UK Government and senior events industry reps get round the table

The first of the UK Events Industry Board’s (EIB) biannual ‘Events Industry Senior Leaders Advisory Panel’ meetings took place earlier this month, giving attendees a platform to discuss challenges and opportunities for the industry with representatives from the UK Government and the EIB. The Events Industry Senior Leaders Advisory Panel comprises senior leaders from UK venues, production companies and the creative industries. Lord Ashton of Hyde, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Department for Digital Culture Media and Sport and Michael Hirst OBE, Chair of the EIB, took part in the Panel’s first roundtable discussion which focused on the opportunities and challenges to competitiveness, including UK conference centre capacity and investment, transportation connectivity and skills. Hirst, who chairs the EIB said: “With the very welcome news of the Government’s Tourism Sector Deal and a new UK Government’s International Business Events Action Plan for the UK, it’s more important than ever that we seek as wide a range of views as possible about the way ahead. The next few years are a crucial time for the events industry – business events have never been so high on the Government’s agenda as they are now. Collaboration between event businesses, the EIB and other government Departments is essential if we are to optimise opportunities and grow the value and volume of business events held in Britain.”