Research conducted by Meeting Allstars on the effect of the pandemic on employment in the events sector, revealed 29 per cent of respondents are looking for new roles due to redundancy.
Of these, 40 per cent are looking for roles outside the events industry and outside the wider hospitality business “underlining a migration of talent”.
The research suggested that the lack of talent in the industry following redundancy could lead to a prolonged recovery period as sector specialisms won't be readily available.
The research surveyed 500 corporate, agency, convention bureau and venue employees and found that corporate and agency event staff had been hit the hardest with redundancies, while venues and suppliers had made more use of the furlough scheme.
“Since venues fall under the wider hospitality sector Standardised Industrial Classification codes (SIC), they are party to a greater voice in government and therefore benefit from VAT breaks in business rates unlike agencies whose Companies House registrations disparately flare from business services to advertising and management consultancy,” the research report said.
Of the agency staff surveyed, 75 per cent said they had been with their company for seven years or longer and the research indicated that those with only one to three years of experience were more likely to be made redundant.
The report also revealed that agency employees who are currently furloughed, either full or part-time, anticipated a significant change to their role and responsibilities when they return. This comes with the expectation that their positions will be merged meaning they will be given additional responsibilities.
When asked about their optimism towards the sector, 69 per cent said they were not confident in the events industry as a large number of redundancies reflect the negative impact the pandemic has had on face-to-face meetings.
The survey made it clear that a return to full employment levels and operating out of a central office would not be the norm when the pandemic subsides. Instead, businesses won’t risk hiring full-time employees to meet work that may prove transient and instead, they will favour a freelance and flexible workforce.
A desire to travel led Holly Patrick to the business meetings and events world and she’s never looked back. Holly takes a particular interest in event sustainability and creating a diverse and inclusive industry. When she’s not working, she can be found rolling skating along Brighton seafront listening to an eclectic playlist, featuring the likes of Patti Smith, Sean Paul, and Arooj Aftab.
