More than 200 organisations from across the UK’s business events industry have called on the Government to implement a series of recommendations aimed at strengthening the country’s position in the highly competitive global events market.
A total of 214 trade associations, venues, organisers and suppliers have written to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy MP urging the Government to adopt in full the recommendations set out in the recent Culture, Media and Sport Committee report on business events.
Published following a year-long parliamentary inquiry, the report argues that business events should be recognised as a major driver of trade, investment and innovation, rather than being viewed solely through the lens of tourism or major events.
Among the key recommendations are the development of a dedicated national business events strategy, greater ministerial engagement with major international events, transferring responsibility for the sector to the Department for Business and Trade, and reversing cuts to VisitBritain’s specialist business events team and Business Events Growth Programme.
The proposals highlight the growing recognition of the industry’s wider economic contribution. Business events generate an estimated £33.6 billion for the UK economy, while business visitors account for around 17% of all international visits to the country.
Industry leaders argue that stronger government backing is essential if the UK is to compete with major European destinations including Germany, France, Spain and Ireland, all of which maintain dedicated national business events strategies and funding programmes.
The campaign also points to the success of VisitBritain’s former Business Events Growth Programme, which secured 167 international conferences and exhibitions for destinations including Glasgow, Liverpool, Sheffield, Aberdeen, Cambridge and Newport. According to the industry, the programme generated £60.6 million in direct economic impact from less than £1.8 million of government investment.
The Culture, Media and Sport Committee concluded that the current approach risks limiting the UK’s ability to attract high-value international events that support inward investment, research collaboration and regional economic growth.
With the Government targeting 50 million international visitors annually by 2030, industry representatives say a clear national strategy for business events will be vital if the UK is to secure a greater share of the rapidly expanding global meetings, conferences and exhibitions market.
Dame Caroline Dinenage MP (pictured, above), Chair of the DCMS Select Committee previously stated: “The huge contribution they make to the economy demonstrates the exceptional quality of the conferences, exhibitions and trade fairs held every day across the country.
“The Government’s decision to slash support for business events is utterly irrational and entirely counterproductive, when we should be supporting the sector to boost economic growth.
“It’s time for the Government to show it understands the importance and distinctiveness of the business events sector.”
A spokesperson for the business events industry via theThe Business Events think tank, said: “Jobs, trade, investment, innovation; this is what’s on the line. Every month of inaction hands our competitors the advantage, and they are outspending and offering more support to win the large events we should be winning. Government has the evidence, it has the Committee’s recommendations, and it has a sector standing ready to help deliver growth in every part of the country. What it needs now is the will to act.”
The letter with its full list of signatories is available here.
