UK Events Report testifies to power of £70bn events industry

The UK’s Business Visits & Events Partnership (BVEP) has launched its latest report, The UK Events Report, which provides an in-depth examination into the £70bn (US$87.1bn) industry, providing jobs for 700,000 people and how it will deliver the government’s Industrial Strategy, which was launched last year. The report last published in 2014. The UK Events Report, which was compiled prior to the Covid-19 outbreak, illustrates the impact the UK events industry has on the economy. In 2019 business events generated more than £31bn of direct spend, with leisure events contributing a further £39bn, evidence in the report suggests that there is an opportunity to use both markets to showcase the UK’s abilities and resources and bring communities together. It also highlights a need for the UK to realign and revitalise its commercial footprint, after leaving the European Union and the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak, to drive businesses back to their peak and forge a new position on the global stage. Events held in the UK will play a critical role in achieving this. As a country, the UK has vast selection of high quality and richly varied purpose-built event venues and historic buildings suitable for hosting world-class events. It also has a network of talented and creative suppliers and organisers offering state-of-the-art technology and equipment for events. The UK events industry is committed to assisting new events to align with key sector priorities, to use events in order to promote UK businesses and their products and services, to attracting more international events and grow already successful events. Michael Hirst OBE, chair, BVEP commented: “The report was compiled in what seems another age, but it will serve to provide testament to the power of events to create change and transform experiences, key requirements in facing and achieving the UK’s future challenges. It’s a critical role which the industry is ready and eager to take on and show how it can deliver for the UK.” Click here to download the full report and the summary. Image: Keynote Theatre, International Confex 2020, ExCeL London | Aniseed Photo