-area supporters including Leeds Hotels and Venues Association (LHVA), PLASA, Reset Connect, Royal Armouries, Sparq Live, Sterling Event Group, TAIT, The Meetings Show and XSEM.
Jack Marczewski, portfolio events director at The Meetings Show, said: "Supporting the next generation of event professionals has always been at the heart of what we do, so we’re excited to back the expansion of The Power of Events’ Schools Engagement Programme into Leeds. At The Meetings Show, we’ve seen how early exposure can spark real passion – whether through our Tomorrow’s Talent initiative, apprenticeships, next-gen networking or giving emerging voices the space to be heard. This programme builds on that commitment by opening more doors for young people to discover the creativity and community that define our industry. We’re proud to support this next phase and encourage colleagues across the region to get involved."
Wayne Topley, chair of LHVA, added: “LHVA is delighted to partner with The Power of Events to introduce the Schools Engagement Programme to Leeds. Our city continues to grow as one of the UK's leading destinations for events and conferences, and this programme gives us the chance to share that momentum with young people across the region. By connecting them to our dedicated event professionals and showcasing the diverse careers within our hotels and venues, we aim to inspire future talent and strengthen the city’s event landscape for years to come. We look forward to seeing the programme roll out in 2026.”
Dan Bardgett, managing director at XSEM, said: “The events industry reaches into every corner of the economy - from healthcare and technology to sport, culture and beyond. Many of our team began their journey studying event management at university, so we know first-hand how the right encouragement can unlock incredible careers. Supporting The Power of Events programme is a chance to show young people the scale of opportunities waiting for them, and to help inspire the next generation of talent who will shape the future of this industry.”
Rick Stainton, CEO of The Power of Events, commented: "The launch of the Leeds Hub marks a significant progression for one of our core projects, to engage and inspire young people across the UK about the diverse opportunities within the events industry. With the incredible support of our ambassadors and sponsors, we look forward to developing a lasting impact across the region."
The Leeds launch follows the announcement of four additional regions coming online in autumn 2025 - Manchester/Liverpool/Cheshire, Edinburgh, London and Bath/Bristol - putting the programme on track to reach more than 250,000 young people across eight regions by the end of 2026.
An industry launch reception will take place in Leeds in early 2026, giving event professionals the chance to learn more about ambassador opportunities and meet programme sponsors and supporters.
More information is available at thepowerofevents.org.
