The Events Industry Alliance
has called for a national event strategy as it launched its manifesto in Parliament.
The EIA manifesto was launched
at a parliamentary reception on Wednesday 19
October, with guests from a cross party
group of MPs including business minister Jackie Doyle-Price and event professionals from across the sector in attendance.
The manifesto aims to ensure
the interests of UK business events are effectively represented, understood and
communicated to government across the five pillars of maintaining recovery,
growth, becoming the world’s meeting place, sustainability and developing
skills and talent.
Speaking at the launch, Shaun Hinds, CEO of Manchester
Central and newly appointed AEV chair and EIA chair, said: “We believe
government can and should do more - and our manifesto outlines three asks that
we have as an industry.
“We believe that the UK should take a strategic approach to
business events that is explicitly linked to our industrial ambitions as a
nation.
“Two, we believe that government should develop a national events strategy jointly between the DCMS and the DIT, that focuses on growing
and attracting flagship events for sectors key to our national growth.
“And finally, we believe that the government needs to
establish a strategic events delivery body to develop an approach to grow our
industry and attract more major international conferences and exhibitions to
the UK. With this support, we can make UK the global leader in delivering
sustainable events."
Theresa Villiers MP, chair of the All Party Parliamentary
Group for Events, said: “The manifesto will be a powerful tool for us in
Parliament to us to understand how we can help your businesses grow and
flourish and become more sustainable - and also contribute to economic growth
and recovery even in these difficult times. I look forward to drawing on it in
the advocacy I do on your behalf.
“Many MPs have major event venues and supply chain
businesses in their constituencies, and I'm working to make sure that they
recognise this and speak up for you in the chamber. It's time to make
business events a central focus. I welcome your call to develop a national
event strategy.”
The EIA manifesto aims to provide
a strategic, national approach to business events spreading growth to all parts
of the UK and driving international trade key to delivering a global Britain.
Rachel Parker, director of the EIA,
said: “The EIA represents world-class venues, helping organisers host high
profile shows across key business sectors serviced by accredited suppliers. We
aim to be the voice of the events industry – representing business events.”
Working on behalf of the events
industry associations, the Association of Event Organisers (AEO), the
Association of Event Venues (AEV), and the Event Supplier and Services
Association (ESSA), the Events Industry Alliance (EIA) provides a secretariat
and platform to work together to achieve common objectives for the good of the
events industry.
For further information on the
Events Industry Alliance and the manifesto, visit https://www.eventsindustryalliance.com
