An influential group of cross-party MPs will examine the business events sector and propose recommendations to the Government as part of a specialised Culture Media and Sport Select Committee inquiry.
Dame Dinenage MP, chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, announced the inquiry during her closing address at The Business of Events Global Policy Forum, which took place yesterday (1 April) at IET London: Savoy Place in Westminster.
The much-heralded inquiry into the UK’s business events sector has been chosen as one of the first of five proposed Select Committee ‘State of Play’ investigations. A session is planned for later this year, where the industry will be invited to give evidence.
Dame Dinenage said: “My Committee are keen to understand the challenges, growth potential and how to avoid falling behind international competitors. If we don’t jump at the opportunity to grow this sector, we may lose out on the many benefits of developing Britain’s business events industry. The success of the business events sector is vital to the continuing success of all the CMS sectors and as the Select Committee, we are not going to take our eye off the ball. We want to amplify the voices that say future growth isn’t guaranteed unless we get our act together and push the Government to take the action needed to support the growth of this thriving industry.”
The Business of Events, Events Industry Alliance, and ACC Liverpool each submitted proposals, calling on the DCMS to examine the sector as part of a month-long bidding process that saw 256 applications from a broad range of other industries.
The announcement to close the forum topped a day sponsored by RX that began with a keynote address on how business events will play an essential role in the UK’s Tourism Action Plan by Sir Chris Bryant MP, the Minister of State for Media, Tourism and Creative Industries.
Other prominent contributors included columnist and politician Lord Daniel Finkelstein OBE, and Mike Wood MP for Kingswinford and South Staffordshire and a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Events.
In a deep dive into the UK’s exhibition and trade show sector, RX’s UK managing director Kerry Prince, and Manchester Central CEO Lori Hoinkes explored untapped opportunities and emerging trends. Meanwhile, a dynamic panel of some of the UK’s leading business events destinations joined Paul Black from VisitBritain/Meet England to discuss the evolving role of Convention Bureaux in today’s competitive landscape
Trish Lynch, a seasoned news anchor, reporter and broadcaster, expertly moderated the Forum, where other industry heavyweights explored critical issues shaping the sector. Senthil Gopinath, Chief Executive of ICCA highlighted the immense economic opportunities that business events bring to the UK, while Neil Brownlee, Chair of PCMA and Head of Business Events at VisitScotland, emphasised the importance of having a policy-driven approach to maximising growth.
The Global Policy Forum was preceded by The Business of Events: Westminster Dinner hosted at 10-11 Carlton House Terrace and attended by senior event industry stakeholders alongside members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Events and Government officials.
Mike Fletcher, Director of News & Content at The Business of Events, said: “The Business of Events would like to thank all of our partners for their support of the TBOE Global Policy Forum and the Westminster Dinner. Their collaboration is not just appreciated – it’s essential as we seek to drive meaningful change and move the needle on how the business events industry engages with government.”
