BVEP - Business Visits and Events Partnership

Final Results Of Events Research Programme

The final results of the Events Research programme have been published. These consist of two scientific notes and a summary document. More details at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/events-research-programme-phase-ii-and-iii-findings

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Live Events Reinsurance Scheme update (19 November)

A useful meeting was held with the DCMS team on the Live Events Reinsurance Scheme at which further clarification on the Scheme’s operation was sought. As a result an update to the Q&A can be downlaoded below together with other information below:

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LIVE & The Association of British Orchestras drive progress as Spain waives visas for UK touring artists

Artists touring to Spain will no longer need visas for short-term engagements in a dramatic change to the current onerous rules. The change follows months of dedicated work from LIVE and the Association for British Orchestras (ABO), working alongside Spanish counterparts Asociación Promotores Musicales.

The development represents a significant boost for the sector which has, as a result of Brexit and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, seen European touring become more expensive, more complicated, and more difficult to execute.

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VisitBritain/VisitEngland appoints Paul Black as Head of Business Events

VisitBritain/VisitEngland has today announced the appointment of Paul Black as Head of Business Events.

Paul is an experienced destination sales and marketing professional having worked with leading tourism organisations and convention bureaus from all over the world.

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Stand Out Magazine article - Events industry presents 'Net Zero Carbon Events' pledge at COP26

The article was first published at https://standoutmagazine.co.uk/net-zero-carbon-events-initiative-officially-launched-at-cop26/

Leaders from the global events industry presented a united pledge and roadmap for a net zero carbon future for events at the UN Climate Climate Change Conference (COP26). Industry leaders from SAP, UFI, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management), Informa Markets, eSkootr Championship (eSC), Freeman, Raccoon Events, and Scottish Events Campus were live on stage in Glasgow to represent and demonstrate the commitment of the events industry community to fight climate change.

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NOEA Sheds Light on the Outdoor Events Industry to APPG Chair

The National Outdoor Events Association put forward an update on the current status of the outdoor events industry to Theresa Villiers, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Events, at the Showman’s Show last month.

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COP26 and the UK event sector

During COP26 there is an urgent call to action for the event sector. BVEP asks all members and their communities to make a net zero carbon commitment HERE.

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“Business rates discount and UK Air Passenger Duty are good news, but hard-pressed events businesses need more support” HBAA comment on Autumn Budget

says Simon Richards, treasurer of HBAA beam, commenting on Chancellor’s Autumn Budget Statement.

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VisitBritain to showcase the very best of business events at ‘MeetGB Virtual’ 2022

VisitBritain has today announced that registration is open for its free flagship business event, ‘MeetGB Virtual’ 2022.

Taking place in February, the online tradeshow for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions/Events (MICE) will showcase the very best of business events in the UK on a virtual stage.

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Northern Ireland unveils £1m conference support scheme in major boost to business events

Tourism recovery lift for association conference organisers with £50 per delegate offered as extra incentive to bring business events to the region. Northern Ireland’s Department for Economy today announced a £1 million conference support scheme to help secure more business events in Belfast, Derry and the region.

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VisitBritain’s Domestic Support Fund awards a total of £200,000 to help kick-start the UK business events industry

VisitBritain’s Domestic Support Fund awards a total of £200,000 to help kick-start the UK business events industry

Applications have now closed for VisitBritain’s Domestic Support Fund, an initiative that was designed to help kick-start the recovery of the UK business events industry.

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New Research Quantifies the Catastrophic Impact of Covid-19 on the UK Meetings Market

Long-running research into the UK’s conference and meetings sector, entitled the ‘UK Conference and Meeting Survey’ (UKCAMS), throws into stark relief the huge impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, while also providing some tentative timelines and a baseline for the sector’s recovery.

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Business events industry forecast to be worth £27.6bn by 2026, but measures to support rapid post-Covid recovery are critical

• New economic impact analysis by Tourism Economics suggests the UK’s business events industry is forecast to grow 43% by 2026
• However, research also predicts business events sector unlikely to rebound to 2019 levels until 2023 at the earliest, indicating a slower recovery than for the rest of the economy
• With spending on business events plummeting by around 80%of 2019 levels due to Covid
• Attracting more international inbound delegates is key to turbo-charging sectoral recovery, with international delegates estimated to be worth six times more than domestic delegates by 2026 (£1078 for inbound delegates versus £180 for domestic delegates)
• Business leaders call on Ministers to do more to support sectoral recovery, including measures to boost inbound international delegate market by further easing international travel restrictions safely

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BVEP publishes its ‘Shape of Events’ Report

The Business Visits & Events Partnership (BVEP), the umbrella body and advocacy group representing the UK events sector, has today published its Shape of Events Report.

