94% of UK businesses plan to run an online event within the next 12 months

Survey results released by speaker bureau Speakers Corner reveal that 94% of UK businesses plan to run an online event within the next 12 months. In addition, 79% of organisations have already organised an online event since UK lockdown began in March 2020 in an attempt to slow the spread of Covid-19. Moreover, 78% of respondents rate the performance of online events they have already hosted as a seven or above out of 10. Speakers Corner explained that “shifting events to an online model has been a necessity in keeping the UK events industry afloat during the Covid-19 pandemic”. Nick Gold, the agency’s managing director, said: “Since the pandemic began, we’ve seen first-hand how businesses have used external speakers and online events to support and inspire their employees to overcome the challenges they face. “Despite the substantial net worth of the conference and events industry, it has received little financial support or clear messaging from the [UK] government. However the survey results should instil confidence during a time of uncertainty for the events industry that business leaders highly value the content delivered through a digital medium, and its value will only be enhanced once live events come back at scale in 2021. “Furthermore, the hurdles created by location, travel and accessibility are eliminated with online events, which means that event organisers can literally select any external speaker from across the world to focus on the content required and  deliver an experience that will best resonate with their audience.”