The report was compiled using responses from over 300 professionals and organisations from across the UK events sector and authored by Richard Smith from Team Tourism Consulting and John Gallery, Chair of the BVEP’s Research Group.

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ERP Data Dashboard

The ERP Data Dashboard has now been published: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/events-research-programme-phases-i-ii-and-iii-data-release.

The Data Dashboard shows how many people with positive PCR test results (cases), reported through the NHS Test and Trace system, reported that they had attended an event that was part of the Events Research Programme. No policy recommendations are being made at this time with respect to this data.

BVEP to Launch The Shape of Events Report

The Business Visits & Events Partnership (BVEP), the umbrella body and advocacy group representing the UK events sector, is to launch its Shape of Events Report.

The report, which is sponsored by brand communications agency davies tanner, will be published in early September and has been produced to support both BVEP partner organisations and the wider event industry in the UK. It will provide an insight into the complex eco-system that currently exists and the continuing challenges that the events industry is facing because of the pandemic.

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BTA reveals £4.45 billion loss to UK GDP

The Business Travel Association (BTA), has revealed the UK has lost £4.45 billion in GDP last week due to the decline of business travel trips following Covid-19*.

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Government-backed insurance scheme to give boost to events industry

The live events sector is set to get a boost with a world-leading government-backed insurance scheme worth over £750 million, which will help them plan events with confidence through to next year, the Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced today (5 August).

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HBAA - 65% of event professionals are seeing a boost in business confidence to book events

A new HBAA poll has revealed that almost two-thirds of event professionals (65%) in the business events, meetings and accommodation industry are seeing a boost in client confidence to book and confirm events, following the UK government’s “Freedom Day”, which is when many Covid restrictions were relaxed.

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Statement from the Business Visits & Events Partnership

Following the announcement from the Prime Minister yesterday, the Business Visits & Events Partnership (BVEP) has today issued the following statement:

“While we welcome the news announced by the Prime Minister yesterday that all legal restrictions are due to be lifted on July 19th, we continue to engage with Government at all levels to push for additional targeted support, the introduction of more measures to aid a long term sustained recovery and, most importantly, a binding assurance that the industry will not face further restrictions on their ability to operate, both on a local and national level, as a result of a further rise in infection levels. On this vital point, we have today written to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, asking for his department to work collaboratively with the sector, to ensure events of all kinds, and the industry as a whole, can operate safely and fully into the future.”

Simon Hughes, Chair, Business Visits & Events Partnership

Please download below a Copy of letter to Secretary of State for health and Social Care.

Events Research Programme Report Published

The Government has published the report for phase 1 of the Events Research Programme (ERP). While additional ERP events continue to gather further evidence, no decisions have been taken on the full reopening of mass events. The government will set out its position on this ahead of Step 4 in the roadmap.

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#WeMakeEvents roadmap delay and reopening briefing

Please view briefing below on consequences of the roadmap delay for the live event supply chain; the #WeMakeEvents urgent asks of Government; and why do we need this all now?

Urgent Question on the Events Research Programme, House of Commons on the 22nd June

An extensive discussion was held in the House of Commons todays on the plight of the Events Industry following an urgent question to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport as to why the results of the Events Research Programme had not been published.

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Chris Skeith recognised in Queen’s Birthday Honours List

Chris Skeith, chief executive of the Association of Event Organisers and treasurer of the Business Visits and Events Partnership, has been included in the Queen’s Birthday Honour’s List, recommended for an OBE, for services to the events industry.

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New Plan to Drive Rapid Recovery of Tourism Sector

Tourism Recovery Plan to help sector build back better from the pandemic

Plan aims to recover domestic tourism to pre pandemic levels by 2022 and international tourism by 2023 - both at least a year faster than independent forecasts predict

New initiatives to boost tourism include £10 million National Lottery Days Out scheme to support attractions and a new rail pass to encourage domestic breaks

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Event Guidance for Wales

New guidance for event organisers of regulated gatherings in Wales during the coronavirus pandemic has been published. Please see guidance at https://gov.wales/keep-wales-safe-creating-covid-safe-events-html